Last year, Michigan achieved the highest belt use rate in the country with 97.2 percent of motorists buckled up. Wayne State University's Transportation Research Group conducts observation surveys funded through a federal traffic safety grant.

On the heels of that news, Michigan motorists are being reminded to catch a ride with a sober driver if their holiday plans include drinking. Nearly 300 law enforcement agencies are continuing a statewide drunk driving crackdown through July 5.

Agencies in 55 counties are taking part in the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown by putting additional officers on the road. These extra patrols are funded by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) through federal traffic safety dollars. Last year, 14 motorists died in Michigan over the July 4th holiday, with five of those deaths involving alcohol and three of those motorists being unbuckled.

Motorists face severe penalties for driving drunk. Those convicted of a first drunk driving offense face up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver's license and up to 180 days' license suspension.

In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic one-year driver's license suspension.

The following 55 counties are taking part in the statewide drunk driving crackdown: Allegan, Arenac, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Delta, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Mackinac, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Monroe, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Shiawassee, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford.

For a list of planned enforcement times, dates, and locations, visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp .