More than 100 drunk drivers arrested during New Year's crackdown; Agencies in 22 counties conducted extra enforcement

Contact: Lynn Sutfin, OHSP, (517) 241-1513

Agency: State Police

Issued: January 14, 2013

Law enforcement agencies in 22 counties arrested 103 drunk drivers during a drunk driving crackdown Dec. 27-Jan. 1. This includes 30 drivers arrested for a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .17 or higher under Michigan's High BAC Law.

More than 100 law enforcement agencies in Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Chippewa, Delta, Genesee, Houghton, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Oakland, Ogemaw, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne counties participated in the crackdown.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) coordinated the effort which was supported by federal traffic safety funds.

"Michigan law enforcement officers are experts at finding and arresting drunk drivers," said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. "More than 100 motorists found this out when they made the poor decision to drive drunk over the holidays and are now dealing with the consequences."

Officers made 3,106 traffic stops during which they issued 18 seat belt and child restraint citations, 209 speeding tickets and 606 tickets for other traffic violations. In addition, 50 fugitives were arrested and 156 uninsured motorists were cited.

Preliminary reports indicate 12 people died in traffic crashes over the New Year's holiday in Michigan, according to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center. Half of the deaths involved alcohol and four of the people who died were unbuckled. This is a decrease from last year's New Year's holiday period when 14 people were killed in traffic crashes and five of those crashes involved alcohol.