March 12, 2008

St. Patrick's Day revelers should depend on a designated, sober driver instead of dumb luck to prevent a drunk driving arrest this weekend. Local police officers, sheriff's deputies and Michigan State Police troopers from nearly 140 agencies in 25 counties across the state will be out in force with special federally-funded drunk driving patrols.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) has made these funds available to reduce alcohol-related traffic injuries and fatalities. And with St. Patrick's Day falling on a Monday, some agencies are gearing up for early celebrations with enforcement efforts beginning Friday, March 14 ? Monday, March 17.

"Whether you are meeting a few friends at the local pub after work or attending a big St. Patrick's Day party, designate a sober driver if you plan on drinking," said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. "Michigan law enforcement will be out on the roads ensuring the luck of the Irish runs out on drunk drivers."

Some St. Patrick's festivities begin early in the day, with establishments offering breakfast-time specials to start off the celebration. That's why law enforcement agencies are reminding partiers to plan in advance how they'll get home safely and beginning patrols as early as noon.

Law enforcement officers arrested 708 drunk drivers in Michigan March 17-18, 2007, according to the Michigan State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center. Ninety-six alcohol-related crashes on those two days resulted in four fatalities, and 45 injuries. About 40 percent of all traffic fatalities in Michigan in 2006 involved alcohol and/or drugs, and 440 people died in alcohol and/or drug-related crashes.

Participating counties include: Barry, Bay, Delta, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Ionia, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Menominee, Midland, Oakland, Oceana, Ottawa, Saginaw, Schoolcraft, St. Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne.

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