August 27, 2008

EAST LANSING. With the final holiday of the summer nearing, the Michigan State Police (MSP) continues to emphasize safe driving through strict enforcement of Michigan's drunk driving laws. Troopers will again concentrate patrol efforts for the Labor Day holiday weekend in conjunction with the nationwide Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) safe-driving initiative, as well as the statewide Over the Limit. Under Arrest. drunk driving crackdown.

"Be warned there are no free passes for unsafe drivers," stated Col. Peter C. Munoz, MSP director. "Choose to be responsible, which means not getting behind the wheel after drinking; if you drive drunk, a trooper will be waiting for you."

The official Labor Day holiday weekend begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, and runs through midnight on Monday, Sept. 1, 2008. Last year, 12 fatal traffic crashes resulted in 12 deaths over the Labor Day holiday weekend.

Operation C.A.R.E., one of the nation's longest-running traffic safety initiatives, began in 1977 as a collaborative effort between the MSP and Indiana State Police. Today, it includes state and highway patrol agencies from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Canada and the Virgin Islands.