September 16, 2010 - Statewide Crackdown Nets Over 500 Drunk Driving Arrests, Thousands of Other Traffic Citations
During the statewide drunk driving crackdown, most Michigan motorists heeded the warning Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. as law enforcement agencies reported a decline in arrests and citations compared to last year's enforcement effort.
More than 200 law enforcement agencies took to the streets Aug. 19-Sept. 6 as part of the nationwide effort to reduce injuries and deaths caused by alcohol-related crashes. The crackdown was coordinated by the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) and paid for with federal traffic safety dollars.
This year, officers made nearly 12,000 traffic stops compared to 13,000 last year, and arrested 35 fewer drunk drivers. During this year's enforcement period, 520 motorists were arrested for drunk driving, while 552 were arrested in 2009.
"These arrests prevented numerous tragedies from occurring," said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. "Enforcement efforts like the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown save lives."
Noted among the arrests were a driver in the Upper Peninsula's Chippewa County who recorded a blood alcohol content of .214 and a motorist in Detroit who struck a pole while driving drunk with five young children in the vehicle. The driver was arrested for drunk driving and child endangerment.
This year's Labor Day crackdown also netted 84 drug-related arrests and 84 open intoxicants, 75 minor in possession, 290 seat belt and child seat, 1,777 speeding and 3,521 other traffic violation citations.
Preliminary results show there were 13 traffic fatalities in Michigan over the Labor Day holiday weekend, two of which involved alcohol, according to the Michigan State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center. In comparison, 16 people died in traffic crashes during the 2009 Labor Day holiday weekend, four of which involved alcohol.
Another federally funded drunk driving enforcement effort is scheduled the week of Halloween, Oct. 25-31.
