If You're Driving Drunk, Expect to Be Pulled Over

State police, sheriff’s departments and local police are stepping up drunken driving patrols through Labor Day as part of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning’s annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

The enforcement period includes student move-ins at many Michigan colleges and universities. Michigan has a zero-tolerance alcohol law for drivers under age 21.

“Wrapping up the summer and starting the school year should be full of possibilities, not tragedy from preventable drunk driving crashes,” Michael L. Prince, Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) director, said in a statement. “Be on notice: Michigan law enforcement officers will have extra patrols looking for drunk drivers and unbuckled motorists to help keep you and your family safe.”

During the 2014 Labor Day holiday period, five of the six fatal traffic crashes involved alcohol. In 2014, 319 people died in Michigan as a result of alcohol and/or drug-involved traffic crashes, a 9 percent decrease from 2013.

The campaign will also include stepped up seat belt enforcement. Buckling up can reduce the risk of serious injury or death in a crash by 45 percent, the OHSP said.

In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, although motorists can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer believes they are impaired. Motorists face enhanced penalties if arrested for a first-time drunk driving offense with a .17 BAC or higher.

Michigan law requires drivers, front seat passengers and passengers 15 and younger in any seating position to be buckled up. Children must be in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4’9” tall, and children under 4 years old must be in the back seat.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is supported with federal traffic safety funds coordinated by OHSP. Grant-funded impaired driving and seat belt enforcement is part of Michigan’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2013.