Drunk-Driving Enforcement Steps Up

The watchful eyes of law enforcement are out in force on Michigan roads through April 7th, to keep drunk drivers off the roads during Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, and high school and college spring break periods. Traditionally, the concern targeted only St. Patrick’s Day revelers, but Lynn Sutfin of the Michigan Office Of Highway Safety Planning, says the extra patrols from 144 agencies in 26 counties, will also target March Madness and spring break, and those who fail to buckle up. Sutfin says a five-year review of crash data indicates both alcohol use and lack of seat belts play a significant role in fatal and serious injury crashes in March and early April, and they encourage motorists to designate a sober driver or find a way home before consuming any alcohol. Last year, officers made 2, 271 arrests for drunk driving during March Madness, 671 were arrested under the state’s high blood-alcohol content law with levels of .17 or higher, and more than 500 of those arrests were made by grant-funded law enforcement agencies.