A total of 433 motorists were arrested for drunk driving in Michigan during a recent three-week police crackdown.
This is an increase from the 405 DUI arrests made during a similar enforcement effort in 2012.
Seventy-two (72) drivers arrested in the sweep – which lasted from March 13 to April 8 – were charged under Michigan’s Superdrunk law for having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .17 or higher.
There were 12,296 traffic stops and 6,350 citations and arrests, including 296 for other alcohol- and drug-related charges, such as open intoxicants.
The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) coordinated the effort, which involved 155 law enforcement agencies in 26 counties.
The crackdown was timed to coincide with various holidays and public events – including the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournaments, high school and college spring break and St. Patrick’s Day – which are normally associated with drinking.
“Motorists who choose to drive drunk endanger everyone on the roadway,” said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director, in a news release. “Enforcement efforts like this save lives by putting extra officers on the road to stop and arrest impaired drivers as well as curtail other dangerous driving behaviors.”
Here is more from the OHSP news release:
One motorist was arrested with a .43 BAC by Kent County’s Kentwood Police Department. It was the driver’s third drunk driving arrest. In Wayne County, a driver was arrested for driving drunk with two children in the vehicle and was subsequently cited for child endangerment by the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.
Other enforcement activity included:
- 1,091 speeding citations
- 648 uninsured motorist citations
- 556 suspended driver’s license citations
- 291 fugitive arrests
- 186 misdemeanor arrests
- 129 seat belt and child restraint citations
- 55 felony arrests
Drinking and driving in Michigan is a serious offense that combines elements of law, science and human behavior.
Under Michigan’s drunk driving laws, a first-time offender can face jail time, probation, fines, costs of court and other penalties.
Drivers arrested in the March-April sweep were from the following counties: Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Chippewa, Delta, Eaton, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ogemaw, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne.
A Michigan DUI lawyer can provide advice on possible defenses and options.
Sources:
- Michigan State Police
https://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,4643,7-123-1586-300862–,00.html - MADD
http://www.madd.org/statistics/