Before you take to the roads or the lakes this holiday weekend, be sure to designate a sober driver- otherwise a police car could be your ride home.

Stepped up drunk driving patrols began Aug. 19 and will continue through the weekend in 30 Michigan counties. The federally funded patrols are part of the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. drunk driving crackdown.

“More people died in alcohol-involved crashes in July and August than in any other months in 2009,” said Michael L. Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). “That is why summertime enforcement efforts are vital to the safety of motorists across the state.”

 While the number of alcohol-involved fatalities has continued to decline, crashes involving alcohol are eight times more likely to be fatal than those not involving alcohol. During last year’s Labor Day holiday period, four people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes.

Law enforcement officers across the state arrested more than 580 people for alcohol-related offenses and wrote 226 alcohol-related citations during the 2009 statewide drunk driving crackdown in late August and early September.

Officers in Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford counties will continue to work extra patrols through Sept. 6.

For a listing of planned enforcement times, dates and locations, visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

New iPhone app helps find safe and sober rides home

Officers working this year’s end-of summer drunk driving crackdown will be assisted by a first-of-its-kind iPhone app, the Michigan DUI Tracker. The app seeks to make enforcement visible in a unique way, using the phone’s GPS system to remind users that enforcement can be anywhere at any time – including just down the street or around the corner.

Because officers are always on the lookout for drunk drivers, app users are presented with a list for calling a taxi or a friend for a safe and sober ride home.

The app coincides with the start of the statewide Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown which runs Aug. 19-Sept. 6.

“Introducing an app for iPhones keeps the drunk driving message current,” said Michael L. Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). “This will make it easier and more convenient to make that call for a designated driver.”

The statewide drunk driving enforcement effort kicks off today with more than 200 law enforcement agencies in 30 counties participating. Extra patrols are funded by OHSP through federal traffic safety dollars in an effort to deter motorists from driving drunk.

In 2009, there were 299 alcohol-related traffic deaths, a decrease of 5.7 percent from 2008. Although the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths declined last year, crashes involving alcohol are eight times more likely to be fatal.

Motorists convicted of a first drunk driving offense face up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver’s license and up to 180 days’ license suspension. In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic one-year driver’s license suspension.

Federally-funded drunk driving enforcement is occurring in the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford.

For a listing of planned enforcement times, dates, and locations, visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

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Campaign announces start of statewide drunk driving crackdown

As Michigan prepares to embark upon a statewide, end-of-summer crackdown on drunk drivers, federally funded TV and radio ads highlight how a drunk driving conviction can follow a person for a long time. The ads, aimed specifically at young men, are part of a comprehensive advertising campaign that begins Wednesday.

The TV spot features a convicted drunk driver and how the DUI literally follows him around in his daily life. The young man drags a keg representing the arrest as he walks through town because he no longer has a license. He then attempts to withdraw funds via an ATM, only to discover he has insufficient funds in his bank account because of the costly arrest.

“A drunk driving arrest is a costly proposition,” said Michael L. Prince, Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) director. “But doesn’t compare to the deaths and injuries caused by drunk drivers each year. If you drive drunk you will be arrested. No warnings. No second chances.”

The advertising blitz, sponsored by OHSP, warns motorists that the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. statewide crackdown starts Aug.19 and runs through Sept. 6.  TV, cable and radio ads will run Wednesday through Sunday for three weeks on stations in the Detroit, Flint, and Grand Rapids media markets.

Ads will also appear on sports and video gaming websites such as MLB.com, GameSpot.com and XBOX.com, all popular with men ages 21 to 34, the group most likely to drive drunk. Movie theater advertising will also be shown in the Detroit, Flint, and Grand Rapids media markets..

 Advertising concepts were developed based on focus group findings that indicate men ages 21 to 34 are most concerned with the monetary consequences of a drunk driving arrest and conviction. No state general fund money is being used to support this effort. Federal traffic safety dollars are funding the ad campaign.

The “Keg and Chain” ad can be viewed at www.youtube.com/ohsp.

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Sunscreen: check. Hot dogs: check. Safe ride home: check. Before heading out for a barbeque or the beach this August be sure to include a sober driver on your checklist.

Extra officers across the state will step up drunk driving patrols during the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown Aug. 19 through Sept 6.

Officers in thirty counties will work extra patrols paid for with federal traffic safety funds administered by the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). Grant-funded counties are Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford.

 “If you plan to drink, be sure to plan for a safe ride home, otherwise a police officer could be your driver,” said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. “State, local and county officers will be out in force looking for impaired drivers and if you are caught driving drunk, you will be arrested.”

Despite a nearly six percent drop in impaired driving-related fatalities in 2009, alcohol is involved in 35 percent of Michigan traffic fatalities and accounted for 299 traffic fatalities last year. During the 2009 Labor Day holiday period, 16 people died in crashes with four of those fatalities involving alcohol.

For a list of planned patrol dates, times and locations, please visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

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A statewide drunk driving crackdown continues through this weekend as additional law enforcement officers in 30 counties strictly enforce the state’s impaired driving laws during a federally funded initiative.

The Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown runs through July 11 with more than 200 law enforcement agencies conducting extra patrols funded by the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).

The crackdown began July 1 in an effort to keep motorists safe during the heavily traveled Fourth of July holiday weekend. This included a multi-state traffic enforcement effort on I-94 on July 2. In Michigan, the eight-hour I-94 Corridor Traffic Enforcement Project resulted in 15 drunk driving and 13 drug-related arrests, 16 warrant and three felony arrests and more than 300 traffic citations. Among the citations issued were 36 seat belt and child passenger safety citations and 25 aggressive driving citations, 18 of which were issued by Michigan State Police Motor Carrier officers.

“Many families are taking advantage of the hot weather to take extended vacations after the holiday and extra officers will be out on the road through this weekend to make sure everyone gets to and from their destinations safely,” said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. “If you drive drunk, you will be arrested. No excuses, no second chances.”

Preliminary data from the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center indicates that five people died in traffic crashes over the July 4 holiday weekend. Two of those killed were motorcyclists, one person was unbelted, and none of the crashes involved alcohol.

Motorists convicted of a first drunk driving offense face up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver’s license and up to 180 days license suspension. In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic one-year driver’s license suspension.

Federally-funded drunk driving enforcement is occurring in the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford.

For a listing of planned enforcement times, dates, and locations, visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

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Motorists wishing to keep their independence this July 4^th holiday need to designate a sober driver as a statewide drunk driving crackdown kicks off today with more than 200 law enforcement agencies in 30 counties participating in the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown.

The effort runs through July 11 and includes a special, one-night, multi-state traffic enforcement effort on 1,500 miles of I-94. On July 2, law enforcement agencies in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin will deploy extra patrols during the I-94 Corridor Traffic Enforcement Project to deter all dangerous driving behaviors. In Michigan, this effort will include support from the Michigan State Police Aviation Section, Hometown Security Teams and Motor Carrier officers.

I-94 is the busiest and most injury crash-prone corridor in Michigan according to state crash data. From 2007 through 2009, there were more than 520 fatal or serious injury crashes, averaging 176 per year. It is also a major commercial truck route in all seven states.

Extra patrols in Michigan are funded by the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) through federal traffic safety dollars in an effort to deter motorists from driving drunk. Last year, one pedestrian died in Michigan in an alcohol-involved crash over the July 4^th holiday.

 “Don’t let your Fourth of July end in an arrest, said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. “Make smart decisions and plan ahead to ensure a safe way home. If you drive drunk, you will be arrested.”

In 2009, there were 299 alcohol-related traffic deaths, a decrease of 5.7 percent from 2008. Although the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths declined last year, crashes involving alcohol are eight times more likely to be fatal.

Motorists convicted of a first drunk driving offense face up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver’s license and up to 180 days’ license suspension. In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic one-year driver’s license suspension.

Federally-funded drunk driving enforcement is occurring in the following counties: Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford.

For a listing of planned enforcement times, dates, and locations, visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

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This July 4^th weekend will start out with some flashes of red, white and blue. Officers in Michigan and six other states will take part in a targeted enforcement effort along the I-94 corridor from the Canadian border to Montana on July 2 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.

 The effort will kick start the annual Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown in 30 Michigan counties.

The federally funded enforcement effort takes place July 1-11 and includes the much-traveled July 4^th holiday weekend. The enforcement is coordinated by the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).

“More people traveling means a greater risk of crashes, especially when alcohol is involved,” said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. “Our goal is to warn people of the enforcement so they will make the responsible decision not to drive drunk, otherwise they can expect to be arrested.”

Last year, one pedestrian was killed in an alcohol-related traffic crash during the July 4^th holiday.

The penalties for a first-time drunk driving conviction include up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver’s license and up to 180 days’ license suspension.

In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs.  Anyone who refuses a breath test the first time is given an automatic one-year driver’s license suspension.

For a listing of planned enforcement times, dates, and locations, visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

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 Still looking for that perfect present? The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) and law enforcement officers statewide have just the right gift that truly says you care – an e-card for a safe, sober ride home.

The online sober driving effort is part of the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. holiday crackdown which begins Dec. 23 and goes through Jan. 3. Two events will kick off the enforcement and awareness campaign today in Saginaw and Holland.

 “The best way to avoid spending the holidays in jail is to be sure to celebrate responsibly by designating a sober driver, taking a cab or spending the night,” said OHSP Director Michael L. Prince. “The gift of a sober ride home lets you tell friends and family that you care about their safety and disapprove of impaired driving.”

To supplement a national paid advertising campaign to promote awareness, OHSP is launching a new way for friends and family to offer someone a safe, sober ride home with online e-cards available at www.alivefortheholidays.com. In addition, grant-funded agencies will be offering local bars and restaurants similar drink coasters where patrons can also gift a sober ride.

During the two-week enforcement period, officers in 30 Michigan counties will work more than 7,000 hours of stepped up enforcement aimed at curtailing drunk driving. The extra patrols are paid for with federal traffic safety funds totaling nearly $300,000.

Grant-funded officers will be on patrol in Allegan, Barry, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Chippewa, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Tuscola, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford counties.

In spite of progress made in reducing drunk driving in Michigan, nearly 37 percent of traffic fatalities involve alcohol and/or drugs. Last year, 379 people were killed in alcohol and/or drug-related crashes including three during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season.

A list of participating grant-funded law enforcement agencies can be found at www.michigan.gov/ohsp.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning and law enforcement officers statewide encourage everyone to desingate a sober driver and stay alive for the holidays.

Send a free e-card good for a sober ride home at http://alivefortheholidays.com/

Santa doesn’t visit jail cells – and that’s exactly where motorists could end up if they choose to drive drunk this holiday season. Extra officers will be on the lookout for drunk drivers during two weeks of stepped up enforcement beginning Dec. 23.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) is coordinating the enforcement effort, paid for with federal traffic safety dollars, in 30 counties statewide.  More than $280,000 will be spent to fund the Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown.

During last year’s holiday enforcement period, 365 motorists were arrested for impaired driving statewide.

“Despite warnings and stepped up enforcement, some people will still choose to drive drunk,” said OHSP Director Michael L. Prince. “We hope this message is a stern reminder that drunk drivers will be arrested and pay the price of making a bad choice.”

To avoid spending the holidays in jail, revelers should designate a sober driver, take a cab or spend the night. Enforcement will continue through the New Year concluding on Jan. 3.

Last year during the holiday season 20 people were killed in 17 crashes on Michigan’s roads, and three of those crashes were alcohol-related.