The law enforcement arsenal has been further enhanced with the addition of 224 in-car cameras, 75 preliminary breath testers (PBTs) and two passive alcohol sensor flashlights.
This equipment hit the road Friday as local law enforcement agencies joined officers from more than 500 agencies across the state to look out for drunk drivers.
The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) is coordinating the enforcement effort by providing federal traffic safety funds to more than 140 agencies to boost patrols in selected areas and by funding paid advertising to ensure widespread awareness of the crackdown.
During the last crackdown period that ran from late December to early January, more than 1,800 individuals were arrested for alcohol-related offenses.
In spite of the progress that has been made to reduce drunk driving, 36.1 percent of all traffic fatalities in Michigan still involve alcohol and/or drugs. In 2004, 418 people died and 8,667 were injured in alcohol and/or drug-related crashes on Michigan roadways. During the 2004 Labor Day weekend, 11 people died in traffic crashes, four of which involved alcohol.
Traffic fatalities are typically highest during the summer months. Early 2004 data shows that more fatal crashes occurred in August than any other month.
The 32 counties receiving federal traffic safety funding for overtime patrols include: Allegan, Bay, Berrien, Calhoun, Clinton, Delta, Eaton, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Midland, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, St. Joseph, Shiawassee, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
