563 Motorists Arrested In Statewide Drunk Driving Crackdown

DETROIT (WWJ) - Law enforcement across Michigan arrested more than 560 motorists for drunken driving during a recent stepped-up enforcement effort.

During the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" crackdown, March 16 through April 4. Officers also issued nearly 900 citations for driving with a suspended license, over 860 for uninsured motorists and nearly 1,900 speeding tickets.

"Long before a driver feels drunk or even acts drunk, the skills and abilities needed to operate a vehicle safely can be impaired," said Michael Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, in a media release. "A drunk or drugged driver may be unable to make the split-second decision necessary for preventing a traffic crash. Even a slight delay can mean the difference between life and death."

In once case, in Marquette County, police say a man ended up being arrested on suspicion of maintaining a meth lab and other charges after he fled officers and ran a red light in an unregistered vehicle.

In another incident, in Saginaw, a driver with two kids in the car admitted to texting and driver after an officer saw him swerving back and forth.

"Any distractions behind the wheel endanger all road users," said Prince. "Distracted driving and drunk driving are both deadly."

There were 303 alcohol-involved fatalities in Michigan during 2015, according to the Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center.

In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, although a motorist can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer believes the driver is impaired.

Funding for this crackdown came from Michigan Strategic Highway Safety Plan grant signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2013.