Drunk Driving Crackdown is an Annual Event

It’s that time of year again, folks – the season of March madness, Irish drinking songs and that most revered of college break periods. Yes, you guessed it…. the NCAA, St Patrick’s day and spring break. But while many may associate this period of time between mid- March and early April with beer and laughter and fun and friends, what they often forget to include in that list is the issue of drunk driving. But the police officers of Michigan most certainly have not forgotten.

As is always the case around this time of year, police agencies across the mitten come together to conduct a statewide drunk driving crackdown. From mid-March through April, police departments in 26 counties, along with the Michigan State Police, will be increasing their drunk driving patrols.

The crackdown began yesterday, on March 16th, and will continue through April 7th. It is designed to include college spring break periods, along with St Patrick’s day and the March Madness Basketball tournament.

The campaign, called “Drive sober or get pulled over”, takes a slightly different approach every time it is held, which is multiple times annually during periods of increased drunk driving. One of last year’s campaigns brought awareness via the form of crafty beer names like “left my keys at home Lager” and “Call a cab Cider”.

This time, however, MSP is collaborating with bars across the state who will be placing the drinks they serve on coasters featuring basketball themed “designated driver” messages in the hopes of promoting the idea that people should “pass the keys”.

Increased patrols are planned for many counties across the state, including Allegan, Berrien, Calhoun, Chippewa, Delta, Eaton, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Houghton, Ingham, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Monroe, Muskegon, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, St. Clair, Van Buren, Washtenaw, Wayne and Wexford counties, to name but a few.

While the attorneys at The Kronzek Firm are dedicated to defending those accused of drunk driving across the state, the best possible advice we can offer, now and throughout the year, is don’t drink and drive!