Police increase holiday patrols
Police increase holiday patrols
MARQUETTE — Police agencies in five Upper Peninsula counties will wrap up extra holiday patrols for drunken driving today and Tuesday.
The extra patrols will be out in Marquette, Schoolcraft, Menominee, Gogebic and Chippewa counties, according to a news release from the Marquette bureau of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
“The Fourth of July was the deadliest holiday weekend on Michigan’s roads last year, and law enforcement officers will be out looking for and arresting drunk drivers to reduce deaths and injuries,” said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director. “Independence Day is a great time to celebrate, but everyone should do so responsibly by designating a sober driver.”
In 2005’s three-day weekend, 17 people died in 13 accidents statewide, and 31 percent of the crashes involved alcohol, according to the report.
The statewide patrols, which will also include 21 counties in the Lower Peninsula, are sponsored through federal traffic safety funds, the release states.
In Marquette County, beefed-up patrols will be conducted Tuesday by the Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, Marquette City Police Department and Michigan State Police at the Negaunee post.
Extra patrols will also be out in three of the four other U.P. counties on Tuesday — in Schoolcraft County, they will be conducted by state police at the Manistique post; in Menominee County, by the Menominee County Sheriff’s Department and Menominee Police Department; and in Gogebic County, by state police at the Wakefield post.
Today’s patrols take place in Gogebic County by the Wakefield post and in Chippewa County by the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department, according to the state police.
State police in all 15 U.P. counties are stepping up patrols over the holiday to reduce traffic accidents as part of a U.S. and Canadian safety initiative, Operation CARE — Combined Accident Reduction Effort.
“Troopers throughout the state will take a zero-tolerance approach to motorists operating under the influence of alcohol and drugs, while also paying special attention to unbuckled motorists,” Col. Peter C. Munoz, director of the state police, said in a press release.
The official holiday weekend began at 6 p.m. Friday and runs through midnight Tuesday.
Similar patrols in the U.P. funded by the federal government continue throughout July for drunken drivers and seat belt enforcement in Marquette, Schoolcraft, Menominee, Iron and Chippewa counties.
State police remind drivers that .08 percent is the blood alcohol content threshold for drunken driving in Michigan.
First-time violators face 93 days in jail, a $500 fine, 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver’s license and 180-day license suspension.
In addition, convicted drunk drivers are subject to a $1,000 penalty for two consecutive years.
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