Police statewide are taking part in a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign for the holidays.
Michigan State Police Lieutenant DuWayne Robinson out of Paw Paw tells us agencies will have extra patrols out on the road looking for impaired drivers. He says driving under the influence can get a person into serious trouble.
“They’re obviously going to be arrested and they’re going to be lodged in the county jail, wherever that might be,” Robinson said. “They’re going to face a pretty healthy fine and cost depending on how many past convictions that they have. They may be jailed.”
Robinson says even with all of the public messaging about the dangers of driving drunk, people still do it.
“We do find these individuals, we identify that they’re under the influence, and we make the arrest and lodge them.”
From 2020 to 2024, a total of 19 people were killed in traffic crashes in Michigan during the Christmas holiday periods, according to the University of Michigan. Nine of those killed were in crashes involving alcohol or drugs.
Robinson says it’s important for anyone drinking to have a plan for getting home that doesn’t involve driving when they’re out celebrating.
The enforcement period starts today, December 12, and runs through January 1.
