State police to crack down on drunken holiday drivers

Increased police patrols will scatter Michigan’s roads this weekend as part of a statewide initiative to crack down on drunken driving.

The “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” initiative began Aug. 15 and will end on Labor Day, according to Michigan State Police.

More than 1,500 people were cited for alcohol-related offenses during the three-week period last year, said Anne Readett, of Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning.

State, county and city departments from across Michigan will add more patrols to all of the state’s roadways, Michigan State police Lt. Chris Kelenske said.

“We’re not going easy on anyone,” he said. “We are taking an active stance arresting people that have alcohol in their systems that are over the limit.”

Lori Bates, a professional writing junior, is planning to drive home on Labor Day. The crackdown is a good idea, she said.

“It’s pretty important that they keep an eye out because I know there’s tragedies every year,” she said.

The Ingham County Sheriff’s office will have four more patrol cars on the road this weekend, Sgt. Jeff Weiss said.

But East Lansing does not plan on increasing its patrol, since Labor Day weekend is one of the quietest weekends for the city, East Lansing police Chief Tom Wibert said.

“We’re always looking for drunk drivers, but there’s hardly anyone in town,” he said.

The end-of-summer initiative is one of many police projects funded by a federal grant.

Michigan received $675,000, which was divided among 55 counties to cover expenses of the three-week patrol increase.

Lansing, East Lansing, Meridian Township police and the Ingham County sheriff collectively received $20,000 to spend on alcohol-related crackdowns for the year.

In 2007, four people died in Michigan because of alcohol-related traffic accidents during the Labor Day weekend.

Published on Wednesday, August 27, 2008