Drivers on Michigan roadways need to be very carful as they drive around this coming weekend. Labor Day weekend is a weekend that is often associated with end of summer parties that involve alcohol. The Michigan State Police and many other departments across the state are trying to keep the roads safe by continuing the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign.
For party goers, this means that you need to be especially careful if you are going to drink alcohol. Instead of trying to drive yourself home after a few beers or other drinks, find a ride. If you can’t find a ride, find somewhere to stay so that you don’t have to drive.
As a quick reminder, police officers in Michigan can arrest you no matter what your blood-alcohol concentration if they have reason to think that you are impaired. The legal BAC limit for most drivers is .08 percent. BACs that are at or above .17 percent are associated with enhanced penalties.
Last year, 15 people were killed in Michigan over the Labor Day holiday period. That was a big jump from the six people who died over the same period in 2014. Police officers in Michigan want to decrease the number of fatalities this year.
The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign resulted in 351 drunk driving arrests last year. Additional citations were issues because of child restraint and safety belt violations.
If something happens and you end up being arrested as part of this campaign, or if you are facing any drunk driving charges, you might decide to fight the charges. Knowing your rights and how to assert those in accordance with Michigan and federal laws can help you during the traffic stop, arrest, and throughout the criminal justice process.
Source: Radio Results Network, “Drunk Driving Awareness Campaign Continues,” accessed Aug. 30, 2016
