Law Enforcement Prepares for Labor Day Weekend Safety

More than 500 Michigan law enforcement agencies will participate in the a drunk driving crackdown through Labor Day, September 3, to keep holiday motorists safe. Motorists with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or above will be arrested.

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) is coordinating the enforcement effort by administering federal traffic safety funds to more than 230 agencies in 55 counties and by funding paid advertising to ensure widespread awareness of the crackdown. Grant-funded counties in Northern Michigan are Mackinac, Alpena, Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Mason, Otsego, Roscommon, and Wexford.

Motorists face severe penalties for driving drunk. Those convicted of a first drunk driving offense face up to 93 days in jail, up to a $500 fine, up to 360 hours of community service, six points on a driver's license, and up to 180 days' license suspension.

In addition, convicted drunk drivers will be subject to a $1,000 fee for two consecutive years, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs. Anyone who refuses a breath test, for a first offense, is given an automatic one-year driver's license suspension.