Police in Mackinac, Chippewa, Delta, Marquette, and Menominee counties are participating in a drunk driving crackdown through Sunday, July 5.

The effort of nearly 300 law enforcement agencies began July 26.

These extra patrols are funded by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning through federal traffic safety dollars.

"Whether you've had way too many or just one too many, it's not worth the risk," said Michael Prince, agency director. "There is no justification for driving drunk and Michigan law enforcement won't be accepting any excuses. Get caught driving drunk, and you'll be going to jail."

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 the first time is given an automatic one-year driver's license suspension.

Last year, 14 motorists died in Michigan over the July 4 holiday, with five of those deaths involving alcohol and three of those motorists being unbuckled.

In 2008, there were 317 alcohol related traffic deaths, a decrease of 8.2% from 2007. Although the number of alcohol and/or drug-related traffic deaths declined last year, crashes involving alcohol are eight times more likely to be fatal.