Police Arrest 236 Alleged Drunk Drivers During Fourth of July Crackdown

Flint, MI (Law Firm Newswire) September 25, 2014 – During the Fourth of July period, a crackdown on drunk driving led to 236 arrests for alleged drunk driving, according to officials with the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP).

Law enforcement officers from over 160 sheriff’s offices, Michigan State Police posts and local police departments participated in the crackdown from July 1 to July 13. In total, over 7,800 vehicles were stopped during the two-week period.

“Law enforcement officials are more active in apprehending alleged drunk drivers during periods when drunk driving rates are higher, like the Fourth of July,” said Shaun R. Marks, a Flint attorney who represents people charged with drunk driving offenses. “Crackdowns like this one bring awareness to the consequences of drunk driving.”

Penalties for first-time drunk driving offenses include up to 93 days in jail, fines and a suspended driver’s license. The penalties are higher for cases involving minors, car accidents, high blood alcohol content or other aggravating factors. In some cases, such as a person’s third drunk driving offense, the alleged drunk driver may face felony charges.

The crackdown consisted of increased patrols designed to identify and stop people driving under the influence.

In addition to the arrests for alleged drunk driving, law enforcement offers made 88 arrests for drug offenses, 18 arrests for felony offenses and 145 arrests for other misdemeanors. Law enforcement officers also brought in 179 fugitives.

The Fourth of July crackdown was funded by grants from Michigan’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which was signed into law by Governor Rick Snyder in February 2013.