Sheriff’s Office shows zero tolerance in goal to end drunk driving

A statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is already in effect and will run through September 5. “The law enforcement officers participating in this campaign are dedicated to changing that”.

“The stepped up enforcement during the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign accomplishes two things”, says Kentwood Police Chief Tom Hillen, “for most people it’s a deterrent that ensures they use a seatbelt, and drives sober or rides with a sober driver, for others, enforcement serves as a safety net”.

Previously, the national slogan was “Drunk Driving: Over the Limit, Under Arrest”, but since impaired driving is not limited to alcohol consumption, law enforcement agencies are stressing sober driving.

The extra patrols will last through Labor day.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 10,000 people died annually between 2010 and 2014 in drunk driving crashes.

“However, deaths in alcohol-related crashes increased from 162 in 2014 to 190 in 2015, which is a 17 percent increase, and injuries also increased from 4,932 to 5,174, which is a almost 5 percent increase”. “There is no price tag that can be placed on the lives of those who are lost in traffic crashes caused by drunk and impaired drivers”.

“There are people who like to pretend that certain laws don’t apply to them, but just to be clear: in every state, for every person, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of.08 or higher”, said Sheriff Scott Kent. The app allows you to call pre-selected contacts or a taxi, and also identifies your location so you can be picked up.

The program also includes an increase in seat belt enforcement. Grant-funded impaired driving and seat belt enforcement is part of Michigan’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2013.