Washtenaw County police officers step up patrols to focus on drunken driving through the holidays
Washtenaw County police officers will be working extra hours in the coming weeks in an effort aimed at arresting drunken drivers around the county through the holidays.
It's part of a statewide crackdown that includes more than 200 law enforcement agencies in 35 counties. The effort is funded by the state Office of Highway Safety Planning through federal traffic safety funds.
Locally, extra enforcements began Thursday and will run through Jan. 2, according to Washtenaw County Sheriff's Sgt. David Archer. Agencies participating include the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety, Milan Police, Saline Police and Chelsea Police.
Archer said officers will work an extra 200 hours on the enforcement effort, noting that
alcohol-involved crashes tend to be more serious than non-drinking crashes.
Police are cracking down on drunken driving through the holidays.
Tonight's extra patrols, starting at 8 p.m., will focus on the area of Michigan Avenue and Platt Road in Pittsfield Township, Michigan Avenue and Austin Road just west of Saline, M-52 and Old US-12 in Chelsea, Michigan Avenue and Hewitt Road in Ypsilanti Township and streets around the University of Michigan campus.
The enforcement effort Saturday will focus on Carpenter Road and Washtenaw Avenue in Pittsfield Township, M-52 and I-94 near Chelsea, Carpenter and Milan-Oakville roads in Milan, Ellsworth and Hewitt roads in Ypsilanti Township and the U-M campus.
The crackdown will then resume next Wednesday evening. Officials said that in addition to drunken driving, officers will be on the lookout for seat belt violators.
In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, although motorists can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer feels they exhibit signs of impairment while driving. As of Oct. 31, under the new high "super drunk" law, motorists face enhanced penalties if arrested with a .17 or higher blood alcohol content.
“The holidays are a time for family and friends to gather and celebrate,” OHSP Director Michael L. Prince said in a release. “Help keep this festive season safe by not drinking and driving or planning ahead by designating a sober driver.”
In 2009, there were 299 alcohol-related traffic deaths, a decrease of 5.7 percent from 2008. During last year’s Christmas and New Year’s holiday periods, 10 people died in traffic crashes in Michigan, and four of those deaths were alcohol-related, the OHSP said.
A motorist convicted of drunken driving faces up to 93 days in jail, a $500 fine, 360 hours of community service, 180 days driving suspension and six points on a driver’s license.
If convicted under Michigan’s new "super drunk" law, jail time increases to 180 days, fines reach $700 and a one-year license suspension is possible.
In addition, all convicted drunken drivers are 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.
Comments
Nephilim
Mon, Dec 27, 2010 : 9:06 p.m.
You are wasting your time and energy Julie. These people on here will never get it. Just look at the bulk of their posts on various topics. You can get a glimpse of what they have to look at everyday in the mirror. Life must have really wronged them somewhere........
julieswhimsies
Tue, Dec 21, 2010 : 5:41 p.m.
I United States Drunk Driving Car Accident Statistics (2008) There were 11,773 drunk driving deaths in 2008. 2008 showed a 9.7% decrease from 2007 in alcohol-impaired driving deaths. Drunk driving deaths (11,773) accounted for 32% of the total amount of United States car accident deaths (37,261) in 2008. 1,347 children ages 14 and younger died as occupants in car accidents in 2008. Of those deaths, 216 (approx 16%) were the direct result of drunk drivers. Along with the 1,347 child occupant fatalities, another 34 children died as pedestrians or bikers who were hit by drunk drivers. Nighttime drivers were four times more likely to die in drunk driving crashes in 2008 than those driving during the daytime. In 2008, weekend drivers were twice as likely to be involved in drinking and driving car crashes than weekday drivers decided to do a small amount of research. These are statistics from 2008.
julieswhimsies
Tue, Dec 21, 2010 : 5:31 p.m.
@Atticus I'm very sorry for you loss Julieswhimsey. But as I stated earlier, we cant use the example of a small handful of tragedies be used as a catylist to imprison 10,000 people who havn't hurt anybody. Tragedies (injuries and deaths) inflicted by drunk drivers are not rare. I think there have been more than a "handful" without researching the subject.The fact that some arrested while driving drunk did not cause injury or death might just be luck. Drunk drivers put all of us at risk. Having said that, people texting, yakking on their phones, applying make-up, shaving, reading also put us all at risk. Those people should be punished as well if they cause injury. When anyone gets behind the wheel of a car, his/her entire purpose should be getting from point A to point B safely, and without causing mayhem. Drive the car with a clear head, and minimal distractions. Impaired driving (through drugs or alcohol) has been proven to be dangerous. That is why it is illegal. We arrest people for breaking the law. You do the crime, you pay the time.
Greggy_D
Tue, Dec 21, 2010 : 3:29 p.m.
Julie....sorry for your loss. My mother's brother was killed by a sober speeder. BTW, speeding is the #1 cause of death on the roads. Shall we treat ALL speeders the same way we punish ALL those pulled over for DUI? What makes a death by a drunk driver any more tragic than a death caused by a sober speeder?
Atticus F.
Tue, Dec 21, 2010 : 2:17 p.m.
I'm very sorry for you loss Julieswhimsey. But as I stated earlier, we cant use the example of a small handful of tragedies be used as a catylist to imprison 10,000 people who havn't hurt anybody. Yes the person who killed your friend should be imprisoned. However, I dont think the 10,000 people sitting in jail now, who haven't hurt anyone should be held responsible for your friends death.
julieswhimsies
Mon, Dec 20, 2010 : 7:21 p.m.
@ atticus My best friend was killed 5 years ago, when a drunk driver crossed the center-line on a back road, traveling, at what investigators and witnesses believe, over 90 mph. My friend had almost every bone in her body shattered, and survived for 16 hours in horrific pain and agony. The drunk was a well-known millionaire and philanthropist. He received one year in jail, and one year in community service. He is now happily residing in his vast estate in the Bahamas. My friend's mother had to be hospitalized after the tragedy. Sara was her only daughter. Sara's family and friends, including me, lost a kind, gentle, and generous spirit, who never lived to see her own daughter's wedding the following week. The MURDERER had 2 previous DUIs and a great team of lawyers. Drunk drivers are a menace, and should be treated as such.
Atticus F.
Mon, Dec 20, 2010 : 9:46 a.m.
Another thing you'll notice is that in all of the DUI enfocement comercials, the people being arrested are ALL MEN. The reason for this is that it doesn't bother people to see a man "getting what he deserves". However, if it's a woman being taken away in a pair of handcuffs there might be some opposition to these draconian laws. I have yet to see one woman being led away in handcuffs in these comercials. Anyone want to explain that?
Atticus F.
Mon, Dec 20, 2010 : 9:44 a.m.
The thing that bothers me the most about this situation, is the hysteria. A small handful of tragedies being used as an excuse to ruin the lives of 10,000 people. I'm not saying we shouldn't have laws against drunk driving. Just saying that the laws are way too strict.
RJA
Sun, Dec 19, 2010 : 11:34 p.m.
Go for it WCS!! You can probably start your patrols on early Sunday mornings now. I appreciate your getting drunk drivers OFF the roads. Put them in jail, and have their autos hauled away.
Lionfan
Sun, Dec 19, 2010 : 11:07 a.m.
I don't think you understand these alcohol and seatbelt details allow the state to get federal funding for the roads. It is not the local municipalities trying to make profits. I forgot the police are the bad guys in these situations because they are doing their jobs. It's also funny that when a drunk kills somebody in an accident, you are the same people that would ask why the police didn't stop them.
Awakened
Sun, Dec 19, 2010 : 11:05 a.m.
@SonnyDog. Most agencies set the cost of the officer at the overtime cost. Time and a half. Ann Arbor figures in all administrative and equiptment costs as well. This puts them over the maximum amount allowed by grant. Therefore, no grant money for AAPD. They will probably be out doing the enfocement. Just not getting reimbursed for it.
15crown00
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 8:56 p.m.
don't tell them where you're going to be and no warning when u stop them.JAIL,JAIL,JAIL
Killroy
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 6:44 p.m.
I decided to walk home from the bar last night, hicks.
Jim
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 1:13 p.m.
I say just have a police car sitting in a bar parking lot.I would say that would deter me from having more then two drinks.
snapshot
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 1:02 p.m.
It would be cheaper for the county to pick up the tab of all cabs for drunk drivers. Blowing a.08 or greater would be required for a free cab ride to "prevent abuse" (this is what all government policy says when they give something away) Also county volunteer drivers could be used in pairs for safety and also driving the drunks car home with them. Lower costs, greater safety, but will it happen....no because the financial incentive is on "enforcement" not "prevention". There's no money and glory in prevention.
Ann Arbor Resident
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 12:08 p.m.
What is the big issue here? If you all just follow the law and, stop drinking and driving the police could worry about other crimes and community services. The complainers make it sound like it is a god given right to drink and drive, and police officers attempts to remove drunk drivers is a crime against them. Have you no interest is saving your life and other's lifes? If you ever knew someone whose life was changed because of alcohol, drugs and cars you might be singing a different tune.
fishjamaica
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 11:15 a.m.
How about cracking down on burglaries, home invasions, sexual assaults, and domestic violence? Maybe a crackdown on armed robbery? If there were 10 deaths last holiday season and 4 of tthem were alcohol related what were the other 6 related to? How about cracking down on speeding and tailgaiting? How about cracking down on angry ex's that shoot women at their workplaces? Sorry, drunk driving enforcement is about revenue.
Basic Bob
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 11:06 a.m.
"Office of Highway Safety Planning" Their plan is to give away money to fund overtime for police officers. They should be earmarked out of the budget for such nonsense.
SonnyDog09
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 6:55 a.m.
It is interesting to note that the Ann Arbor Police are not participating. I wonder why?
krc
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 6:42 a.m.
Let's hear from Rich Kinsey on this one. Rich?
John
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 2:30 a.m.
20/20 I see and hear what you say, but cops love DUI's bc it means 4 hrs of overtime for each one going to court.. that means they make 1.5 times their hourly wage times 4 hrs so 6 hrs times there salary 30 an hr is like 240 bucks per person that trys to fight a DUI or any other crime. Do you know a E-1 E-2 E-3 private in the military only makes 1k-1.5k a month. They are the ones actually fighting and risking thier lives, I seen the budget report for each cop and its well over 160k per cop with car included... I dunno but thats like 16 E-1 privates in the army's pay for a whole year... I see the math and I see the problem very clearly. 1. We need stop spending so much money on services... 2. We need to do preventative work for all crimes regarding drugs or alcohol... 3. We need to actually investigate all crimes, and actually solve a real crime... ( if your house gets broke into they don't finger print it to look for a criminal they write a report for your home owners innsurance and close the case, but if a bank gets robbed they do a real investigation... hmmm seems fair to me) 4. Give people a living wage so they can afford cabs to go out for a fun night would be a good fix. 5. Stop showing stats of a drunk driver killing people, bc dumb people or txting people kill way more people then drunk drivers do... Get a better plan, follow that plan, use that plan, and actually make things better for everyone... No one needs to die, pay fines, or go to jail if people would make proper and useful plan that works... Everyone is just trying to do what they know, we should be teaching people from an earlier age how to do things when others lives are involved.
20/20
Sat, Dec 18, 2010 : 1:02 a.m.
It's pretty obvious that most of you have not been a victim of a drunk driver, or know someone who has. If you ever get that chance, I believe your attitude would change. In regards to Johnny Hutchins: I'm sure if you spear headed a grass roots campaign for a loca police millage that was earmarked for sending officers into bars and giving drunk driver's a ride home they would do that. But I don't think the citizens would vote yes for such a millage. The current funding and staff for most police departments just won't cut it.
a2baggagehandler
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 11:43 p.m.
you drink, you drive, you lose.
julieswhimsies
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 10:24 p.m.
@John B. If a teenage girl killed someone while texting and driving....yes. I would consider it murder.
nickcarraweigh
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 8:36 p.m.
These comments indicate a variety of misunderstandings among readers. First, police only prevent crimes by happenstance. Second, to argue that enforcement is not revenue-driven is to be willfully blind; the vast law enforcement bureaucracy requires staggering outlays without regard either to the number of actual crimes that occur or to the number of arrests, prosecutions or incarcerations that result. Not a single one of the millions in the sprawling law enforcement community, be they police, prosecutors, jail guards or corrections, parole or probation officers, get paid on a piecework basis. If Washtenaw County had 23 jail cells, they would all be full all the time. If the county had 2,300 jail cells, ditto. If it had 23,000 jail cells, ditto. Finally, if it is sad that 299 people were victims in 2009 of alcohol-related Michigan traffic deaths, is it more than twice as sad that 623 Michigan residents were murdered in 2009, or that 353 of those were killed with guns? Drunk driving penalties are so severe no one in their right mind would ever drive drunk. Unless, of course, they were so drunk they weren't in their right mind, which is why it does not matter what the penalties are.
stunhsif
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 7:53 p.m.
Fremdfima said : "If safety was as major a concern as generating income, they would not be trolling the streets, but rather lingering in parking lots and preventing the obviously intoxicated from getting behind the wheel in the first place, crime prevention rather than law enforcement, which is theoretically the purpose of policing but woefully lacking in practice, since a prevented crime that never happens does not generate publicity or revenue." Nah, they won't do that, it would make too much sense and they'd get no revenue out of it. Busting folks for DUI's brings in money and creates a need for more government to house and prosecute those arrested. Good Day No Luck Needed
Nephilim
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 7:24 p.m.
Until one of those drunk drivers hit you or your family then what's your comments going to be? Gee.....wish I wouldn't have ranted how it's such a waste of time........gee.....wish I could bring my daughter back..........you people disgust me........
John
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 6:44 p.m.
Its just to make money!!! They Don't care about anyones safety or well being... If they didn't want people to drink and drive they would make it a requirement for all bars to provide rides home for any patron who has had a few drinks. Also, the price for a DUI is not fair for poor people where a DUI is 3-9 months of their income, while for "Rich People" it is 1 week or 1 day worth of work, If they wanted to really make an effect they should charge a percentage of their last year's W-2 total taxable income. But its like everything else in the World The Rich Don't have to pay their fair percentage, while the poor folk starve forced to use Bridge Cards just to eat, make $7.5 an hr and work 2 jobs because neither job will give over time or benefits.. Shame On you all (cops, lawyers, judges, politicians), You should be embarrassed!!! Instead of busting drunks, why not go into the bar and drive home people who have had to much to drink or do better at prevention... Wait no money in that, lets arrest them and steal 5k dollars from people!!! Also I am sure the insurance companies would block any type of prevention so they can charge 7 times the amount for auto coverage... Shame on you also!!!
fremdfirma
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 5:44 p.m.
I object to the current headline, as I firmly believe it ought to read "Washtenaw County police officers step up patrols to focus on revenue enhancement through the holidays". If safety was as major a concern as generating income, they would not be trolling the streets, but rather lingering in parking lots and preventing the obviously intoxicated from getting behind the wheel in the first place, crime prevention rather than law enforcement, which is theoretically the purpose of policing but woefully lacking in practice, since a prevented crime that never happens does not generate publicity or revenue. All of us should take some responsibility too, since in many cases one of us looked the other way, didn't step up or speak up, and let them get into that car despite serious concerns about their ability to operate it safely in their condition.
John B.
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 5:33 p.m.
"Hey Julieswimsey, if a teenage girl kills someone while texting and driving, would you consider her a murderer too... Or is it just people who are involved in behavior you consider morally questionable?" I can tell you that I would definitely equate the two offenses.... Whether or not a Murder charge is appropriate is another discussion, but the offenses are equivalent in my opinion. The penalties for killing someone with a car are WAY too lenient in general, though, fwiw....
Atticus F.
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 4:56 p.m.
Hey Julieswimsey, if a teenage girl kills someone while texting and driving, would you consider her a murderer too... Or is it just people who are involved in behavior you consider morally questionable?
Atticus F.
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 4:50 p.m.
One minute were complaining about lack of funds and higher taxes. And the next moment we're spending record dollars to lock up a bunch of drunks. Unbeleivable!
Mick52
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 4:19 p.m.
Sitting outside a bar is the easiest way to catch a drunk. Not sure this is a good way to spend money. You can drive up your OUIL arrests, but that does not mean that drivers arrested would have been in an accident or that you will catch the driver that will get into an accident despite the extra officers on the road. It sure is good PR and good OT for the troops.
julieswhimsies
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 3:37 p.m.
An impaired driver is a menace. If a drunk driver causes an accident that injures another person, he/she is a criminal. If an impaired driver causes a death, that driver is a murderer, IMHO.
julieswhimsies
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 3:34 p.m.
Good. I wish they would crack down year-round.
leaguebus
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 3:30 p.m.
If announcing that they are cracking down will keep 1 drunk off the road, that works for me...
LGC15
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 3:25 p.m.
I find the ongoing crack down to be simply a means to generate fines and money... with all the crime, drugs, theft, jackings and homicides etc. I wonder...don't these officers have anything better to do than arrest the 23% of those under the influence with DUI's that potentially are involved in vehicular accidnts? Granted some are definitely warranted but, the majority just so border line. What are the other 77% doing?
Terry
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 3:17 p.m.
Good. But we'll still have to cope with the intentionally careless who drive while talking on their cell phones.
pawky
Fri, Dec 17, 2010 : 2:59 p.m.
I'll never understand why the warn people where they'll patrol. I'll support whatever it takes to get the dangerous menaces off of the road. No mercy.