‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Campaign Starts March 16 Across Michigan

The Michigan State Police in conjunction with several county and municipal police forces throughout the state will begin their "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign Wednesday ahead of St. Patrick's Day, the NCAA tournament, and spring break.

“Bad decisions can stick with you for many years to come,” said Michael L. Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) in a release.  “Drunk driving can really mess with your life, but it can end someone else’s.”

This year, law enforcement officials will be conducting extra patrols to arrest drunk drivers March 16-April 4.

In 2015, 2,182 people in Michigan were arrested for drunk driving during the NCAA tournament period. Of those, 672 were charged under the state’s high blood-alcohol content (BAC) law with BACs of .17 or higher.

In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, although motorists can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer believes they are impaired. Motorists face enhanced penalties if arrested for a first-time drunk driving offense with a .17 BAC or higher.