DRINKING AND DRIVING

THE FOCUS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT HOLIDAY CAMPAIGN

Make sure fireworks are the only flashing lights you see this Independence Day.

During the Fourth of July holiday, the Midland Police Department will join many other law enforcement agencies throughout the State in a campaign targeting drunk drivers. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning-sponsored “You Drink & Drive. You Lose.” campaign will take place from June 25 to July 11.

Under the new State blood-alcohol content law (Motor Vehicle Code 257.625, as amended) that took effect in October 2003, a motorist is considered intoxicated if he/she has a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent. This is lower than the former level, which was set at .10 percent.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, laboratory and on-road research shows that a vast majority of drivers are significantly impaired at .08 percent with regard to critical driving tasks such as braking, steering, lane changing, judgment and divided attention. In addition, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that driving skills can be affected at blood alcohol levels as low as .02 percent.

Under the new law, the maximum penalties for a first-time offense can include the following:

• 93 days in jail
• $2,500 in fines
• Court costs
• 360 hours of community service
• 6 months driver's license suspension
• 6 points added to driving record
• $2,000 in driver responsibility fees to the Michigan Secretary of State
• Reimbursement to the City of Midland for the police officer’s time and vehicle
• Towing costs
• Lawyer’s fees
• Alcohol treatment program fees
• Insurance increases

In 2003, 1,283 people died on Michigan roads, 442 of them in alcohol and/or drug-related crashes. Motorcycles also play a significant role in drunk driving crashes. Of the 82 motorcyclists killed on Michigan roadways in 2002, 22 of those involved a motorcyclist who had been drinking.

The Midland Police Department encourages motorists who have been drinking at summer gatherings to let someone else drive. Don’t risk injuring yourself or others, killing someone else or spending the rest of the holiday in a jail cell. Make the right choice – don’t drink and drive.

For more information on these and other traffic team initiatives, contact the Midland Police Department at 989-631-5716.