Increased Sheriff's Presence During March Madness

Noticed an increased sheriff's presence while driving around Washtenaw county? The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the U of M Department of Public Safety, and Pittsfield Department of Public Safety have stepped-up enforcement through March 16th-April 4th. This Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over increase is due to the holidays, high school and colleges entering spring break, and specifically the NCAA basketball tournament.

Drivers in Michigan's cannot have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher, and officers are allowed to use discretion to arrest a motorist with any BAC if they believe them to be impaired.  During the 2015 March Madness NCAA tournament 2,182 people in Michigan were arrested for drunk driving.

"We’re encouraging motorists to make good choices and always put safety first," said Michael L. Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) "There are many excellent options available to help motorists get home after celebrating."

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over push is funded by a grant provided through  Michigan’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan.

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by Danielle Muntz

Danielle lives in Manchester Township and has many interests which she takes part in with varying degrees of success. She can be reached at Danielle.Does.Stuff@gmail.com.