Community Corner

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: Know Your Limits

The Michigan State Police will put extra officers on the road during Fourth of July week as part of a statewide drunken driving crackdown.

This article originally was posted by Nicole Krawcke. 

Drunken drivers could see red, white and blue flashing police lights this Fourth of July, courtesy of the Michigan State Police.

The law enforcement agency is putting extra officers out on the road this week as part of a statewide drunk driving crackdown.

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over effort runs through July 7 and is paid for with federal funds administered by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP), according to a press realease.

Alcohol-related traffic deaths and serious injuries sore during July and August, according to police. 

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Drunk driving is a serious offense with serious consequences. The stepped-up patrols will be on the lookout for drunk drivers to ensure those drivers are off the road," said Michael L. Prince, OHSP director in a press release. "Make sure the only flashing lights you see this Fourth of July are fireworks. Plan ahead and designate a sober driver before you start drinking."

How Many Drinks Will Get You A DUI?

When police pull drivers over for suspected drunken driving, officers ask them to perform field sobriety tests and to take a breath test to measure Blood Alcohol Content. A BAC test measures the percentage of alcohol present in a person's bloodstream. In Michigan .08 is the legal limit.

According to the Virginia Tech Alcohol Abuse Prevention website, every 40 minutes, 0.01 percent of alcohol leaves your system. Take a look at the attached charts to see how many is too many to get behind the wheel, based on your gender, height and weight.

However, police still can arrest someone who falls short of registering a .08 if their driving ability is clearly impaired by having consumed alcohol.

As the charts indicate, a .00 is the only "safe" driving limit.

Options available to avoid drunken driving

  • Don’t drink and drive.
  • Plan a safe way home before festivities begin.
  • Designate your sober driver before the party starts.
  • If you’re impaired, call a taxi, sober friend or family member, or use public transportation (many local bars will call for cab services).
  • If you see a drunken driver on the road, contact local law enforcement.
  • If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.


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