State Police to crack down on drunk driving

Fri, Jul 3, 2009    to del.icio.us

State troopers will be patrolling the roads as part of the nationwide Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) traffic safety initiative during the Fourth of July weekend.

"This weekend, troopers will be watching for unsafe driving behaviors with a special emphasis on motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs," said State Police Director Col. Peter Munoz.

Officially, the holiday weekend begins at 6 p.m. Friday and runs through midnight Sunday.

Last year, 14 traffic crashes resulted in 14 deaths over the Fourth of July holiday weekend in Michigan. Of those who died, three were not wearing safety belts, and alcohol was a known factor in three of the crashes.

Operation C.A.R.E. began in 1977 as a collaborative effort between the Michigan and Indiana state police agencies, and is one of the nation's longest-running traffic safety initiatives.

Today, it includes state and highway patrol agencies from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada.