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Police Increase Drunk Driving Patrols Through Labor Day

DETROIT (WWJ) - Michigan State Police are warning motorists to drive sober or get pulled over.

Extra officers will be out on the roads over the long Labor Day weekend, patrolling for drunk drivers.

State police say law enforcement in 26 counties will be participating in the stepped up drunk driving patrols and seat belt enforcement zones.

During last year's campaign, officers made approximately 350 drunk driving arrests and issued more than 4,500 seat belt citations.

Michael Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, said nearly a third of the state's traffic deaths involve alcohol or drugs.

"Eight people died in crashes during last year's Labor Day weekend. Four deaths involved alcohol and four vehicle occupants killed were not buckled up," Prince said in a statement. "Michigan law enforcement officers are experts at catching drunk drivers and citing unbuckled motorists. They know all the tricks and have heard all the excuses. They will be out on patrol to help make sure all motorists arrive at their destinations safely."

While the number of alcohol-involved fatalities has continued to decline, police say crashes involving alcohol are eight times more likely to be fatal than those not involving alcohol.

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