By Staff
CASSOPOLIS – From Aug. 15 to Sept. 1, all of the law enforcement agencies in Cass County and in 54 other counties in Michigan will be cracking down on impaired driving.
The agencies include: the Cass County Sheriff's Office, Dowagiac Police Department, Cassopolis Police Department, Ontwa Township-Edwardsburg Police Department and the Pokagon Tribal Police Department.
Agencies will be working additional overtime patrols funded by federal grants from the Office of Highway Safety Planning.
This means more officers on the roads looking for drivers under the influence.
A drunk driving conviction carries with it an assortment of penalties, including court costs and fines, increased car insurance rates, legal fees and $2,000 in driver responsibility fees.
However, drunk driving can cost more then just money.
Last year alone, 382 people in Michigan were killed in impaired driving crashes.
In fact, in August of 2007 more people were killed in fatal crashes in Michigan then in any other month.
Forty-three people died in alcohol and-or drug-related crashes in August 2007. (Michigan Crash Facts 2007).
The "Over the Limit. Under Arrest" crackdown encompasses the Labor day weekend, a popular time for travel and celebration.
Last Labor Day weekend, 14 people died in crashes on Michigan's roadways.
Four of those fatalities involved alcohol.