There are no safe, sane places to drive home after tossing back more than a couple on St. Patrick's Day, after watching March Madness games or any other time.
So new details about dates, times and sites of impaired driving patrols aren't a way to avoid enhanced enforcement during a statewide campaign these next three weeks. Rather, the Michigan State Police takes a no-surprises approach because it wants drivers to know about the anti-DUI blitz.
Wayne, Oakland and Macomb are among counties where federal money helps deploy extra officers, as are Washtenaw and Livingston.
In Detroit tonight and early Wednesday, for instance, city police will pay extra attention to Corktown and the Gratiot-Conner area after 7 p.m., as well as these 10 locations:
- West Vernor, starting 4 p.m.
- Mt. Elliot and Nevada, 7 p.m.
- Greenfield and Fenkell, 8 p.m.
- Warren Avenue, 10 p.m.
- 8 Mile and Woodward, 10 p.m.
- Grand River and Livernois, 11 p.m.
- Schoolcraft and Evergreen, 11 p.m.
- Congress and Beaubien, 1 a.m.
- Gratiot and 7 Mile, 1 a.m.
- Greenfield and Joy, 3 a.m.
Here's part of what the state cops say in a statement posted Monday:
Law enforcement officers from police departments, sheriff’s offices and the Michigan State Police in 26 counties are taking part in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign through April 7. This time period includes the NCAA tournament, many high spring break periods and St. Patrick’s Day.
In Michigan, it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher, although motorists can be arrested at any BAC level if an officer believes they are impaired. Motorists face enhanced penalties if arrested for a first-time drunk driving offense with a .17 BAC or higher.
The announcement is accompanied by a spreadsheet with specific impaired driving patrol hotspots by communities, dates and start times.
A sampling:
►Macomb: 100 listings from March 17-April 6 include M-59 and Van Dyke in Utica (tonight, March 20-21, March 28 and April 3, starting 11 p.m.), Main Street in Richmond (March 20, March 29 and April 4, starting 8 p.m.) and 16 Mile in Clinton Township (March 20 and 27, starting 10 p.m.)
►Oakland: 104 listings from March 17-April 6. Among designated areas are I-696 between I-75 and I-275 (tonight, starting 9 p.m.), Woodward, Nine Mile and elsewhere in Ferndale (today, March 19-21, March 27-28 and April 2-3, starting 9 p.m. ) and major streets in Royal Oak (tonight, March 20-21, March 27-28 and April 3-4, starting 11 p.m.)
►Wayne: 171 listings from March 17-April 5. Extra patrols will watch Oakman and Michigan in Dearborn (tonight, starting 9 p.m.), Telegraph and Champaign in Taylor (March 21, starting 9 p.m.) and numerous areas in Detroit and all major suburbs.
