Law enforcement cracking down on impaired drivers ahead of New Year's weekend - WWMT-TV

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Law enforcement has increased patrols from Dec. 17 to Jan. 1 as part of a statewide "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning said.

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Vernon Coakley said his department will be fully staffed over the holiday weekend.

“There has been a lot going on," Coakley said. "We’ve been under COVID, people are getting out, people are trying to become more social. What’s important though, this holiday season right now, is for people in the community to know that as you celebrate, do it responsibly.”

State data shows 34 people died in alcohol-involved crashes from 2016-2020 during the Christmas and New Year's Day time period.

There were 9,078 alcohol-involved crashes in 2020 and 326 deaths, according to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. In 2019, impaired driving represented nearly 42% of Michigan traffic fatalities.

There are signs officers look for when they think there may be an impaired driver on the roadways, Coakley said.

“Swerving in a lane, crossing lanes of traffic without signaling," Coakley said, of some of the behaviors. "The obvious ones are disobeying traffic control devices, not being able to stop in a sure distance, or an accident.”

Coakley said often impaired drivers have similar things to say when they get pulled over.

“First of all, the number of drinks that they’ve had," he said. "The ‘I’ve only had one drink or I can drive, I’m okay.’ If we get into that situation, officers are trained to be observant of the situation and there are several things we look for.”

Coakley said if a person who is likely impaired denies a breathalyzer test, it can often make the situation more difficult.

“A person can deny but then that itself is prosecutable," he said. "That is a charge if a person denies a breathalyzer test, we then have to apply for a search warrant for blood, things of that nature. It’s a process.”

It's up to not only law enforcement, but the community too, to be on the lookout for impaired drivers, Coakley said.

“It’s important for us to see something and say something," he said. "There’s a lot going on in our community that we together have to stop. It can no longer just be law enforcement, it has to be all of us to make Kalamazoo better, great, and stronger.”

source: https://wwmt.com/news/local/law-enforcement-cracking-down-on-impaired-drivers-ahead-of-new-years-weekend

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