If you elect to party irresponsibly this weekend, the wearing of the green could cost you a whole lot of your green and you may be headed to jail, as well.
Michigan State Police and other local authorities across Michigan’s Great Southwest are giving you a heads up that during the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day festivities, they will be out in force to remind you to make safe driving choices.
This Sunday, troopers will join their counterparts from across the country in the international traffic safety initiative, Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness and Reduction Efforts).
The luck of the Irish might not go your way, either. Col. Joe Gasper is Director of the Michigan State Police. He cautions everyone, “Don’t rely on luck. If you plan on celebrating, plan ahead by designating a sober driver or scheduling a ride on St. Patrick’s Day.” Gasper adds, “We want the roads safe for everyone using them. Troopers will be out looking for impaired drivers.”
The enforcement period begins at 12:01 am, on Sunday, March 17th, and will end at 11:59 pm.
Operation C.A.R.E. began in 1977 as a collaborative effort between the Michigan State Police and the Indiana State Police, and is one of the nation’s longest-running traffic safety initiatives. It focuses on deterring the three main causes of highway fatalities:
- Aggressive driving
- Impaired driving
- Failure to use occupant restraints (seat belts)
State police and highway patrol agencies from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Quebec Police Force and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be participating in this lifesaving traffic safety initiative. Operation C.A.R.E. also includes participation from police agencies affiliated with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
