Royal Oak to See Extra Police Patrols to Battle Holiday Drunken Driving

Law enforcement officers in communities in 26 counties, including Royal Oak, will put in some extra time targeting impaired drivers during the holiday season.

The added enforcement is part of the holiday Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown being funded with federal traffic safety grants administered by the Office of Highway Safety Planning.

In Royal Oak, extra officers will be on duty Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 starting at 11 p.m.

"It's helping us with the drunk drivers and getting the drunk drivers off the roads and keeping the city safe," Royal Oak Interim Deputy Chief Gordon Young said. "The extra enforcement also helps our staff, especially with all the decreases in the past few years."
Those who plan to drink are always encouraged to designate a sober driver before consuming any alcohol or take a cab or spend the night where they are. After all, you don't want to blow your holiday season budget on a DUI offense, which can adding up to more than $15,000, according to the Michigan State Police.

"The inconvenience of a drunk driving arrest doesn't end with a trip to jail," OHSP Director Michael L. Prince said in a release. "When factoring in court costs, legal fees, bail, towing, license fees and increased insurance, a drunk driving arrest is a very expensive situation."

Young noted that many of the restaurants in Royal Oak offer free or discounted nonalcoholic drinks to those who note that they are the designated driver and many will call a cab if requested.

Out of the 11 people who were killed over last year's Christmas and New Year's holidays in crashes on Michigan roadways, four were alcohol-related incidents, according to the OHSP.

To see a complete list of participating communities, visit the OHSP website.