According to statistics reported for the Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown, Michigan law enforcement officers arrested 770 motorists for drunk driving and cited another 538 for other alcohol-related offenses during the enforcement effort that concluded on Labor Day. During a crackdown held at the same time last year, 1,002 individuals were arrested for drunk driving and another 513 were cited for other alcohol-related offenses.

Local police agencies, county sheriff's offices and Michigan State Police posts across the state focused on drunk driving from Aug. 15 - Sept. 1 as part of the effort that was coordinated by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP). More than 230 law enforcement agencies in 55 counties utilized federal traffic safety funds for additional patrols during the crackdown.

"It appears that most motorists got the message that drinking and driving are a bad mix," said OHSP Director Michael L. Prince. "Compared to last year, statistics reported by law enforcement indicate fewer drunk driving arrests as well as overall citations."

According to the agencies reporting statistics to OHSP, 24,462 vehicles were stopped. In addition to the alcohol arrests, there were 256 felony and 2,402 misdemeanor arrests. Officers also wrote 13,834 other traffic citations and issued 621 safety belt citations and 159 child restraint citations.

Preliminary results show there were six traffic fatalities in Michigan over the Labor Day holiday weekend, two of which involved alcohol, according to the Michigan State Police, Criminal Justice Information Center. In comparison, 12 people died in traffic crashes during the 2007 Labor Day holiday weekend, two of which involved alcohol.