Drunk drivers will be red, white and busted this Fourth of July, because law enforcement officers across Michigan are planning extra alcohol saturation patrols over the holiday week.  Officers also will be watching for safety belt use in some counties.

The Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) is administering federal traffic safety funds for the overtime enforcement activity, which will take place all summer in an attempt to reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.

"With Fourth of July falling on a Wednesday, some people will celebrate the weekend before and some the weekend after," OHSP Director Michael L. Prince said.  "Law enforcement officers across the state will be on the road all week to make sure motorists are wearing their safety belts and driving sober."

Over the four-day holiday weekend in 2006, 13 traffic crashes resulted in 14 fatalities.  Four of the crashes involved alcohol, and five of the people killed were not wearing safety belts.

More than 100 agencies in 31 counties are receiving federal funding to participate in the Fourth of July holiday enforcement activity.  The participating counties are: Barry, Bay, Cass, Chippewa, Clinton, Delta, Emmet, Genesee, Gogebic, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Ionia, Iron, Jackson, Kent, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Marquette, Mason, Midland, Ottawa, Roscommon, Saginaw, St. Joseph, Sanilac, Schoolcraft, Shiawassee, Van Buren, Washtenaw and Wayne.

Michigan law requires all drivers and front seat passengers to be properly buckled up.  Passengers ages 4 to 15 must be buckled up in all seating positions.  Children under the age of 4 must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat.  Safety belt citations are $65.      

A driver with a .08 or higher blood alcohol content is considered drunk.  Violators face up to: 93 days in jail, a $500 fine, 360 hours of community service, 6 points on a driver's license and 180 days' license suspension.  Convicted drunk drivers also will be subject to a $1,000 penalty for two consecutive years.

For a list of planned enforcement times, dates and locations, visit www.michigan.gov/ohsp.