Thanksgiving Day weekend yields more tickets and arrests compared to 2011

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office launched Operation Safe Drive during Thanksgiving weekend, and the operation is set to continue through the end of the year. The Sheriff's Office says deputies were looking for seat belt violations, speeders and drunk drivers.

The Sheriff's Office reports Thanksgiving weekend (Nov. 21st - Nov. 25th) citations and arrests totaled 566 -- a 14% increase compared to the numbers reported in 2011. Sheriff's deputies arrested 22 drunk drivers, and handed out 354 speeding tickets.

In a release from the Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Clarke urged drivers to wear their seat belts and engage in defensive driving.

More statistics from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's OWI Task Force: