"We will stop, test, arrest and lock up drunk drivers:" Officers out in force this Thanksgiving weekend

MILWAUKEE -- Law enforcement officials will be out in force this Thanksgiving weekend -- looking for drunk drivers. If you're thinking about drinking this holiday weekend, officials urge you to plan ahead for a safe ride home.

Thirty law enforcement agencies across southeastern Wisconsin are taking part in this OWI deployment. Together, they make up the Southeast Wisconsin OWI Task Force, which includes nearly 1,000 law enforcement officials.

On Wednesday evening, November 25th, they gathered near Highway 100 and Janesville Road for a "roll call" to prepare for the holiday weekend.

Southeast Wisconsin OWI Task Force roll call

Officials plan to put 30 to 40 additional squad cars on the roads this holiday weekend in Waukesha and Milwaukee County alone.

There's one goal in this effort -- to stop drunk or impaired drivers.

"We want everyone to have a good time, but if you choose to drink and drive, our message is we will stop, test, arrest and lock up as many drunk drivers as necessary to prevent needless drunk driving fatalities," Paul Brantman with the Hales Corners Police Department said.

The Southeast Wisconsin OWI Task Force deploys on all major holidays, and has made 300 arrests over the last year.