Officials to crack down on drunk driving through July 4th holiday

MILWAUKEE -- Law enforcement agencies across the state will continue their drunk driving crackdown through the Fourth of July holiday this week. The program is part of a national initiative called "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over," and runs through July 6th.

Law enforcement officials call the Fourth of July holiday the "deadliest holiday of the year," and say they'll be increasing enforcement on the roads.

The federal government is kicking in extra money to pay for the program.

Statistics gathered from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveal that 392 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes during the 2010 July 4th holiday. Additionally, data indicates a dramatic increase in crashes involving at least one driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

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Additionally, the Wisconsin State Patrol plans to utilize aerial patrols in the form of three Cessna airplanes to detect speeders.

The State Patrol says last year, they caught about 3,200 speeders using the planes.

During a typical patrol, the plane circles overhead and lets troopers on the ground know when someone is speeding.

The State Patrol says the planes are especially effective in construction zones.

CLICK HERE for more information on the "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaign.

CLICK HERE for more on the Wisconsin State Patrol's aircraft program.