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Law enforcement cracks down on drunk driving
Law enforcement cracks down on drunk driving
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- There's no way around it. St. Patrick's Day is a big day for beer and beer drinkers. Lots of Irish pubs and restaurants are kicking off weekend festivities -- and law enforcement will be watching closely.
Police, sheriff's departments and the Wisconsin State Patrol are doing special enforcement this weekend. They not discouraging celebrating -- but letting people know exactly what will happen if they drink and drive.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke stood in front of the faces of repeat drunk driving offenders on Friday, March 14th -- and had this message.
"Most people will participate in this celebration responsibly however some simply will not," said Clarke. "Driving impaired comes with certain and severe consequences. You will be arrested and taken to jail."
Milwaukee County alone has 94 deputies working staggered shifts beginning Friday night. Their mantra is -- stop, test and arrest.
Operation Drive Sober is part of a greater, OWI task force, putting hundreds of officers on roads in and out of Milwaukee.
On St. Patrick's Day in 2013, Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies arrested 38 drunk drivers -- 14 were repeat offenders.