Operation Drive Sober: Sheriff's deputies arrest 27 drunk drivers over New Year's weekend

Nye traffic violations

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office announced on Tuesday, January 2nd the results of its New Year’s Eve OWI enforcement operation. The operation ran from from 6:00 p.m. on Friday, December 29th through 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 1st. Deputies were looking for motorists who were driving under the influence (DUI), speeding and reckless driving.

The Sheriff’s Office enforcement initiative resulted in the following arrests, citations, and calls for service for the weekend (Dec. 29 - Jan. 1):

Here are the statistics from New Year’s Eve/Day (included in the totals above):

Acting Milwaukee County Sheriff Richard Schmidt

Acting Sheriff Richard Schmidt joined the second and third shift patrol deputies, driving a squad and stopping drunken drivers. He issued the following statement in a news release:

"I announced we would be out in force, and we were. I worked with the deputies and the number of arrests that were made stresses the point that we need a cultural mindset change towards reckless, intoxicated driving."