Your first offense is going to carry a hefty price: Officers are on the look out for drunk drivers

BROWN DEER (WITI) -- Nearly 400 law enforcement agencies across the state will be out in force to combat drunken driving beginning Friday August 15th. Officers at the Brown Deer Police Department are joining forces with their counterparts around the state to seek out and catch those who decide to drink and drive.

Sergeant Luke Kuehne and his colleagues across Wisconsin are spending the next couple of weeks homing in on drivers who are risking not only their lives, but those of everyone else on the roads.

"Law enforcement is putting officers out on the road to try to combat drunk driving so we're rather than looking for maybe speeders or you know normal routine stops we're particularly targeting drunk drivers," said Sergeant Luke Kuehne from the Brown Deer Police Department.

If you are caught, even your first offense is going to carry a hefty price.

"It's right around 800 dollars and it's six points on your license your license also...get suspended you can get your insurance dropped," said Kuehne.

If you've been caught before and get pulled over again, you'll now be facing either a misdemeanor or a felony.

"We do see quite a few repeat offenders," said Kuehne.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, alcohol-related traffic crashes, injuries and deaths have all dropped in the last several years.

In 2003, 348 people died in alcohol-related crashes.  In 2013, that number fell to 185.

Sergeant Kuehne thinks the numbers are proof that campaigns like "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over," are working.

"The numbers have gone way down and I think it is a tribute to this campaign," Kuehne says.

The "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" started up on Friday August 15th and runs through Labor Day, September 1st.