“We’ve done this for years,” East Lansing Police Department, or ELPD, Captain Jeff Murphy said. “There’s a lot of police departments that do it, from the state police, to sheriff’s departments, to townships and cities.”

Alcohol-related traffic deaths and serious injuries increase during July and August, according to OHSP spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin. During a five-year period, alcohol involvement resulted in 743 deaths and incapacitating injuries during the month of July, and 753 in August.

“We typically have extra enforcement around many of the summer holidays because there is more travel and alcohol involvement,” Sutfin said.

There will be a second statewide drunk driving enforcement initiative that will take place between Aug. 16 through Sept. 2 for Labor Day as well.

When officers are patrolling, there are a few signs that can tip them off to an intoxicated driver. ELPD Lt. Scott Wriggelsworth said that officers usually look for three things; erratic speeding, weaving in and out of lanes and disregarding basic traffic control devices.

“The opportunity for drinking and driving seems to increase because it’s a holiday,” Wriggelsworth said. “That’s why we like to target enforcement efforts on those specific times because with holidays unfortunately comes drinking, and with drinking comes people’s poor decision to drive.”

Oftentimes, officers are looking for the same traffic violations they would be at any other time. Stopping violations, traffic light violations and not having a seat belt on are common things to get pulled over for, Murphy said. After being pulled over, an officer would then determine if the driver appears to be intoxicated through a series of sobriety tests.

“When the officer makes contact with the driver (and) they’re very well aware of someone drinking and driving, they’re looking for odor of alcohol and (asking) questions like where the person is coming from, have you been drinking that night and how much,” Murphy said. “If the officer believes that someone is too intoxicated to be driving, they get them out of the car and put them (through) some basic sobriety tests.”

Murphy also advised residents to take advantage of the many taxi and cab services available in East Lansing to avoid drinking and driving.

“We’re very fortunate to have a lot of cab services,” Murphy said. “If anyone feels like they’re anywhere close to being over the legal limit, it’s a whole lot cheaper to call a cab than it is to get involved in a (DUI) arrest.”