drunk drivers during holidays

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Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00

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Dear Trooper Kathy: I know you guys are always looking for drunk drivers during the Holidays, but are there really more at that time?

Trooper Kathy says: We do have extra enforcement projects out during the Holidays for several reasons. This DOES tend to be a high-alcohol use time. This is also one of our high traffic volume times. I actually have some information from our reporting agency - The Department of Public Safety - that will inform you on Minnesota's Christmas traffic picture.

State unwraps December-long DWI crackdown

More than one-half million Minnesotans have a DWI on record, a tally that will unfortunately increase during a December-long, statewide DWI enforcement campaign. Around 400 Minnesota law enforcement agencies will enhance patrols and DWI enforcement during the holiday season.

December is one of the deadliest months of the year for impaired driving in Minnesota. In the last three Decembers, 2005-2007, 41 motorists were killed in alcohol-related crashes and another 10,553 were arrested for DWI. During this entire three-year period, alcohol-related crashes accounted for 553 traffic deaths and 1,253 serious injuries - 117,764 motorists were arrested for DWI.

"There is no greater gift to Minnesotans than putting impaired drivers in jail," says Lt. Sean Meagher. "DWI enforcement is necessary to prevent needless tragedies."

Officers will include seat belt enforcement during the effort. Each year, 70 percent of the impaired drivers and their passengers killed in alcohol-related crashes are not buckled up.

There were 290 NightCAP enforcement efforts in 2008 resulting in more than 3,000 DWI arrests, one arrest per 17 traffic stops.

The statewide DWI enforcement campaign is called, Toward Zero Deaths (TZD).

Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.