Extra DWI Patrols on Minnesota Roads Thanksgiving Weekend

“Thank you for deciding not to drink and drive. Your life and the lives of others depend on making the right choice.” That message will be placed on vehicles left overnight at a Twin Cities bar to thank customers for being responsible citizens, according to a news release.

The “thank you” is part of the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety holiday campaign to get more people to join the crowd and find a sober ride after consuming alcohol.

“It’s way more valuable to us for our customers to be safe than to have an open parking space at our establishment,” said Emily Brink, operations manager at The Happy Gnome in St. Paul.

Officers, deputies and troopers from more than 300 agencies across the state will be conducting extra DWI enforcement patrols starting Nov. 23 and running weekends through Dec. 30. The extra enforcement and education effort is coordinated by the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.

“It just takes that one moment, that one time to shatter a life forever,” said Donna Berger, Office of Traffic Safety director in a statement. “If you are truly someone’s friend or a family member of someone who is impaired, you won’t let them get behind the wheel this holiday season.”

Summer DWI campaign

Troopers, sheriff deputies and police made 1,351 DWI arrests during the Aug. 19 – Sept. 5 extra enforcement campaign.

Summer DWI campaign arrests included:

• Winona County Sheriff’s Office arrested a driver for DWI who had his intoxicated brother as a passenger. The brother was arrested for DWI less than an hour later while driving the same vehicle.
• Two Harbors Police arrested a motorist for fleeing and DWI after striking a firetruck and squad car at a crash scene. During the pursuit, the driver struck two more squad cars.
• Hutchinson Police arrested an individual who attempted to drive through a roundabout and got stuck.

Drivers Heeding the Warnings

Authorities say drivers are heeding the warnings during the holidays as November (1,931) and December (1,876) were the months with the lowest number of DWI arrests in 2015.

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