Expect Extra DWI Patrols in Wright County This Weekend

"You don't have to have yourself a merry little time in jail if you plan ahead for a sober ride," states a Wright County Sheriff's Office information release on increased DWI enforcement through the holiday season.

Wright County is among the Minnesota's top 13 counties with the highest number of combined drunk driving traffic deaths and alcohol-related serious injuries.

Extra DWI patrols will saturate Wright County roads in December and throughout September 2013. 

The effort is part of a nationwide Drive Sover or Get Pulled Over DWI enforcement effort in December. The campaign is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety.

In the past three years, Wright County has had 12 drunk driving deaths and 1,586 DWI arrests. Drunk driving has also accounted for 13 serious injuries in the county over the past three years.

DPS officials say enhanced DWI campaigns have helped to reduce drunk driving crashes by 40 percent from a decade ago.

The December DWI patrols include participation from many local law enforcement agencies including the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo Police Department, Annandale Police Department and the Howard Lake Police Department.

"The holiday celebration season can be a potentially deadly one due to drunk driving," said Sheriff Joe Hagerty in statement from the Wright County Sheriff's Office. "Make plans for a safe and sober ride, or face the consequences."

The Wright County Sheriff's Office offers these tips to prevent drunk driving:

• Plan for a safe ride — designate a sober driver, use a cab/public transportation, or stay at the location of the celebration. Let family/friends know you are available to offer a safe ride home.
• Buckle up — the best defenses against a drunk driver.
• Report drunk driving — call 911 when witnessing impaired driving behavior. Be prepared to provide location, license plate number and observed dangerous behavior.