Minnesota's Drunkest Drivers Were Found In These Cities

TWIN CITIES, MN — During the holiday DWI campaign that included extra enforcement from Nov. 21 – Dec. 29, officers, deputies and troopers arrested 2,757 drivers for driving impaired compared with 2,656 DWI arrests during the same period in 2017. That's according to a report released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Wednesday.

During the campaign, 10 agencies reported people arrested for DWI with a blood alcohol content (BAC of .30 or higher. Keep in mind that the BAC limit in Minnesota is .08.

The drunkest drivers during the campaigns were arrested by these agencies:

• University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) Police Department (.424 BAC)
• Nicollet County Sheriff's Office (.377 BAC)
• St. Cloud Police Department (.373 BAC)
• Itasca County Sheriff’s Office (.34 BAC)
• Prior Lake Police Department (.34 BAC)
• Wright County Sheriff’s Office (.34 BAC)
• Goodview Police Department (.32 BAC)
• Lakeville Police Department (.32 BAC)
• Saint Paul Police Department (.32 BAC)
• Centennial Lakes Police Department (.31 BAC)
• Eden Prairie Police Department (.31 BAC)
• Minnesota State Patrol - District 2100 (Rochester) (.31 BAC)
• Mounds View Police Department (.30 BAC)
• South St. Paul Police Department (.30 BAC)
• St. Anthony Police Department (.30 BAC)

There were also 1,901 seat belt citations during the campaign, compared with 1,958 in 2017.

DWI consequences include:

• Loss of license for up to a year, thousands of dollars in costs and possible jail time.
• Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level, must use ignition interlock in order to regain legal driving privileges or face at least one year without a driver’s license.
• Offenders with three or more offenses are required to use interlock for three to six years, or they will never regain driving privileges.

Prevent Drunk Driving

• Plan for a safe ride – designate a sober driver, use a safe, alternative transportation option, or stay at the location of the celebration.
• Speak Up – Offer to be a designated driver, or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere.
• Buckle up – the best defense 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.

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