Plymouth, Minnetonka, and Maple Grove Police Departments will increase DWI patrols as part of a statewide DWI enforcement effort in December to combat the potentially deadly and dangerous holiday celebration period.
During Minnesota Decembers, 2008–2010, there were 89 traffic deaths and 24 were alcohol-related.
In Hennepin County during 2008–2010, alcohol-related crashes accounted for 49 deaths and 96 serious injuries. During the same period 20,589 people were arrested for DWI.
There was an average of 170 alcohol-related traffic deaths annually during the last five years in Minnesota — accounting for one-third of all state’s total road deaths. Alcohol-related deaths have been declining in recent years — in 2010, there were 131 alcohol-related deaths, the fewest on record. Plymouth Police Department says enhanced enforcement campaigns have helped to prevent these tragedies. Each year, more than 30,000 people are arrested for DWI; one in seven Minnesota drivers has a DWI on record.
This campaign is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety. Around 400 Minnesota law enforcement agencies will participate in the effort to identify and arrest impaired drivers, and encourage motorists to make safe decisions.
Participating agencies are: Maple Grove Police Department, Minnetonka Police Department, Plymouth Police Department and numerous other surrounding agencies.
“The holidays are a time for celebrating. They are not a time to throw common sense and safe driving practices out the window,” says Plymouth Police Sgt. Erik Fadden. “Avoid the potentially deadly consequences of driving impaired, as well as the heavy costs and personal grief of a DWI — plan for a safe and sober ride.”
A DWI offense can result in loss of license for up to a year, thousands in costs and possible jail time. Stronger DWI sanctions are in effect for all repeat DWI offenders, as well as for motorists arrested for a first-time DWI with a 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level. Under these sanctions, DWI offenders must use ignition interlock for at least a year or face at least one year without driving privileges. Interlock requires a driver to provide a breath sample under 0.02 for the vehicle to start. Safety officials say interlock ensures DWI offenders are driving legally and safely. Potential participants of program can learn more at
www.minnesotaignitioninterlock.org.
Sgt. Fadden wants to remind Plymouth, Minnetonka, and Maple Grove motorists to plan ahead for a safe ride home before celebrating: designate a sober driver, take a cab or public transportation, spend the night at the location of the celebration.
“Receiving a phone call at 3 a.m. from a family member is a lot better than receiving a knock on the door from a police officer,” says Sgt. Fadden.
Plymouth Police Department adds that motorists should report impaired driving — call 911 when witnessing impaired driving behavior. Witnesses must be prepared to provide location, license plate and observed dangerous behavior.
The DWI enforcement and education effort is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) traffic safety program. A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes — education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.
