The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety recently announced that there will be added police presence on the roads in the days leading up to and through the Labor Day holiday.
The enforcement is already underway, as the crackdown is slated to run from August 14 through September 7. The goal of the annual DUI enforcement campaign is to help people make smart decisions behind the wheel and keep the roads safe for all drivers. This is especially important considering that Labor Day is the third most dangerous holiday in Minnesota in terms of drunk driving.
“The thing with the Labor Day weekend is that ranks number three in the number of DWI arrests per hour following only Halloween and the Fourth of July,” said Mike Hanson, Director for the state’s Office of Traffic Safety. “It takes good, smart decision-making in order to prevent these tragedies from happening.”
Labor Day DUIs
Over 300 local law enforcement agencies will partner up with the Office of Traffic Safety to take part in the crackdown. A few months ago, officers were optimistic that the DUI numbers would continue to trend downward, as many bars and restaurants weren’t serving as much alcohol due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Hanson said that as businesses and cars are opening back up, they are seeing a spike in DUI arrests.
“What’s alarming for us is that in July and now leading into August, as we have gradually started to open up again, we are right back where we started from with over 2,000 arrests a month,” said Hanson.
We expect this crackdown to actually be worst than most. There’s a general sense throughout Minnesota and much of the US that people are frustrated with the coronavirus and itching to get back to some semblance of normalcy. It seems like a lot of people will be meeting up with friends and family members, even if it’s outdoors and from a safe social distance, because they want to get back to doing the activities they love. And many of these activities, like boating, camping, grilling and hanging with friends can involve alcohol.
We would not be shocked to see an increase in DUI arrests compared to last year, but hopefully drivers will get the message and make smart decisions. But if you or someone you know ends up making a mistake and ends up in handcuffs, know that you have options. DUIs are almost always worth contesting, so don’t just plead guilty and hope for a slap on the wrist. If you need help with any part of your legal process, or to set up a free case review, give us a call at (952) 224-2277 today.
