The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety announced that the enhanced DUI enforcement at the end of the year netted more than 2,500 drunk driving arrests in Minnesota.
The expanded patrol, which took place from November 25 through January 2, yielded an astounding 2,502 arrests across the state. The numbers suggest far too many individuals are getting behind the wheel after a night of drinking.
“Unfortunately, these examples of DWI arrests are all too common,” said Donna Berger, Office of Traffic Safety director. “If you choose to drink, you have the responsibility to find a sober ride home. When you drive drunk, you are not only harming yourself, you are putting other lives at risk.”
The Office of Traffic Safety also released details about some of the more concerning DUI arrests that occurred during the enhanced patrol. Here’s a quick recap of some of the arrests that stood out.
- A 50-year-old man was stopped for driving with a BAC of 0.25 with his 11-year-old in the vehicle.
- Two drivers were arrested in one car in Carver County. A male driver reportedly got sick in the middle of the road, and he stopped the car so his female passenger could drive. The female pulled over on to the side of the road, where police intervened. The man blew a 0.33 while the women registered a 0.11.
- A driver in Olmsted County received his third DUI in three weeks.
DUIs By The Numbers
More than 300 agencies across the state participated in the enhanced DUI patrol. Here’s a look at which police departments arrested the most individuals for DUI during the campaign.
1. MSP District 2400 in Oakdale – 173
2. MSP District 2500 in Golden Valley – 172
3. St. Paul Police Department – 74
4. MSP District 2100 in Rochester – 62
5. Minneapolis Police Department – 59
6. Bloomington Police Department – 39
6. Mankato Department of Public Safety – 39
8. St. Could Police Department – 37
9. Stearns County Sheriff’s Office – 34
9. MSP District 2600 in St. Cloud – 34
Although the Oakdale district logged the most arrests during the campaign, it was the Minnetonka Police Department that caught the drunkest driver, nabbing a driver with a BAC of 0.40, or five times the legal limit. Ramsey County caught a driver with a BAC of 0.39, while Bloomington, Bemidji and Plymouth all caught drivers with BACs of 0.35.
So while the extra enforcement has ended, it’s clear that Minnesota police don’t go easy on drunk drivers. If you choose to get behind the wheel after a night on the town, be warned, and if you get in a pinch, give Appelman Law Firm a call at (952)-224-2277.
