Although the Thanksgiving holiday is in the rearview mirror, don’t expect the extra police presence on Minnesota roads to diminish anytime soon. That’s because the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety announced that the enhanced DUI enforcement will continue each weekend throughout the end of the year.
The agency announced that more than 300 departments across the state will come together to conduct extra drunk driving enforcement protocols on weekends through the New Year’s holiday. Minnesota State Patrol Chief Col. Christina Bogojevic said that the extra enforce is designed to send a clear message to drivers that they need to make smart choices behind the wheel this holidays season.
“Imagine finding out that someone you love didn’t make it home because they were involved in a crash with a driver who had too much to drink or was using drugs. Sadly, this is the reality too many families face when one of our troopers knocks on their door to deliver that life-changing news,” said Bogojevic. “Extra DWI enforcement is meant to send a clear message: One reckless decision can lead to jail time, or worse, a devastating crash resulting in serious injury or even death — to yourself or an innocent person.”
Impaired Driving Crackdown
According to a news release announcing the crackdown, 127,419 people have been pulled over in the past five years in Minnesota for driving while impaired. Police hope to cut down on impaired driving this year with the enhanced enforcement and by letting the public know they’ll be out full force, which hopefully helps drivers make better decisions. Police want people to know that impaired driving can mean that you are impaired in a number of different ways. You can be impaired by:
- Alcohol
- Cannabis/Hemp derived THC products
- Illegal drugs
- Prescription drugs
- Sleep aids
We want you to have a safe and happy holiday season, so do your part to help keep our roads safe. Know how you’re getting home ahead of time if you will be drinking or partaking in recreational cannabis, and take public transportation or jump in a rideshare if you end up unable to legally drive. One mistake can turn deadly and flip your life upside down, so it’s never worth it.
As always, the team at Appelman Law Firm is here to help you or a loved one in the event they run afoul with the law this holiday season. Let us help you avoid a worst case scenario with your criminal matter. For more information on how we can help you achieve this, or to set up a free case consultation, reach out to the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
