The Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety announced that the final DWI campaign is underway across the state. The extra DWI patrols actually began the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and will run through the holiday season, ending after New Year’s Day.
The campaign has been dubbed “What’s My Why,” and it is aimed at getting people to really consider all the reasons why they should not get behind the wheel after they’ve been drinking. Police officers are also getting involved, as they’ll be sharing personal stories on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s social media accounts about why they are committed to preventing impaired driving during the holidays.
Police will be working extra shifts to look for drunk drivers, but they’ll also have their eyes out for drivers who are under the influence of drugs. They may even have access to the new THC roadside testing devices that we talked about in yesterday’s blog.
“Seeing family and friends and enjoying our favorite holiday foods make this time of year so special,” said OTS Director Mike Hanson. “Have fun but plan ahead if alcohol or other impairing substances such as cannabis and THC edibles are part of the celebration. Sober choices behind the wheel will help keep you and your loved ones safe.”
What’s My Why?
According to recent statistics, more than 11,000 Minnesotans have been arrested for DWI between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day from 2018 through 2022. Drugged driving arrests also increased 96 percent during that same stretch when comparing the numbers from 2013-2017 to 2018-2022. Looking at the data, it’s no wonder that the Department of Traffic Safety is hoping to curb DWI arrests by announcing another DWI campaign.
Please make some good decisions this holiday season and never get behind the wheel if you’ve had too much to drink. There are plenty of ways to get home safely after enjoying some alcoholic beverages, and there’s no need to risk your life and the lives of others on the road by driving drunk or high.
We’re here to help you this holiday season if you run into trouble, but we hope that you and your loved ones have an incident-free holiday season. If you need help with a DWI charge, or you want assistance fighting another common holiday criminal charge like shoplifting or vehicle theft, we’re here for you. For more information, or to set up a free case review session, pick up the phone and call the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
