Minnesota law enforcement agencies increase Labor Day DWI arrests by more than 10%

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) says driving while impaired arrests increased more than 10% from last summer to this summer, and efforts to increase patrols may be the reason for statewide success.

DPS says 292 Minnesota law enforcement agencies participated in a Labor Day DWI campaign from Aug. 19 through Sept. 5. Compared with the same 18-day time frame in 2021, Minnesota troopers, deputies and officers increased DWI arrests by more than 100 offenders.

In a list of examples, DPS said one driver had a child in the car, one driver had passed out in their vehicle and another driver repeatedly drove in the wrong traffic lane. At least five people were arrested with a blood-alcohol concentration of more than four times the legal limit of .08.

In the Twin Cities, Minnesota State Patrol made the most arrests in Golden Valley and Oakdale. For the rest of the state, the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office topped the charts.

Current DPS data suggests more than one in five deaths on Minnesota roads is related to alcohol.

As DPS and its agency partners work to lower that number, drivers and passengers can do their part by adhering to the following, provided by DPS:

• Designate a sober driver, use a safe, alternative transportation option, or stay at the location of the celebration.
• Speak up. Offer to be a designated driver or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere. If you see an impaired person about to get behind the wheel, get them a safe ride home.
• If you plan to drive, refrain from drugs, whether legally or illegally obtained. Impaired is impaired.
• If you don’t yet know how a medication will affect your judgment, coordination and reaction time, either have someone else drive or wait to take it until after you get home.
• Buckle up. It’s the best defense against impaired drivers.