Minnesota State Patrol arrest 234 for DWI

An 18-day statewide enhanced DWI enforcement effort, August 20 to September 6, resulted in the arrest of 1,775 motorists.

Preliminary driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrest totals were reported to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety by 332 law enforcement agencies.

Consequences for a DWI include loss of license for up to a year, up to $20,000 in legal costs and heightened insurance rates, and possible jail time.

During the campaign, 2,891 motorists were also ticketed for seat belt violations. DPS included a seat belt enforcement focus to counter unbelted nighttime fatalities, which are especially prevalent in alcohol-related crashes. Each year, 75 percent of impaired drivers killed in alcohol-related crashes are not wearing seat belts.

The Minnesota State Patrol arrested 234 for DWI during the campaign. In the metro area, St. Paul Police Department reported 47 DWI arrests, followed by Minneapolis Police (45); New Hope Police (25); Maplewood Police (21); Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office (20); and Eden Prairie Police (19).

In Greater Minnesota, Duluth Police and St. Cloud Police each arrested 25; followed by Mower County Sheriff’s Office (23); and Austin Police (19).

Last year in Minnesota, there were 141 alcohol-related traffic deaths and 279 motorists were seriously injured in alcohol-related crashes.

Tags: state patrol, news, dwi