| Created: Friday, 09 Jan 2009, 10:44 AM CST |
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) -- The Minnesota State Patrol and local police made 2,655 drunk driving arrests in December, an month of emphasis with a holiday-heavy calendar.
According to the Department of Public Safety, the average alcohol-concentration of the DWI offenders was 0.14 — nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Unbelted drivers ticketed
The statewide enhanced patrols also resulted in 1,653 tickets for seat belt non-use. DPS included the seat belt focus to counter unbelted nighttime fatalities, which are especially prevalent in alcohol-related crashes.
Of the impaired drivers and their passengers killed in alcohol-related crashes during 2005–2007, more than 70 percent were not wearing seat belts.
"State law enforcement officers are committed to making our roads safer by arresting impaired drivers," Jean Ryan, alcohol programs coordinator of DPS Office of Traffic Safety, said. "These enforcement efforts are aimed to prevent tragedies and encourage people to plan for a safe ride."
Agencies, by the numbers
The Minnesota State Patrol made 420 DWI arrests during the campaign. Among metro agencies, Minneapolis Police Department made 69 DWI arrests, followed by the police departments of Bloomington (51), St. Paul (51), and Burnsville (41).
In greater Minnesota, St. Cloud Police Department made 45 DWI arrests, followed Mankato PD (39), Moorhead PD (38), and Rochester PD (35).
A DWI can cost up to $20,000 when factoring in associated fees and increased insurance rates.
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