Law Enforcement On Lookout for Drunk Drivers This Holiday Season

(KNSI) – The holiday season is here, and that means law enforcement agencies across the state are stepping up drunk and impaired driving enforcement.

The campaign begins Wednesday, November 26th, and will run weekends through New Year’s Day. It is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety. Funding for overtime to staff the checkpoints and extra patrols comes from the federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

While drunk driving is still the primary threat, impaired driving is gaining ground in recent years with the legalization of marijuana and related products. Officers are trained to spot both, and each carries stiff penalties, including a license suspension of up to a year, thousands of dollars in court costs and fines, and potential jail time.

As of November 24th, officials say 342 people have died on Minnesota roads. There were 688 alcohol-related deaths in the past five years, dating back to 2020.

Adding further danger to the roads, at least this week, is a winter storm that could drop upwards of seven inches on parts of the state. Roughly 900,000 Minnesotans are planning to travel at least 50 miles for the holiday.

___