View Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Police Department
Mike Ceynowa, Chief of Police
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
DATE: 8/25/2011
SUBJECT: Enhanced DWI Enforcement Mobilization through Labor Day
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Jim Hansen
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Enhanced DWI Enforcement Mobilization through Labor Day
CASE NO.:
INCIDENT DATE: 8/25/2011
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION: Duluth and Surrounding Area
SUBJECT: Enhanced DWI Enforcement Mobilization through Labor Day
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Jim Hansen
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Enhanced DWI Enforcement Mobilization through Labor Day
CASE NO.:
INCIDENT DATE: 8/25/2011
INCIDENT TIME:
INCIDENT LOCATION: Duluth and Surrounding Area
The Duluth Police Department, St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, Hermantown Police Department, Proctor Police Department, UMD Police Department and the Minnesota State Patrol will be partnering in a Enhanced DWI Enforcement Mobilization beginning now through Labor Day.
The saturation will feature increased enforcement along select corridors in the Duluth area. Extra law enforcement will be patrolling Duluth roads looking for impaired drivers. Drunk/impaired driving is a serious threat on our roads. This saturation effort is to prevent tragic alcohol-related crashes that account for hundreds of deaths and injuries annually. In 2010, Minnesota recorded an all-time low in alcohol-related traffic deaths-131. Still, alcohol-related crashes accounted for one-third of all traffic deaths, matching historical trends.
· The legal alcohol limit for drivers in Minnesota is 0.08. It is always illegal to drive with an alcohol-concentration level of 0.08 or above. Motorists can be arrested under 0.08 if they demonstrate impaired driving behavior. If a motorist’s alcohol-concentration is at 0.08 percent or higher, it is a criminal offense with penalties ranging from misdemeanor to felony. It is also a violation of civil law that triggers automatic driver license revocation for up to a year.
· During 2008–2010 in Minnesota there were 1,287 traffic deaths and 435 (34 percent) were impaired-driving related. Of the drinking drivers killed, around 70 percent were not wearing a seat belt.
· Over the same three years, there were 98,740 DWI arrests. In 2010, 29,918 DWI arrests were made.
· In 2010, males accounted for 75 percent of impaired driving arrests. However, recent yearly trends show an increase in female DWI offenders. Since 2001, female DWI offenses have increased 5 percent — a significant gain according to DPS — and they now represent one- quarter of all DWI offenses. In 2001, 6,494 females were arrested for DWI, in 2010, 7,410 females were DWI offenders.
· Young persons — especially people in their 20s — accounted for a disproportionate share of all arrests. In 2010, people in their 20s represented 42 percent of DWI arrests.
· Of all Minnesota residents, more than one-half million— 556,162 — have a DWI on record. One in seven persons in Minnesota with a driving record (including those with licenses revoked, cancelled, etc.) has a DWI; 234,413 (one in 17) have two or more arrests; 109,029 (one in 37) have three or more; and, 1,240 (one in 3,222) have 10 or more.
· Drinking and driving is especially prevalent on weekends. In 2010, 16 percent of impaired driving crashes occurred on Fridays, 23 percent on Saturdays, and 21 percent on Sundays.
We are asking for everyone’s help in making 2011 our safest year ever on our area roadways. Have a plan for a safe and sober ride. Impaired driving will continue to be a community concern which may result in serious consequences. Safety begins with you. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are not putting yourself or anyone else at risk.
