Ask a Trooper

By Sgt. Troy Christianson

Minnesota State Patrol

Question: Did I hear there is extra DWI enforcement going on over the holidays?

Answer: Yes, here is some information that we shared on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s blog. “The holidays are going to be different this year, that’s for sure. With Minnesota’s pandemic restrictions in place for now, friends and family likely aren’t coming into town to celebrate, and even if they do, you won’t be going out to a bar or restaurant with them to catch up. But no matter where you’re drinking, you still need to plan ahead for a sober ride.

The consequences of a DWI are unpleasant at best. You can lose your license for up to a year, and even possibly serve jail time. And that’s not to mention the cost to a first-time DWI offender: about $10,000.

Driving smart involves not only driving sober, but buckling up, driving the speed limit, and putting distractions away. If you don’t drive smart, your chances of causing a crash are much greater – and then what? You and anyone else involved will likely need medical attention, meaning you’d be taking up valuable resources in the midst of a pandemic. Those hospital beds and medical supplies – not to mention the time and energy of already overworked medical professionals – need to be available for COVID-19 patients and other people who need care, not taken up because of careless decisions on the road.

If keeping yourself and others safe on the road or conserving valuable resources doesn’t make you drive safely, perhaps this will: Starting today, there is extra DWI enforcement on Minnesota roads. The campaign runs every weekend through December 31. Law enforcement agencies throughout the state are working overtime to get drunk drivers off the road.

But really, the legal and financial penalties of a DWI shouldn’t be the reason you avoid drinking and driving. You should avoid it because protecting your friends, yourself and other people on the road is the right thing to do. Do you really want to be the person who deprives a family of a beloved parent, sibling or child this holiday season? Traffic deaths in Minnesota are already at 364 so far this year compared with 335 fatalities reported this time last year. In general, impaired driving contributes to about a quarter of fatalities on the road. All those affected families are dreading spending the holidays without their loved one.    

You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober.  Help us drive Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths.

If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester, Minn. 55901-5848.  Or reach him at Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us.