ST. PAUL — A driver arrested for driving while impaired (DWI) with two young children in the car. A driver stopped twice in one day for speeding — 90 mph the first time, and 100 mph and arrested for DWI the second time. Those types of driving decisions can kill a mother, a toddler, a best friend, a spouse and a list of loved ones that goes on and on.
That’s why law enforcement statewide participated in summer campaigns focused on speeding, impaired driving and the Move Over law, while also ensuring seat belt and child passenger safety. The goal was to save lives and prevent serious injuries over what’s known as the 100 deadliest days between Memorial Day and Labor Day on Minnesota roads. Law enforcement’s efforts included 46,624 speeding citations, 1,357 DWI arrests and 178 Move Over citations. View the complete list of speeding citations, DWI arrests and Move Over violations reported by law enforcement agencies.
Nearly 300 law enforcement agencies patrolled roads statewide during the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic safety (OTS) summer enforcement and education campaigns. OTS coordinated the campaigns, which included extra enforcement, with overtime funding provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Drivers often don’t take time to realize how one lapse in judgement can have horrific consequences,” said OTS Director Mike Hanson, “That’s what these enforcement and awareness campaigns are all about. We’re preventing bad decisions and outright reckless behaviors from ending lives. Minnesotans must commit to safety behind the wheel to keep everyone safe.”
Extra Speed Enforcement
Officers, deputies and troopers issued 46,624 speeding citations during an enforcement campaign May 1 through Sepember. 1.
Dangerous Speeds
During the campaign, more than 65 agencies reported seeing speeds of 100 mph or more.
Metro-area Highest Speeds
- 145 mph: Mounds View Police Department
- 140 mph: Minnesota State Patrol Twin Cities west metro district
- 139 mph: St. Anthony Police Department
- 122 mph: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office
- 113 mph: Inver Grove Heights Police Department
Greater Minnesota Highest Speeds
- 140 mph: Nicollet County Sheriff’s Office
- 134 mph: Minnesota State Patrol Mankato district
- 126 mph: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
- 126 mph: Minnesota State Patrol Marshall district
- 122 mph: Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office
Impaired Driving Arrests
Law enforcement were also on the lookout for drivers impaired by alcohol, cannabis, prescription medications or other substances this summer.
During the Labor Day DWI campaign from August 15 through September 1, officers, deputies and troopers made 1,357 DWI arrests.
Twin Cities Metro Area Highest Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)
- Roseville Police Department: 0.36
- North Branch Police Department: 0.347
- Wayzata Police Department: 0.33
- Mounds View Police Department: 0.32
- White Bear Lake Police Department: 0.31
Greater Minnesota Highest BAC
- Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department: 0.431
- Willmar Police Department: 0.39
- Moorhead Police Department: 0.33
- Lac qui Parle Sheriff’s Office: 0.32
- Minnesota State Patrol Rochester district: 0.31
Traffic Fatalities
Statistics show that during the 100 deadliest days, warmer weather and dry roads tempt drivers to speed and make other dangerous driving choices, leading to increased fatalities.
Memorial Day Through Labor Day
- This year, preliminary figures show there were 110 fatalities and 29 of those deaths were speed-related.
- In 2024, preliminary figures show there were 149 fatalities and 44 of those deaths were speed-related.
Overall traffic deaths so far this year are lower than during the same time last year.
Fatalities as of September 24 (preliminary numbers):
- 2025: 268
- 2024: 332
Through September 21, preliminary numbers show speed has contributed to 71 deaths on Minnesota roads this year compared to 99 at the same time last year. Impairment has contributed to 82 deaths compared to 112 at the same time last year.
Examples of Speed and DWI Stops
- Minnetonka police arrested a driver with a 0.24 BAC. There were two children in the car, ages 1 and 5.
- Proctor police arrested a driver for DWI in August, making it his third DWI that month.
- Waite Park police observed two vehicles racing at speeds of more than 100 mph. The officer stopped one vehicle and the driver admitted to racing. The officer arrested the driver for a driving permit violation and careless driving.
- St. Francis police stopped a driver for speeding 77 mph in a 55-mph zone. He was arrested with a 0.13 BAC.
- Cloquet police arrested a driver with a 0.19 BAC after that person nearly hit another officer head-on. The officer who was almost hit was bringing a different impaired driver to jail.
- Cold Spring-Richmond police ticketed two motorcyclists for speeding 97 mph in a 65 mph-zone. Both riders said they did not know they were speeding and could not see their speedometers.
- Eden Prairie police stopped a driver for speeding 93 mph and it led to an arrest for child endangerment and a DWI with a 0.13 BAC.
- A Hubbard County deputy arrested a driver for DWI after stopping the person for speeding 81 mph in a 60 mph-zone.
- A Nicollet County deputy cited a driver for speeding 90 mph in a 65 mph-zone. Two hours later, the same driver was stopped for speeding 100 mph in a 65 mph-zone, which led to an underage DWI. There were three other juveniles in the car, one of whom was highly intoxicated.
Move Over Citations
- This year marks the 25th anniversary of the death of Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Ted Foss and the implementation of the Move Over Law. Law enforcement issued 178 citations for the Move Over enforcement effort on August 31. That compares to 94 last year.
Resources:
- DriveSmartMN.org
- Traffic Safety and Cannabis Q&A
About the Minnesota Department of Public Safety: The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s more than 2,400 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.
About the Office of Traffic Safety: The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) designs, implements and coordinates federally funded traffic safety enforcement and education programs to improve driver behaviors and reduce the deaths and serious injuries that occur on Minnesota roads. These efforts form a strong foundation for the statewide Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program. OTS also administers state funds for the motorcycle safety program, child seats for needy families program, school bus stop arm camera project and oversees the funding for the Advisory Council on Traffic Safety.
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