Authorities are planning extra patrols in 13 counties that had more than half of Minnesota’s alcohol-related deaths and serious injuries over the past three years.
The Department of Public Safety said extra DWI patrols will be conducted next year in:
- Anoka County
- Dakota County
- Hennepin County
- Olmsted County
- Otter Tail County
- Ramsey County
- Rice County
- St. Louis County
- Scott County
- Sherburne County
- Stearns County
- Washington County
- Wright County
Those 13 counties had 267 deaths and 605 serious injuries from alcohol-related crashes from 2006-2008.
Olmsted, Otter Tail and Scott counties are new to the list, replacing Blue Earth, Crow Wing and Itasca.
The department said enhanced patrols in the deadliest counties have resulted in more than 13,000 DWI arrests in the last five years. That works out to about one arrest per 16 traffic stops.
Resource:
“Minnesota’s 13 deadliest counties for DWI named.” LaCrosse Tribune. 11 Dec. 2009. Web 11 Jan. 2010. http://www.lacrossetribune.com