Impaired Driving Talking Points
Key Messages 1) The holidays are a painful time for too many Minnesotans because of tragic results of drunk driving. Nearly one out of every four deaths on Minnesota roads is drunk driving-related. In the last five years (2012 – 2016), there were 433 drunk driving- related traffic deaths in Minnesota, with 74 (preliminary) people killed in 2016 alone. o Alcohol-related crashes not only take lives, they change them forever. An average of 253 life-changing injuries (2011-2015) are caused by alcohol-related crashes each year. Motorists need to plan ahead for sober rides even when traveling to friends and family’s homes for the holidays, not just when going to the bars. o During 2012 – 2016 (preliminary), 27 people died in drunk driving-related crashes during the holiday DWI extra enforcement period. o Christmas ranks second in the percentage of drunk driving- related fatalities (35.3 percent) during major holidays, only behind July 4 (45.5 percent).
2) A DWI is a serious crime with serious consequences. Over the past five years (2012 – 2016), there have been nearly 129,000 DWI arrests, or about 25,750 each year. o 23,392 motorists were arrested for DWI in 2016, translating to nearly 64 DWI arrests per day in Minnesota. o During the last five years (2012-2016), nearly 13,000 people have been arrested for DWI during the holiday DWI extra enforcement period. Drivers are heeding the warnings during the holidays; Christmas ranks last in number of DWIs per hour (2.8) for major holidays. 1. Labor Day – 4.6 2. July 4 – 4.3 1 3. Memorial Day – 4.2 4. Thanksgiving – 4.1 5. New Year’s Eve – 3.9 6. Christmas – 2.8 If you’re arrested, it can cost as much as $10,000 when you factor in court costs, lawyer fees and increased insurance premiums. You can also lose your license for up to a year and face possible jail time. o Currently, more than 600,000 Minnesota residents have a DWI on their record — that’s one out of every seven licensed drivers in Minnesota. Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level, must use ignition interlock in order to regain legal driving privileges or face at least one year without a driver’s license. Offenders with three or more offenses are required to use interlock for three to six years, or they will never regain driving privileges. o Interlock users will regain full driving privileges immediately after the offense, ensuring they are driving with a valid license and not a threat on the roadway.
3) Speak up and find a safe ride home for an impaired person. Plan for a safe ride — designate a sober driver, take a cab,public transportation or stay at the location of the party. Offer to be a designated driver or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere. Buckle up. It’s the best defense against a drunk driver. Report drunk driving. Call 911 when witnessing impaired driving behavior. Be prepared to provide location, license plate number and observed dangerous behavior.
General Campaign Information The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety is conducting its statewide holiday DWI enforcement and education campaign over the holidays and weekends of Nov. 22 – Dec. 30. o More than 300 law enforcement agencies across the state are participating in the enhanced enforcement. 2 Friends don’t let friends drink and drive. Plan a sober ride if you’re planning to drink by designating a sober driver, taking a cab, public transportation or staying at the location of the party. When hosting a celebration or going out with friends, don’t be afraid to speak up. Find guests and friends a sober ride home or let them sleep at your house. You could be helping save a life. Seat belts are your first defense in a crash. Even though you might be doing everything right, others on the road might be making poor decisions. o Each year, of the drinking drivers killed in alcohol-related crashes, about two in three are not belted.
Too Many Lives Tragically Affected There were 1,266 life-changing injuries between 2011 — 2015 that were known to be alcohol-related. Approximately 38 percent of those who incur a first DWI will incur a second, and 46 percent of those who incur a second DWI will incur a third. The cost of alcohol-related traffic injuries and fatalities in Minnesota was estimated at more than $20,000,000 in 2015. Costs are calculated using estimates from the National Safety Council and are just direct costs due to medical expense, property damage and lost productivity.
Summer DWI Enforcement Highlights Troopers, sheriff deputies and police made 1,370 DWI arrests during the end-of-summer extra enforcement campaign DWI Arrests Included: o In Fillmore County, the sheriff’s office was called after a motorist witnessed a SUV pulling a boat driving into oncoming traffic, nearly causing a crash. A short time later police found the vehicle pulled over on the shoulder of Highway 52 with the driver passed out in the driver’s seat along with several open rum containers. The driver, who told the officer he was too drunk to drive, blew a .38 blood alcohol content (BAC). o In Ely, a woman was arrested for a .24 BAC. Her boyfriend stated 3 he was too drunk to drive so he asked his girlfriend to drive home. Booking could not be completed until the next day because she was too drunk. o Several people driving with their children in the vehicle were arrested for DWI including: o A mother in Cass County traveling with her 2, 3 and 4-year-old children was arrested after blowing a .30 BAC. o A father in Prior Lake who was involved in a crash and had his 7 year old in the vehicle without a booster seat. o A motorcyclist suffered serious injuries in Rice County when he was thrown off his bike after crashing into a ditch and hitting a sign. He was charged with 3rd degree DWI after blowing a .29 BAC. o A man in Rice County who led police on a six-mile pursuit was arrested for his 10th DWI. o A driver hit a Lino Lakes squad car around 12:30 p.m. The driver recorded a .26 BAC and had an open bottle of alcohol. o In Minneapolis, a suspect was arrested for a second DWI offense in two years by the same officer. The highest B.A.C was .38.
Ignition Interlock Law Interlock devices are installed in a vehicle and require a driver to provide a breath sample in order for the vehicle to start. The vehicle will not start if the device detects an alcohol- concentration level of 0.02 or above after the driver blows into its tube. Interlocks require rolling re-tests after the initial test and have features to deter others from starting the vehicle for the intended user. The law gives DWI offenders a chance to regain driving privileges by ensuring safe and legal driving through the use of interlocks. Highlights of the law include:
o All repeat DWI offenders and first time offenders with a 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level must use ignition interlock on any vehicle they drive to regain driving privileges. If they don’t, they won’t have legal driving privileges for at least one year. Offenders with three or more DWIs in a 10-year period will be
4 required to use an ignition interlock. o Interlock users will regain full driving privileges immediately after the offense, ensuring they are driving with a valid license and not a threat on the roadway. o Interlocks will be used to monitor chronic DWI offenders (three or more DWIs in 10 year period) to verify chemical use. Benefits to Minnesotans include: o Safer roads and reduced costs through the use of ignition interlock on high-risk drivers. o Creates a method for all offenders to obtain a valid driver's license, addressing the epidemic of people driving without a valid license. o Encourages behavior modification and rehabilitation. o Diminishes the probability and possibility of a repeat DWI.
Definitions Driving While Impaired (DWI) is a violation for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Alcohol-related: any evidence of alcohol detected in a driver, pedestrian or bicyclist. Impaired-related: any driver, pedestrian or bicyclist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above. Drunk-driving-related: any driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above.
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