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Bemidji Police Department and Beltrami County Sheriff's Office Serving up Extra Helpings of DWI Enforcement for Thanksgiving

DWI crackdown continues through Dec. 28

Bemidji, Minn. - With the holidays starting with Thanksgiving this week, the Beltrami County Safe Neighborhoods Towards Zero Death Initiative (TZD) Coalition, along with the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office and the Bemidji Police Department are putting extra DWI enforcement on the menu to prevent drunk driving crashes.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety is coordinating the enforcement effort. Extra DWI enforcement will continue through Dec. 28.

Bemidji Police is reminding motorists to buckle up, plan ahead for a sober ride and travel safely during the Thanksgiving holiday - historically among the deadliest holidays of the year.

In Minnesota during the Thanksgiving travel period (Wed.–Sun), 2010–2012:

• Seven people were killed on the roads- five were motorists, of which three were not buckled up.

• Five of the seven people killed were a result of a drunk driving crash.

• 1,522 motorists were arrested for DWI.

"Enforcing seat belt laws and arresting impaired drivers are preventive measures we take to ensure safety on Minnesota roads," says Bemidji Police Sergeant David Markert. "Seat belts and designated drivers must be on the menu to ensure travel safety during the holiday."

Bemidji Police asks motorists to follow this traffic safety recipe to ensure safe Thanksgiving travel:

• Buckle up before and after you gobble up.

• Plan for enough travel time to avoid the urge to speed - the posted speed is the speed limit.

• Pay attention. Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

• If you plan on drinking, plan for a safe and sober ride home.

Minnesota Drunk Driving Facts

During the past three years, 2010–2012, 336 people were killed in Minnesota drunk driving crashes. In Beltrami County during this period, 7 were killed and 1078 were arrested for DWI. Each year in the state, around 30,000 people are arrested for DWI.

DWI Consequences

A DWI offense can result in loss of license for up to a year, thousands in costs and possible jail time.

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.

Tips to Prevent Drunk Driving

• Plan for a sober ride - designate a sober driver, use a cab/public transportation or stay at the location of the celebration.

• Offer to be a designated driver, or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere.

• Buckle up - 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.

Extra DWI enforcement and education campaigns are a component of the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety initiative. A primary vision of the TZD program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. TZD focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes - education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.

 

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