The Washington County sheriff’s office, along with the Forest Lake Police Department, will pump-up impaired driving enforcement during a statewide Safe & Sober enforcement and education campaign, Friday, Aug. 17 through Monday, September 3.

The end-of-summer effort will include 420 hours of enforcement that will cover the high-traffic Labor Day holiday period. More than 400 Minnesota law enforcement agencies will participate.

In 2006, the state tallied a record-low number of alcohol-related traffic deaths — 166 — yet a record-high 41,832 motorists were arrested for DWI.

In Washington County there were two impaired driving deaths in 2006, compared with 2001-2005 average of 5.4 impaired driving deaths, and 1,842 DWIs.

“While progress has been made to reduce impaired driving deaths, there’s no question that this illegal behavior continues to dominate our roads,” said Deputy John Stoffel. “Enhanced enforcement efforts allow law enforcement to best attack impaired driving and steer motorists to making safe decisions.”

In conjunction with increased enforcement, the Safe Communities Coalition is sponsoring a public education campaign to discourage impaired driving that includes gas pump toppers, posters in local libraries and city halls, and banners in the beer garden at the county fair.

DPS reports that of all the alcohol-related driver deaths in 2006 nearly 70 percent were not belted.

Young adults continue to be the primary violators of impaired driving.

From 2004 to 2006, 32 percent of DWIs in Washington County were committed by motorists in their early 20s and those under the legal drinking age. These groups accounted for nearly one-third of all DWI arrests statewide over the same time period.

Washington County law enforcement and Safe Communities Coalition remind motorists the safest solution is to have a plan before imbibing: use alternative transportation, designate a sober driver, call for a cab or a friend, take the bus, or stay the night at the location of the celebration.

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