Local law enforcement officials will work together this weekend to target drunk drivers in the area of the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

Friday, August 03, 2001

Local law enforcement officials will work together this weekend to target drunk drivers in the area of the Freeborn County Fairgrounds.

The Albert Lea Police Department, Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol have coordinated a Night-time Concentrated Alcohol Patrol (NightCAP) to target impaired drivers at the fair this Saturday.

&uot;There will be an enhanced presence to encourage people to make good choices,&uot; said Freeborn County Sheriff Don Nolander.

&uot;The idea of the operation NightCAP is to loud and clear put a message across: please don’t drink and drive,&uot; he said.

Troopers, deputies and police officers participating in the operation will stop drivers for any traffic offense in an attempt to remove those who have been drinking and driving from the road, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

&uot;Enjoy the fair and festivities, but plan ahead and make the choice not to drive before you start drinking,&uot; said Minnesota State Patrol Lieutenant Randy Slinger. &uot;A ride from an officer for a DUI isn’t nearly as much fun and is much more costly than those you can get at the fair.&uot;

Nolander doesn’t anticipate that more people will be driving drunk this weekend than on other weekends, but drunk drivers are likely to be concentrated in the area of the fairgrounds because of the festivities. By concentrating their efforts on fairgoers, officials hope to remove more drunk drivers from the road.

&uot;We want everybody to have a good time, and we want everyone to get home safely,&uot; Nolander said.

Last year, there were 625 traffic deaths in Minnesota, and 245 of them involved alcohol, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

&uot;The message should be clear,&uot; Slinger said. &uot;Designate a sober driver or call a cab so that we don’t have to call a coroner.&uot;