ST. PAUL (AP) — The Minnesota State Patrol says it arrested 60 people for drunken driving during the first weekend of a statewide crackdown.

Lt. Eric Roeske said the arrest total is 25 to 30 percent higher than an average weekend. The total will rise significantly when local law enforcement agencies across the state turn in their own numbers.

More than 400 law enforcement agencies are focusing their patrol efforts on getting drunken drivers off the road through Labor Day weekend.

Roeske said the last weekends of August have been among the deadliest for alcohol-related crashes during the last three years.

Authorities don’t know why, but they hope their increased presence will prompt drivers to make safer decisions.

Law enforcement agencies statewide are placing special emphasis over the next two weekends on getting drunken drivers off the roads.