Albert Lea police arrested five impaired drivers during a stepped-up traffic enforcement effort that started in the middle of August and ended on Labor Day.

Officers made 195 vehicle stops in an effort to locate and remove impaired drivers from the road, according to a news release.

In addition to the five drivers arrested for driving under the influence, 13 were cited for speed, four for seat belt violations, two for child restraint violations, 13 for driving on a revoked or suspended license and nine for other traffic violations, the release stated.

Of the five drivers arrested for driving under the influence, the average breath-alcohol level was .12, the release stated. There were levels ranging from .09 to .19, with the legal limit in Minnesota being .08.

One driver also refused to submit to testing.

The Labor Day enforcement was part of the Toward Zero Deaths statewide initiative. The goal of Toward Zero Deaths is to achieve zero traffic deaths and reduce severe injuries from traffic crashes.

The Police Department will participate in additional enhanced enforcement throughout the upcoming year.

The number of arrests and criminal convictions for drunken driving in Minnesota has dropped to the lowest level in 20 years.

Authorities credit changing attitudes about driving drunk and improved enforcement for the decline.

About 25,700 people were arrested for drunken driving in Minnesota last year. That compares with a 20-year high of nearly 42,000 in 2006. Criminal convictions dropped to about 19,000 in 2013 — also a 20-year low.

Despite the improvement, State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske says Minnesota’s numbers aren’t low enough.

He said some drivers are dealing with chemical dependency and others simply don’t care about the consequences of driving drunk.

Statistics show that of the state’s 4 million licensed motorists, one in seven has a drunken driving conviction.