On a hot summer day, it’s easy to throw back a few drinks while enjoying the beach or fishing on the dock, and it’s easy to forget that driving home with a buzz is drunk driving. As summer winds down, southeast Minnesota law enforcement plan to crack down on drunk drivers during a statewide DWI enforcement effort.

The statewide DWI education and enforcement campaign, which starts today and runs until Sept. 7, is coordinated by the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.

At Thursday’s kick-off event, a powerful story of loss and recovery was told by the sole survivor of a DWI crash.

Rita Seha, the sole survivor of a 2009 Memorial Day weekend crash near Rochester shared her story of loss. Rita’s fiancé, infant son, 19-year-old daughter, grandson and longtime family friend were all killed in the crash.

“To this day it is still difficult to talk about what happened to my family,” said Rita Seha. “By speaking out, my hope is that anyone who decides to drink lines up a sober ride, I know first-hand that can mean the difference between life and death.”

 

Drunk Driving, a Sobering Reality

More than 25,000 drivers are arrested for DWI in Minnesota each year; this alarming number averages nearly three DWI arrests per hour throughout the state.

In the last five years, there were 479 drunk driving-related traffic deaths in Minnesota and 88 people were killed in 2014 alone.

“Those who lose their lives every year because of drunk driving are often referred to as statistics,” said Sgt. Troy Christianson of the Minnesota State Patrol.  “But these are real people who have loved ones hoping they will still walk through the door any moment.”

 

DWI Consequences 

Loss of license for up to a year, thousands of dollars in costs and possible jail time.

Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 percent 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.

 

Prevent Drunk Driving

Plan for a safe 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.

The enhanced DWI enforcement campaign is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths program. 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 medical and trauma response.