Local law enforcement officers made nine arrests for driving while intoxicated in Freeborn County in a recent extra DWI enforcement period.

The arrests were made as a part of the Toward Zero Deaths program, which aims to create a safe driving culture through promoting safe and smart driving behavior.

Other violations included:

• 30 speeding citations

• 32 violations of driving with no driver’s license or with an invalid driver’s license

• 31 citations for having no insurance or no proof of insurance

• 20 people placed under arrest

• 10 vehicles towed

• Four warrants served

One citation for failing to move over for an emergency vehicle

According to an Albert Lea Police Department press release, one driver was arrested for impaired driving after her vehicle struck a railroad crossing arm with an infant in the vehicle.

More than 1,350 DWI arrests were made during the enforcement period, which lasted from Aug. 19 to Sept. 5.

“We take the responsibility of finding drunk drivers and removing them from our roads very seriously,” said Albert Lea Lt. Jeff Strom. “We not only work in this community, but we live here as well. In a split second, a drunk driver can change the lives of many, and we’ll continue to work tirelessly to protect Minnesotans from those who have had too much to drink behind the wheel.”

Alcohol levels ranged from .08 to a .20 blood alcohol content, the press release stated. Drivers that refused testing face longer sanctions on their licenses and gross misdemeanor criminal violations.

Though education, enhanced enforcement and awareness are causing more motorists to drive sober, too many drivers are still driving drunk, according to the Minnesota Department of Safety.

The number of yearly drunk-driving fatalities has decreased since 2010:

2010: 112

2011: 103

2012: 95

2013: 81

2014: 88

2015: 95, an 8 percent increase from 2014

The Department of Public Safety advises motorists to plan for a safe ride, use seatbelts and report drunk driving to prevent drunk driving fatalities.

Motorists who are convicted of DWI face the loss of their license for a year, thousands of dollars in fines and other costs, and possible jail time. Repeat offenders and first-time offenders arrested at a 0.16 blood-alcohol level and above must use ignition interlock to regain legal driving privileges, or have their license suspended for a year.

Offenders with three or more offenses are required to use interlock for three to six years to receive their license back.

The Toward Zero Deaths program focuses on education, enforcement, engineering and medical and trauma response to reduce crashes, the press release stated.