Patrol: Drunk driving enforcement to increase

BAXTER -- The State Patrol office in Baxter is reporting drunk driving enforcement will be increased from Dec. 13-22.

Last year troopers in the Brainerd District of the State Patrol arrested 482 people for DWI. During the second half of 2000, 28 people were killed in motor vehicle accidents on state highways in the Brainerd district, the highest number of fatalities of all 10 districts in the state during that period. Of the 28 fatalities, 11 were alcohol-related, two involved drugs.

Statewide, 245 traffic deaths involved alcohol, the Department of Public Safety reported.

Last year Minnesota law enforcement officers arrested about 35,000 drivers for DWI offenses and in a continuing effort to combat impaired driving State Patrol troopers will carry out extra enforcement and education activities targeting drunk driving.

The enforcement is a component of the Safe and Sober program, which is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.