Law enforcement throughout Minnesota arrested 2,353 drivers for driving while impaired during the most recent DWI campaign that ran from Nov. 27 through Dec. 31, 2019, according to numbers released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (DPS-OTS). This number is down from 2,757 DWI arrests made during the enforcement period held during the same time in 2018, a 15 percent decrease.

The Minnesota State Patrol (Golden Valley) recorded the most arrests at 155. The Minnesota State Patrol (Rochester) made the most arrests in Greater Minnesota, with 65.

Six agencies reported arresting drivers with blood alcohol concentrations of 0.35 percent or higher, the DPS-OTS said. The Minneapolis Police Department and Minnesota State Patrol (Marshall) both arrested drivers with blood alcohol concentrations of 0.40 percent, five times the legal limit.

Law enforcement also reported issuing 1,408 seat belt violations, down from 1,901 in 2018.

Those found guilty of DWI in the State of Minnesota could face a loss of license for up to one year, thousands of dollars in fines and possible jail time. Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 and above blood 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.