“Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” This is the message area law enforcement will be giving to those who make the choice to drink and drive. The Stearns County Safe Communities Coalition would like to remind drivers that law enforcement will be out in full force working to get impaired drivers off the roads during the Safe & Sober impaired driving campaign that runs Aug. 17-Sept. 3. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities continue to claim hundreds of people’s lives in Minnesota each year. Alcohol-related crashes, injuries and fatalities continue to be a serious problem in Minnesota. Overall, males and young adults are over-represented in alcohol-related crashes and account for a disproportionate share of fatalities. The legal alcohol limit for drivers in Minnesota is 0.08. It is always illegal to drive with an alcohol-concentration level of 0.08 or above. Motorists can be arrested under 0.08 if they demonstrate impaired driving behavior. If a motorist’s alcohol concentration is at 0.08 percent or higher, it is a criminal offense with penalties ranging from misdemeanor to felony. It is also a violation of civil law that triggers automatic driver license revocation for a minimum of 90 days for a first-time offense. In 2006, 166 people died in Minnesota due to alcohol-related traffic crashes. Nearly 42,000 motorists in Minnesota were arrested for DWI last year, a record high. The Stearns County Safe Communities Coalition would like to offer these solutions to drinking and driving: drink alcohol in moderation, know your alcohol limits, designate a sober driver before you start drinking, take a cab or other public transportation, or stay at a friend’s house for the night if you drink too much. Stearns County area law enforcement will be participating in the Labor Day Mobilization efforts. The intent of campaigns, such as this impaired driving campaign, is to keep everyone on the roads safe, remove dangerous drivers from the road, and to prevent tragedies and save lives. If you decide to drive while drunk, law enforcement will be watching for you. Remember to drive safely and drive sober. The Stearns County Safe Communities Coalition is a project through the Stearns County Human Services Department, Public Health Division and is funded through a grant by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety/Office of Traffic Safety. The goal of the Coalition is to end traffic deaths. If you would like to be a part of the coalition, you can join the group at their next meeting Nov. 5 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the St. Cloud Hospital Conference Center Spruce Room. You can also call the Safe Communities program coordinator, Susie Osaki Holm, in Public Health at (320) 656-6083.
