EXTRA ENFORCEMENT ON CINCO DE MAYO: A DEADLY 2016 IS A CALL TO ACTION

Fatal Celebration

Cinco de Mayo 2016 brought tragedy and sorrow to too many families. During the Cinco de Mayo reporting period last year, law enforcement investigated:

·         Four fatal crashes (preliminary) which led to:

o   Four deaths, one of which was drunk driving-related.

·         691 total crashes (preliminary).

o   Seventeen serious injuries, two of which were alcohol-related.

·         182 DWIs (preliminary)

 

Extra DWI enforcement

·         To keep Minnesota motorists safe, law enforcement in Minnesota will have extra DWI patrols this holiday weekend looking for drunk drivers.

·         Nearly 1,000 drivers risked their lives and the lives of others on the road over the last five Cinco de Mayo celebrations (2012-2016) when they decided to get behind the wheel drunk.

·         While most people are making the smart choice to find a sober ride, nearly three people per hour are still being arrested for DWI on Cinco de Mayo (2012-2016).

§  Labor Day – 4.9

§  St. Patrick's Day – 4.6

§  July 4 – 4.5

§  Memorial Day – 4.3

§  New Year's Eve – 3.9

§  Super Bowl – 3.8

§  Thanksgiving – 3.7

§  Christmas – 3

§  Cinco de Mayo – 2.5

·         The number of people arrested for DWI on Cinco de Mayo typically goes up when the holiday falls on a weekend. With the celebrations taking place on a Friday this year, people may be taking the day off and making it a full-weekend celebration.

§  2012 (Saturday) – 249

§  2013 (Sunday) – 214

§  2014 (Monday) – 200

§  2015 (Tuesday) – 122

§  2016 (Thursday) – 182 (Preliminary) 

 

Drunk Driving in Minnesota

·         In the last five years (2011 – 2015), 462 people were killed in drunk driving-related crashes in Minnesota.

·         Drunk driving-related deaths account for one-fourth of all traffic fatalities in Minnesota.

·         Each year, approximately 27,000 people are arrested for DWI and one in seven licensed Minnesota drivers has a DWI on record.

 

Sober Ride Options

• No matter how much you intend to drink, plan for a safe ride — designate a sober driver, take a cab/public transportation or stay at the location of the party. 
• If walking home from an establishment, use the buddy system and make sure each person in your party not only gets home safely but makes it inside their home without incident. 

 

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 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.
• Speak Up – 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.