Nine DWI’s issued during holiday Safe and Sober crackdown Educational messages and stepped-up enforcement by the Rock County Sheriff's Office resulted in nine DWI arrests during the holiday crackdown on drunk driving. A similar effort during the 2002 Holiday season resulted in zero DWI arrests. The statewide Safe and Sober campaign that ran from Dec. 19, 2003, through Jan 5, 2004, was the largest impaired driving effort ever conducted in the state. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety coordinated the program. More than 400 city and county law enforcement agencies and the State Patrol participated. The Rock County Sheriff's Office message is that there are consequences to driving impaired and that there are also safe options and alternatives. Historically, the holiday season is one of the deadliest periods on Minnesota roads. Death does not stop for the holidays. Last year in Minnesota, alcohol-related traffic crashes accounted for 239 fatalities, or nearly 37 percent of all traffic deaths. There will be more on-going enforcement efforts targeting impaired drivers in 2004. The Rock County Sheriff's Office hopes that motorists continue to drive safe and sober. It makes our roads much safer for you and your families. The Safe and Sober campaign is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The program is designed to reduce traffic related fatalities and injuries.
