Small Town News

Young adults, underage drinkers a focus of DWI Enforcement Campaign

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Safe Communities Coalition of Stearns County would like to remind everyone that local law enforcement agencies in Stearns County will be on the lookout for young adult drinking drivers -- the group overrepresented in alcohol related crashes and DWI offenses -- as part of a statewide end-of-summer DWI enforcement effort, August 21-Sept. 7. Law Enforcement also stresses that those underage not risk the consequences of drinking and driving.

Statewide during 2006-2008, 25,967 young adults (ages 21-24) were arrested for DWI. During that same time period 70 young adults were killed and another 200 were seriously injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes.

"Young adults choosing to drink and drive is an issue statewide," says Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner. "Their 'nothing bad is going to happen' attitude coupled with their impaired driving behavior makes it that much more necessary that law enforcement stop them before they cause serious harm on our roads."

The Safe Communities Coalition also urges parents to talk with their teens about the consequences of underage drinking -- an important reminder as summer draws to a close and big party weekends loom with students returning to the classroom and heading off to college.

Each year in Minnesota, motorists under age 21 represent around one in 10 of the total DWI arrests. During 2006-2008, there were 10,489 underage DWI arrests. During that same period, 56 underage motorists were killed and another 205 were seriously injured in alcohol-related crashes.

The state's "Not a Drop" law says driving minors cited for any amount of alcohol use will lose their license from 30 to 180 days, and face up to a $700 fine and 90 days in jail. Minors will lose their license until age 18 if they are arrested for DWI or involved in an impaired driving crash or crime. Trying to purchase alcohol with a fake ID can result in a loss of driving privileges for at least 90 days.

Adults who provide alcohol to underage drinkers will be held responsible and face serious criminal and legal consequences and are also subject to civil liability in cases of injury, property damage or death. Civil liability is not covered by most insurance. "If an adult provides alcohol to an underage person and that person is killed or injured or if they kill or injure someone else, the adult can be charged with a felony and face time in prison," says Sheriff Sanner.

Safe Communities of Stearns County along with local law enforcement are partnering with around 400 law enforcement agencies in the Department of Public Safety enhanced DWI enforcement effort that runs through September 7.

The Stearns County Safe Communities Coalition is coordinated by Stearns County Human Services, the Public Health Division and is funded by a grant through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety/Office of Traffic Safety.



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© 2009 Cold Spring Record Cold Spring, Minnesota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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