The Minnesota State Patrol will have extra DWI patrols at several local events including Moondance Country Fest, June 22 - 23, near Walker, and Paul Bunyan Days, June 22 - 24, in Akeley. Additional troopers will be on the roads during these times to combat impaired driving during the busy weekend.
"We want everyone to enjoy these events, but we also want spectators to be responsible and safe," said State Patrol Lt. Joe Dwyer of the Brainerd District. "By planning ahead for a safe and sober ride home, you can enjoy the day without endangering yourself or others."
Lt. Dwyer says that anyone who sees an impaired driver should call 911.
The enforcement efforts are part of the Towards Zero Deaths (TZD) initiative. TZD aims to create a culture for which traffic fatalities and serious injuries are no longer acceptable through the integrated application of education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency medical and trauma services. The TZD partnership is led by the Minnesota departments of Public Safety, Transportation, and Health, in cooperation with the Minnesota State Patrol, the Federal Highway Administration, Minnesota county engineers, and the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota.
