Enforcement efforts net 5 DWIs over weekend
By KURT NESBITT Journal Staff WriterNEW ULM - The multi-agency law enforcement effort to catch impaired drivers in the New Ulm area this past weekend resulted in many traffic stops and a handful of DWI arrests.
The effort, which began Friday night and concentrated on the New Ulm area as Bavarian Blast kicked off its third year, involved officers from Brown, Watonwan and Nicollet county sheriff's offices, two local police departments and the State Patrol.
The New Ulm Police Department reported 150 vehicles were stopped and five people were arrested for DWI during the effort.
The effort was a part of a statewide impaired driving enforcement during July, which historically has been one of the deadliest months for impaired driving in Minnesota. In between 2004 and 2006, a total of 67 motorists were killed in July and more than 10,000 people were arrested for DWI.
Officers in the New Ulm enforcement cited three people for having open containers of alcohol and two people were cited for underage drinking in addition to the five DWI arrests. Six speeding tickets and eight other citations were also issued during the enforcement.
New Ulm Police Officer Keith Anderson said he thought the enforcement "went well."
"We had four arrests on Friday night and one on Saturday night and to me that shows that what we're doing is working and people are using taxis or whatever to get home safely," Anderson said.
While officers might not be out in the numbers that they were during Bavarian Blast, the enforcement wave does not end until the end of this month. Anderson said another enforcement effort may take place during the Brown County Free Fair, which will run from Aug. 6-10.
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GeorgeG
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07-23-08 9:21 AM
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After all the years of Heritage Fest, Bock Fest and now Bavarian Blast, the NUPD has probably arrested a lot of drunk drivers. Next year the NUPD and fest planners should collaborate on creating a bus route that runs from the fair grounds and makes a loop around New Ulm. Although the roads were definitely safer after the five drunks were captured, other motorists would be even more safe if we could decrease the chance of a drunk getting behind the wheel by offering an alternative transportation in addition to increased policing.
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