Drunk Driving Targeted In 13 Minn. Counties

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Thirteen Minnesota counties the Department of Public Safety calls the most dangerous for impaired driving will be targeted with extra DWI patrols starting Thanksgiving weekend and continuing all the way through September 2011.

Wednesday through Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend is traditionally a deadly one for traffic accidents. The last three years have seen 16 such deaths with six that were alcohol-related.

The 13 counties had the highest combined total of alcohol-related deaths and serious injuries during 2007 to 2009. The counties are Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Itasca, Olmsted, Ramsey, Rice, St. Louis, Scott, Stearns, Washington and Wright. The Minnesota State Patrol will partner with local authorities in those counties to conduct increased DWI-targeted patrols over the next 10 months.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)