Extra DWI Enforcement For Holiday Season Begins

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Expect to see more patrols on the road this holiday season.

Starting Wednesday, and continuing through Dec. 30, the Department of Public Safety said more than 300 law enforcement agencies will be putting extra officers on the road.

The extra patrols will be specifically for DWI enforcement.

The effort is done to help decrease the number of drunk driving-related fatalities.

According to DPS, Christmas and Thanksgiving are among the top holidays with the highest percentage of drunk driving-related fatalities.

On Thanksgiving from 2006 to 2015 there were 6,228 DIW, 43 with fatalities. On Christmas during the same time frame there were 3,834 DWIs, with 32 fatalities.

For those drivers that may decide to take a cab at the end of the night, businesses like The Happy Gnome will leave "thank you" notes on any cars left in the parking lot.