Scott County law enforcement officers and deputies arrested 100 impaired drivers during a state Department of Public Safety (DPS) Safe & Sober enhanced enforcement campaign conducted throughout July.

More than 400 Minnesota law enforcement agencies participated in the effort. Locally, agencies included the Scott County Sheriff Office, and police departments in Shakopee, Prior Lake, Savage, New Prague, Jordan and Belle Plaine. 

More than 500,395 Minnesotans have a DWI on record, meaning one in eight state residents with a driver’s license has a DWI.

“When you drink and drive, you are gambling on your future and public safety,” said Shakopee police officer Nicki Marquardt. “No matter how many times you’ve driven impaired and made it home, one mistake can change your life forever.”

Depending on circumstances, a first-time DWI arrest can lead to a loss of license for 90 days. When factoring in increased insurance cost rates, legal and other fees, the expense of a DWI can run up to nearly $20,000.

The enforcement campaign is a component of the Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) initiative, a partnership led by the Minnesota departments of public safety, transportation and health, and county engineers. TZD encourages local stakeholders to address traffic issues through enforcement, engineering, education and emergency trauma care response.

Safe & Sober is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The program is designed to reduce traffic-related fatalities and injuries.