In a cooperative traffic safety enforcement effort, the police departments from Rogers, Corcoran, Medina, Orono, Wayzata, Mound, Minnetrista and the West Hennepin Public Safety department (WHPS) have received a grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety.

The eight departments, a bordering chain of communities along the western side of Hennepin County, have put together a plan of enforcement, education, and outreach to make the cities a safer place to live and work.

The Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) receives federal money through the Safe & Sober program. OTS then awards the funds to departments through a submitted grant process,to be used for added extra enforcement during different times throughout the year. The added enforcement efforts concentrate on specific violations such as speeding, seatbelt use, DWI, red light running, and child seat use. The most recent award is dedicated for extra traffic enforcements through October 2008.

The enforcement concentrations also target certain times throughout the year, such as the upcoming holiday season, to combat increased occurrence of unsafe driving practices like driving while intoxicated, noted WHPS patrolman Rick Dennison. During the summer months, speeding and seatbelt use become the focus as does child restraint use and red light running, he added.

The traffic fatality rate in Minnesota is running about 8 percent to 10 percent higher than last year at this time, according to Dennison. “At first, you might think that our mild start to the winter season and no snow would make it better, but often times, good clear roads lead [motorists] to driving faster, which results in more crashes with serious or fatal consequences.

“Our goal, throughout the state of Minnesota is to achieve zero traffic deaths,” said Dennison. “Programs such as Safe and Sober will help us accomplish this goal. But enforcement is only a small part of it. We need motorists to understand that they need to work at better driving skills such as slowing down, leaving more room in front, designating a driver if they are going to drink, wear their seatbelt every trip - every time.

Law enforcement agencies try to remind motorists through education and media outreach like television spots, radio ads, newspaper articles, and other printed material.”

Dennison said the goal of area law enforcement agencies is the elimination of traffic fatalities. Motorists can do their part toward that end, he said, by being responsible drivers.

“We will be out in force this upcoming holiday season to make sure that you and your families have a safe and wonderful holiday season,” said Dennison.

December DWI Mobilization

Officers will be nipping at the red-noses of impaired drivers during a Safe & Sober enforcement and education campaign in December.

The statewide effort is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and will include around 400 law enforcement agencies. The effort is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths initiative — which encourages local traffic safety stakeholders to address traffic issues through enforcement, engineering, education and emergency trauma care response.

DWI enforcement efforts will be focused on Thursday-Saturday nights throughout the month, beginning Dec. 6.

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