State to add 50

troopers in outstate

New troopers to staff late weekend shifts, target impaired drivers

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

MANKATO -- In an effort to patrol late weekend night shifts and target impaired drivers, 50 new state trooper positions will be added in rural Minnesota this summer.

The new posts were created last summer as part of the 2 a.m. bar closing legislation. Previous staffing limitations prevented overnight patrols in rural Minnesota.

The new positions will provide later coverage and some 24-hour coverage against impaired drivers.

"This is a much-needed addition to our efforts," said State Patrol Captain Lori Hodapp. "Enforcement is truly the ticket to safer roads."

State Patrol districts receiving new positions include counties that are among Minnesota's deadliest for alcohol-related fatalities and in response to later bar closings. The Duluth, St. Cloud and Detroit Lakes regions will get the largest share of the new positions.

New troopers will cover Brown, Western Nicollet and Sibley Counties while others will patrol Eastern Nicollet, Blue Earth, Waseca and Le Sueur Counties.

"This is the most significant increase in state trooper enforcement ever in Greater Minnesota," said Col. Anne Beers, Chief of the State Patrol. "The additional force will ensure that the roads which have been plagued with impaired driving and unsafe driving behaviors become safer."

New patrols will begin at the onset of the state's deadliest driving period -- June, July and August.

Those months have historically had the highest number of traffic fatalities, alcohol-related crash fatalities and injuries.

Minnesota traffic deaths to date in 2004 are 131. That compares to 169 at this time last year.