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November 23, 1999
Safe & Sober concentrates on patrols, increased seatbelt usageNUPD toparticipate for fourth yearBy SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- The Minnesota Department of Public Safety kicked off its sixth year Thursday of special funding for traffic enforcement in the Safe & Sober Year 2000 campaign. The New Ulm Police Department has received $12,000 to participate in the program next year. This will be the fourth year local police have participated. The program consists of four phases -- the first phase beginning around Thanksgiving Day and the last phase ending around New Year's Day. There will be 111 law enforcement agencies and all 12 districts of the State Patrol participating in the Minnesota Safe & Sober campaign 2000. "It's (Safe & Sober) meant to encourage people to get a designated driver or to drink in moderation. I'm sold on the idea that what we're doing is the right thing to do," said NUPD Commander, Erv Weinkauf, "We think Safe & Sober has been one of the best public relations tools we've ever had. It's enabled us to make people award of the program. As a result of that, we've had good compliance from people." The campaign focuses on concentrated traffic safety patrols (to remove impaired drivers from the road), increasing seatbelt usage, and reducing aggressive driving. The program also encourages media relations, such as newspaper articles and radio public service announcements. NUPD's S.T.E.P., program, a seatbelt enforcement effort, last summer went very well, Weinkauf said. "We plan to do it again next summer," said Weinkauf, "The best defense in trying to support this campaign (Safe & Sober) is wearing your seatbelt," said Weinkauf. Special enforcement programs also turn up more arrests for other violations, Weinkauf said. NUPD attempts to inform people of upcoming special law enforcement programs before they begin. In 1999, NUPD participated in the Chief's Challenge, which is similar to the Safe & Sober campaign. The department was awarded a $3,000 grant from the Chief's Challenge and also received recognition for their participation in the program. Alcohol-related deaths increased 53 percent increased from 1997-1998 in Minnesota, and that statistic underscores the need for the extra traffic enforcement, said Deputy Commissioner Mancel Mitchell. "We are even more convinced of the value of this program and the need to continue its operation in Minnesota," said Mitchell. There were 273 people in 1998 killed in alcohol-related crashes. There were 128 homicides in the state that same year. The people killed in entirely preventable alcohol-related traffic crashes now outnumber homicides by more than two to one, according to Mitchell. For more information on the Safe & Sober campaign, contact the New Ulm Police Department at 507-233-6750.
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