Reducing fatalities and injuries that result from impaired driving requires strong laws and support for implementation of those laws, use of innovative technology, and implementation of education and prevention programs.
Drug Recognition Evaluator
The drug evaluation and classification (DEC) program trains Minnesota law enforcement officers to detect specific drug impairment and remove drug-impaired drivers from the road.
DWI Courts
A DWI (Driving While Impaired) Court is an accountability court dedicated to changing the behavior of alcohol and other drug-dependent offenders arrested for driving while impaired.
- Minnesota DWI Courts website (Minnesota Judicial Branch)
Responsible Beverage Service Training
The Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety's Office of Traffic Safety the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement (AGE) division have worked together to develop a Train the Trainer program. The program aims to ensure that servers across Minnesota are up to date on laws, statistics, and other information to prevent irresponsible drinking behaviors. For more information, contact Cleven Duncan at cleven.duncan@state.mn.us.
- Responsible Beverage Service Training (Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement, MN DPS)
- AGE: Training the people on the front lines of alcohol enforcement blog post (MN Dept. of Public Safety)
DWI eCharging
e-Charging provides a method for criminal justice stakeholders to accurately and efficiently process information needed to administratively and criminally charge a person with impaired driving.
- e-Charging fact sheet (MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension)
Ignition Interlock
Ignition interlock is an effective tool that reduces re-arrest by an average of 64 percent. Communities are encouraged to support programs that will increase the use of ignition interlock.
- MN Ignition Interlock Device Program (MN Dept. of Public Safety)
MN Drugged Driving Summit
The following materials were presented at the Minnesota Statewide Drugged Driving Summit, held January 19, 2023. The event featured leading experts presenting on drug mitigation, drug use and its potential impact on driving, and upcoming trends, challenges, and countermeasures.
- Legalization of Cannabis and the Effects on Traffic Safety: Colorado’s story (PDF)
- Introduction to the Minnesota Prevention Alliance and the Drug Free Communities Grant Program (PDF)
- Nationwide and Statewide Trends (PDF)
- Edible Cannabinoids (PDF)
- Oral Fluid Roadside Analysis Pilot Program–Phase II report (PDF)
- Use of Oral Fluid to Detect Drugged Drivers (PDF)
Legislation in Minnesota
- Summary of Minnesota's legislation on impaired driving (MN Office of Traffic Safety)
- Summary of Minnesota Highway Safety Laws (GHSA)
- FAQs on traffic safety and cannabis in Minnesota (MN Office of Traffic Safety)
Videos & Audio
- MN Holiday Impaired Driving radio PSA #1 (2021)
- MN Holiday Impaired Driving radio PSA #2 (2021)
- MN Holiday Impaired Driving radio PSA #3 (2021)
- MN Holiday Impaired Driving radio PSA #4 (2021)
- Days in the Life of a Misdemeanor DUI (Brainerd Lakes TZD, 2020)
Research
- Reports and statistics (MN Office of Traffic Safety)
- Comprehensive Annual Impaired Driving Data Reports (MN Office of Traffic Safety)
- Buzzed Driving (AAA, MDH, and MN Safety Council, 2015)
Safe Ride Programs
Alternative transportation programs are not available in all communities, so communities are encouraged to promote the development of these programs and the concept of planning for a safe ride home.
Other Materials
