Minnesota Drunk Driving Statistics


Year
Fatalities
Tot
Alc-Rel
%
0.08+
%
1982
571
322
56
291
51
1983
555
314
56
268
48
1984
582
332
57
284
49
1985
608
287
47
239
39
1986
571
284
50
250
44
1987
530
248
47
224
42
1988
612
294
48
249
41
1989
604
289
48
256
42
1990
566
258
46
221
39
1991
531
233
44
184
35
1992
581
240
41
218
38
1993
538
216
40
189
35
1994
646
250
39
217
34
1995
597
269
45
234
39
1996
576
222
38
190
33
1997
600
197
33
175
29
1998
650
285
44
236
36
1999
626
206
33
179
29
2000
625
258
41
224
36
2001
568
225
40
196
35
2002
657
256
39
211
32
2003
657
267
41
231
35
2004
567
184
32
170
30
2005
559
201
36
176
31
2006
493
175
36
151
31
2007
504
180
36
158
31
2008
456
161
35
135
30
2009
421
131
31
108
26
2010
411
135
33
127
31
2011
368
131
36
109
30
2012
395
131
33
114
29
2013
387
115
30
95
25
2014
361
121
33
106
29

The table above shows the total number of traffic fatalities (Tot) for the Minnesota, alcohol-related fatalities (Alc-Rel) and fatalities in crashes where the highest BAC in the crash was 0.08 or above (0.08+).

All 50 states in the US now apply two statutory offenses to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. The first (and original) offense is known either as driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI), or operating while intoxicated/impaired (OWI). This is based upon a police officer’s observations (driving behavior, slurred speech, the results of a roadside sobriety test, etc.)

The second offense is called “illegal per se”, which is driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher. Since 2002 it has been illegal in all 50 states to drive with a BAC that is 0.08% or higher.

It is important to note that the Minnesota drunk driving statistics, as shown above, include data from individuals who were in an alcohol-related crash, but not driving a motor vehicle at the time. The U.S. Department of Transportation defines alcohol-related deaths as “fatalities that occur in crashes where at least one driver or non-occupant (pedestrian or bicyclist) involved in the crash has a positive Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) value.”

The fatality rates shown above refer to the number of people killed in all traffic accidents and, separately, in alcohol-related traffic accidents, per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Criminal status of DUI laws in Minnesota

In Minnesota, 1st offense is a misdemeanor, 2nd and 3rd offenses are gross misdemeanors, and 4th offense within 10 years is a felony. Citation:??169A.20, et seq.(2)

Sources for Minnesota drunk driving information and statistics

US Dept. of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12/02

(2) National Conference of State Legislatures, 2004