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
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