MN: 74 gift boxes, 74 lives lost: Minnesota State Patrol raises awareness of DWI dangers
By Alyssa Zaczek
December 21, 2017
The Minnesota State Patrol is shedding light on the consequences of driving under the influence this holiday season.
At Thursday’s awareness campaign event at Crossroads Center, State Patrol officers offered mall shoppers the chance to don fatal vision goggles (colloquially known as “beer goggles”) and experience a breathalyzer test.
Passers-by could even try their hand at a game of beanbags — with and without the fatal vision goggles — to learn firsthand how their motor skills and basic functions become hindered while under the influence.
The hands-on demonstrations were intended to help drivers understand what impairment is like, how severely it can impact driving and awareness, and the consequences of driving under the influence.
“We really want people to know that it’s not about the number of citations we write or the number of people we pull over,” said patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow. “It’s about raising awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence, and the importance of making responsible choices.”
Grabow said those arrested for driving while under the influence could face fines, jail time, loss of license and increased insurance costs.
But the event also focused on the ultimate consequence of driving under the influence: fatal vehicle collisions.
On display at the event were 74 gift boxes, each of which represented a person who lost their life in an alcohol-related crash in 2016. Despite their bright, festive exteriors, the boxes were a part of the event to serve as a sobering reminder.
“These are gifts that will never be opened, never be give out,” Grabow said. “Each box represents a person who won’t be home for the holidays.”
Grabow said the holidays are an especially poignant time of year to hold such an event.
“From my perspective in law enforcement, we do see the number (of DWI arrests and fatal alcohol-related crashes) go up this time of year,” he said. “We’re hoping to encourage people to make those good choices. If you have to ask ‘How many more drinks is too many for me to drive?’, you already probably shouldn’t be driving.”
Grabow made several suggestions on ways to prevent a DWI arrest or alcohol-related crash, including the use of designated drivers, having a “plan B” like Uber or Lyft to get home safely, and committing to only consuming one or two drinks over the course of”It’s still so concerning to us, when we arrive on the scene of a fatal crash involving alcohol, that despite the information that’s out there people still make the choice to drive impaired,” Grabow said. “And it is very much a choice.”
Scott Wasserman, public information officer for patrol, said the average number of DWI arrests per weekend in Minnesota is 285.
“But that number absolutely spikes during the holidays,” he said.
According to Wasserman, the Crossroads event was the fourth in an awareness-raising tour statewide. Similar outreach events have recently taken place in Duluth, Rochester and Minnetonka.
“It’s a great opportunity to make that connection,” Grabow said of the events. “People come over and they share their stories, their experiences with alcohol and impaired driving. We share that conversation, and then hopefully they go on and share what they’ve learned from us with their friends, and that’s what raises awareness.”