July 4 becomes Minnesota's DWI hotspot
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
Move over New Year's and St. Patrick's Day.
- Fourth of July weekend has become an increasingly important holiday for keeping drunk drivers off Minnesota's roads, an Axios analysis of state data shows.
Stunning stats: For the second straight year, Minnesota's impaired driving totals around Independence Day surpassed the equivalent periods around NYE and St. Paddy's, the two other busiest holidays historically for DWI enforcement.
- The state saw 594 DWI stops or crashes between July 2-6 last year — the highest total for the holiday in a decade.
The big picture: The rise in impaired driving around the Fourth comes as year-round totals of DWI-related crashes have decreased. Crashes last year were down 22% from 2021, the state data show.
- The number of DWI stops last year was down slightly from its 2023 peak of 26,922.
Zoom in: The number of crashes between July 2-6 last year (53) was comparable to previous years' totals — but DWI-related stops are on the rise.
- Law enforcement agencies cited 35% more drivers around the Fourth of July last year (541) than in 2023.
Between the lines: Summer is already a dangerous time on the roads, with the days between Memorial Day and Labor Day known as the "100 deadliest days" due to the uptick in fatal crashes.
- Between 2020 and 2024, there were 36 total fatalities on Minnesota roads over the Fourth of July holiday — more than most other holidays, State Patrol spokesperson Lt. Jen Krier told Axios.
- Of those 36 fatal crashes over previous Fourths, 17 involved alcohol.
What we're watching: Extra DWI enforcement is a priority for both the State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies over Independence Day, Krier said.
The bottom line: "Drive the speed limit. Put away distractions. Buckle up," Krier said. "And never drive impaired. Always plan a sober ride."