The following is a news release from the City of Eden Prairie:

Eden Prairie and Bloomington Police plan to increase DWI patrols this month, as July is one of the deadliest periods for impaired driving in Minnesota. The increased efforts are part of a statewide impaired driving enforcement sweep, coordinated by the state Department of Public Safety (DPS) as part of the Safe & Sober campaign, and will include participation from more than 400 Minnesota law enforcement agencies.

Over the last three years (2004–2006) in the month of July, 67 motorists were killed in alcohol-related crashes and more than 10,000 were arrested for DWI.

“We are serious about taking impaired drivers off the road,” said Eden Prairie Police Sergeant Pete Vosbeek. “And we need citizens to plan ahead for safe rides home, to avoid drinking and driving all together.”

This month’s increase in DWI patrols will also include extra seatbelt enforcement. Of the impaired drivers and their passengers who are killed in alcohol-related crashes, statistics show that over 70 percent were not wearing seat belts.

Safe & Sober is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The program is designed to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries.