Local law enforcement officers arrested 11 impaired motorists during a statewide driving while intoxicated enforcement effort during the month of December.

About 400 statewide law enforcement agencies participated in the effort conducted by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.

“Many motorists continue to make the potentially deadly decision to drive impaired, that’s why DWI enforcement is essential to preventing and stopping alcohol-related crashes,” said Albert Lea police Lt. J.D. Carlson. “If you can’t make a smart decision to plan for a safe way home, we are going to make sure you face the consequences before you do serious damage.”

Consequences for a DWI include loss of license for up to a year, up to $20,000 in legal costs and heightened insurance rates, and possible jail time. Stronger DWI sanctions are in effect for all repeat DWI offenders, as well as for motorists arrested for a first-time DWI with a 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level. Under these sanctions DWI offenders must use ignition interlock for at least a year or face at least one year without driving privileges. Interlock requires the driver to provide a breath sample under 0.02 for the vehicle to start. Safety officials say interlocks ensure DWI offenders are driving legally and safely.

In Freeborn County during 2008-2010, alcohol-related crashes accounted for seven deaths and eight serious injuries. The economic impact of alcohol-related fatalities and injuries in the county was $9.2 million. During the same period, 562 were arrested for DWI.

The DWI enforcement and education effort is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program. A primary vision of the program is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. It focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes — education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.