
Thousands of Arrested for DWI During the Holidays in Minnesota, Dozens Arrested in Rochester
St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- An end of the year DWI crackdown led to thousands of arrests in Minnesota.
See Also: Rochester Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Sales Bust
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) released the final numbers for the enforcement campaign on Friday.
Local and state agencies, including the Rochester Police Department and Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, partook in the enforcement effort from Nov. 27-Dec. 31.

DPS reported 2,079 DWI arrests during the 2024 holiday season.
Some of the arrests highlighted by the state agency include a motorist with 21 prior DWI convictions who crashed in the Twin Cities, a rollover crash involving an impaired driver transporting two children in southwest Minnesota and a wrong-way intoxicated driver on Interstate 35 in Duluth.
Rochester, MN Police Lead Non-Metro Law Enforcement Agencies in Holiday Season DWI Arrests
The Rochester Police Department tallied the most arrests of any non-metro law enforcement agency in Minnesota, according to DPS.
Police made 57 DWI arrests throughout the Med City during the holiday season. The State Patrol’s St. Cloud District came in second in that category with 39 arrests.
The highest blood-alcohol-concentration among Rochester’s DWI arrests was measured at 0.30, which is nearly four times above the legal limit, according to state authorities.
See Also: Wrong Way Crash on Hwy. 52 in Rochester Sends Two to Hospital, Intoxication Suspected
Olmsted County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 16 motorists on suspicion of DWI. The highest blood-alcohol-concentration reported was 0.22, DPS says.
State Troopers in the agency’s southeast Minnesota District made six DWI arrests. The highest blood-alcohol concentration was reportedly measured at 0.15.
More Minnesota News:
- Overnight Fire Wipes Out Popular Southeast Minnesota Bar & Restaurant
- Charges: Rochester Man With Violent Past Struck Officer With Cane
- Minnesota Woman Admits to Manslaughter for Infant's Drug Death
Urgent: Minnesotans Warned Not to Travel to These 19 Places
Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams
More From KROC-AM








