Minnesota State Patrol conducts 943 traffic stops in Becker County during WE Fest Aug. 2-6

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – The Minnesota State Patrol provided extra traffic enforcement across Becker County and the greater lakes area during WE Fest weekend and conducted 943 traffic stops between Aug. 2-6.

Those stops resulted in: 18 DWI arrests; 17 minor consumption incidents under the state’s “Not A Drop” law; 6 arrests for outstanding warrants; and 442 tickets or warnings for excessive speed including 4 stops involving vehicles traveling faster than 100 mph.

State patrol also issued 111 tickets or warnings for seat belt violations and 59 tickets or warnings for distracted driving.

43 individuals were also cited for driving after license revocation, suspension or cancelation.

Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow said, even with the larger crowds going in and out of Becker County, the numbers were pretty consistent with previous years.

“All of those numbers that you she when it comes to the arrests, the tickets, the warnings, all of that, it’s pretty consistent for the last, almost, decade probably” said Grabow.

He also said people should always expect increased traffic enforcement with larger events like WE Fest and they need to always be making good decisions when operating a motor vehicle.

“We try to put this information out there that we’re going to be providing this type of enforcement and education,” he said. “We just want everybody to make good decisions each and every time they get in that vehicle. And when you get that many people in an area, you just hope for nothing bad to happen when it comes to when it comes to traffic crashes and what not. We got through that particular area pretty safe, but at the same time you see a number of people still made those poor choices and that can have some deadly consequences. Whether that be a crash with another vehicle or a pedestrian, whom ever it may be. We just need everyone to do their part to share the roads safely.”

The state patrol did not respond to any serious-injury or fatal vehicle crashes near Detroit Lakes or the concert grounds in Becker County.

The number of traffic stops conducted by the Minnesota State Patrol does not include any stops performed by the Becker County Sheriff’s Office.