July 4 becomes Minnesota's DWI hotspot

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.

Data: Bureau of Criminal Apprehension; Note: Total includes stops and crashes involving impaired driving; Chart: Kyle Stokes/Axios

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."