The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office to participate in Labor Day Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office will join law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin and the nation for the annual the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. From Friday, August 18 through Labor Day, officers will work together to get impaired drivers off the roads and keep everyone safe.

“We anticipate more people will be out for final summer trips in the coming weeks and we want to make sure every traveler can get to their destination safely. The harm that can come from impaired driving is 100% preventable if everyone plans ahead,” Captain Travis Mayer said.

Someone is injured or killed in an impaired driving crash every two hours in Wisconsin. Last year in Wisconsin, there were 6,230 alcohol-related crashes, including 155 deaths. Alcohol contributed to more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities.

Drug-impaired drivers are also putting people in danger on the roads. A driver’s ability to safely operate a motor vehicle is compromised by drugs, including prescription and over-the-counter medications. Last year, there were 1,821 drug-related crashes that caused 64 deaths.

Wisconsin law enforcement officers have special training to combat impaired driving:

· 6,958 police officers trained in Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement to help detect and remove impaired drivers from the roads

· 392 highly trained Drug Recognition Experts - among the most in the nation

· 25 multi-jurisdictional high-visibility enforcement task forces operating throughout the year, across the state

“The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office is committed to protecting all road users from the dangers of impaired driving. We hope drivers will make smart decisions and choose not to drink and drive, but we will be there to stop risky driving behaviors to make sure everyone can have a safe Labor Day holiday,” Captain Travis Mayer said.

Everyone should plan ahead for safe travel:

· If you plan to celebrate, identify a sober designated driver, or find a safe alternative way home. Never allow someone who is impaired to get behind the wheel.

· Protect yourself and your passengers every time you travel. Buckle up, phone down. Watch your speed and eliminate distractions.

· If you suspect a driver is impaired, call 911. Provide as much detail as possible on the driver, vehicle, and location.

· Some bars and restaurants have programs to provide patrons a safe ride home. Use the safe ride program, public transportation, or a rideshare service in your area.

1 Injured in Town of Dunn Home Invasion

On June 6, 2023 at approximately 3:25 AM, the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a home in the

5100 block of CTH C in the Township of Dunn for the report of a female that forced entry into their home. One

of the homeowners confronted the female and the female struck the homeowner with a blunt weapon.

The homeowners were able to physically subdue the female until Sheriff’s Deputies arrived. The female was

subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Dunn County Jail and is being held on multiple

charges. The female has not yet been positively identified. The suspect is believed to have drove a stolen

vehicle to the victim’s house and was also in possession of other stolen property, including identification that

did not belong to her.

The homeowner that was struck was treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital.

This home invasion appears to be a random act and was not a targeted incident based on the preliminary

investigation.

The incident remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Kevin Bygd

Click It or Ticket Enforcement Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2023

Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign reminds drivers to always buckle up The Dunn County Sheriff’s Office will join law enforcement agencies across the country to step up patrols and remind drivers that buckling up can save a life. The Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement campaign begins May 22 and runs through June 4, 2023.

“Seat belts are proven to save lives in a crash, but many still don’t buckle up,” Dunn County Sheriff’s Office said. “We’re stepping up enforcement right now because we want seat belt use to become an automatic habit for all drivers and passengers in Wisconsin.”

Thousands of lives could be saved each year in the U.S. if every person was properly restrained on the road. In Wisconsin, preliminary numbers show 170 drivers and passengers who died in crashes in 2022 were not wearing a seat belt. An average of more than 2,300 unbuckled occupants are hurt in crashes every year.

A 2022 survey found 87.5% of Wisconsin motorists wear seat belts. That number has been dropping in recent years and falls below the nationwide seat belt use rate of 90.4% in 2021.

Wisconsin’s primary seat belt law allows law enforcement to stop and cite motorists for failing to wear a seat belt. Penalties are higher for transporting unrestrained children and passengers can also be cited. Failure to fasten a seat belt is among the most common traffic violations in Wisconsin.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2020, 58% of passenger vehicle occupants killed at night were not wearing their seat belts. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement.

The campaign also coincides with Memorial Day weekend, which can be an especially dangerous time on the roads, so officers will be encouraging seat belt use as motorists travel throughout Wisconsin.

“The Click It or Ticket campaign aims to keep all travelers safe during this busy season,”Dunn County Sheriff’s Office said. “Safety should be the top priority every time you get in a vehicle. Buckle up and encourage your loved ones to do the same.”

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.

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