Man arrested for 19th DWI; he was going the wrong way on I-35
A 58-year-old man who has an extensive drunk driving record in Minnesota and Wisconsin is currently jailed on $100,000 bail after being arrested for his 19th DWI.
Daniel Thomas Hanson's 19th drunk driving arrest happened just after 7:40 p.m. Aug. 28 in Carlton County, Minnesota, where troopers from the State Patrol were notified of a motorist going the wrong way on southbound Interstate 35.
Troopers were able to stop Hanson before he caused a crash. Hanson, of New Richmond, Wisconsin, was in possession of an open bottle of vodka and had bloodshot, watery eyes and his speech was slurred, according to a charging document.
A roadside preliminary breath test registered a breath-alcohol concentration of 0.238, nearly three times the legal limit. After being arrested and transported to the Carlton County jail, Hanson was again breath-tested, registering a 0.18 concentration.
A criminal complaint shows that Hanson has been convicted of 10 DWIs in Minnesota and 8 OWIs in Wisconsin. He was also operating a motor vehicle with a canceled driver's license, in addition to driving a vehicle that did not have an interlock device, which he is required to have installed on any vehicle he operates.
Hanson was charged in Carlton County District Court with two counts of DWI, two counts of driving with a canceled license, and one charge for violating Minnesota's open bottle law.
Summer DWI arrests down this year compared to 2019
Law enforcement in Minnesota is cracking down on impaired drivers, with extra enforcement in place through Sept. 7. DWI arrests were down June-August this year (6,243) compared to the same three-month stretch in 2019 (7,773), according to data provided to BMTN by the Department of Public Safety.
Labor Day marks the end of Minnesota's annual 100 deadliest days of summer, which are the 100 most-traveled days of the year. Since Memorial Day, there have been 145 deaths on Minnesota roads, according to the DPS. That compares with 134 deaths during the same period last year.
For the year, there have been 247 deaths on Minnesota roads, which is 22 more than there were at the same point in 2019.
"We can all do our part to stay safe on Minnesota roads by driving smart. That means buckling up, driving the speed limit and distraction-free and always lining up a sober ride," a DPS spokesperson told BMTN.
