A statewide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over DWI enforcement campaign resulted in 17 drunken driving arrests in the city of Austin and one in Mower County, according to the Department of Public Safety.

DPS recorded the highest blood-alcohol content with those arrests, as well, which included a 0.3 blood-alcohol content for one arrest in Austin. Statewide, preliminary results show the campaign resulted in 1,842 arrests from Aug. 17 to Sept. 3. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 343 arrests during the extra enforcement.

According to the DPS, similar DWI crackdown to close summer in 2011 resulted in 1,787 DWI arrests. Each year, around 30,000 motorists are arrested for DWI in Minnesota. Drunken driving crashes have resulted in 651 deaths during the past five years — 111 in 2011. In 2011, the average DWI offender was arrested with a 0.16 alcohol-concentration level.

“The tragedies and life-changing events as a result of drunken driving can be prevented by smart planning,” says Lt. Eric Roeske of the State Patrol. “It’s our responsibilities as motorists to plan a safe and sober ride to avoid getting behind the wheel after drinking and putting our roads in danger.”

A DWI offense can result in loss of license for up to a year, thousands in costs and possible jail time.

Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 and above alcohol-concentration level, must use ignition interlock in order to regain legal driving privileges, or face at least one year without a driver’s license. Offenders with three or more offenses are required to use interlock for three to six years, or they will never regain driving privileges.