Drunk driving remains a concern

The added patrol, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., is being made possible for the next 10-12 months through a grant from the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau. Drunk driving is a much-needed focus, according to Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow.

"The stats would show there is a rise, that it's increasing," Krukow said.

At times, a collision investigation leads officers to suspect an impaired driver, but Lawson would like to get impaired drivers off the road before the crash happens. His officers are concerned about all forms of impairments ranging from drugs and alcohol to sleep deprivation.

"What the officers are looking for is a traffic violation, primarily -- excessive speed, straddling the lanes, poor turns, they may blow a red light, blow a yellow light, not do a good job on a stop sign," he said.

Slow reactions to green lights and going too slow can also be clues for officers who are watching for impaired drivers.

Other times, an equipment violation prompts a stop and leads to a operating while intoxicated charge.

"If you do it long enough, sooner or later, you're going to get stopped," Krukow said.

Law enforcement officers from across the state reported 310 operating while intoxicated violations during a 2007 Thanksgiving enforcement period. Local officers also try to encourage awareness as the holidays approach.

"We're not against anybody going out and having a good time," Lawson said. "There's nothing wrong with that -- it's what the holidays are for. But there's a lot of options there when it comes to (not) driving after you've been partying. We would just encourage people to choose one of those options," including cab proprietors and the use designated drivers.

Here's a summary of recent traffic stops associated with drivers who may have been impaired. Law enforcement agencies note that a criminal charge is merely an accusation and people involved are assumed innocent until proven guilty:

Brian Norman, 20, Arnolds Park was charged with first-offense operating while intoxicated following a traffic stop at 2:50 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in the 4600 block of Highway 71. Deputies suspect Norman was under the age of 21 and had been drinking. He was tested on several field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for OWI.

At the jail, Norman was read the implied consent advisory. which explains that a driver implies agreement to testing in return for the privilege of using the public highways. If a person refuses a test, they are also declining their privilege to drive and their license is revoked.

Norman's license was later revoked on the OWI charge. He also was cited for excessive speed by radar for being clocked at 75 mph in a 55 mph zone.

Three passengers were cited and released for underage alcohol possession.

Raul Perez-Gomez, 33, Spencer, arrested for operating while intoxicated at 2:06 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in the 1900 block of Highway Boulevard. He was transported to the Spencer Police Department, processed and turned over to the Clay County Jailer.

In a separate stop an hour later, police charged 39-year-old Pane Lovan of Spencer with second-offense operating while intoxicated. Lovan was pulled over near the intersection of Fourth Avenue West and West Sixth Street. He was transported to Spencer Police Department, processed and turned over to the Clay County Jailer.

Also that night, deputies charged Mitchel Jespersen, 26, Graettinger, with first-offense operating while intoxicated at 2:37 a.m. in the 4600 block of Highway 71. He also was charged with driving on a suspended license and no proof of insurance.

The following day, Spencer officers took 60-year-old Donald Stang, into custody on an operating while intoxicated charge. He was stopped at 8:38 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, in the 2600 block of Highway Boulevard. Stang was transported to Spencer Police Department, processed and turned over to Clay County Jailer.

Jeremy Philip Starkson, 29, Rossie was taken in at his residence on a warrant at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, for eluding and first-offense operating while intoxicated. Starkson sustained minor injuries in an April car crash after he was trying to elude authorities. He lost control of his 1976 truck and ran into the side of the Rossie Feed and Grain building. He was held on the warrant to appear before a magistrate.

Deputies also took 48-year-old Todd Scott of Spencer into custody on an unrelated contempt of court warrant for operating while intoxicated. Scott was pulled over by a deputy in the 3700 block of Highway 71. The deputy knew Scott was in the vehicle and was aware of the warrant out of Emmet County. He was placed under arrest, then released on a $750 cash only bond.

Spencer Police charged 56-year-old Danny Ables of Ceylon, Minn., with second-offense operating while intoxicated at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, near the intersection of 11th Avenue West and West 13th Street. He was transported to Spencer Police Department, processed and turned over to Clay County Jailer.

Eight minutes later, 41-year-old Kent Marquardt of Spencer was arrested for third-offense operating while intoxicated and driving while barred. He was stopped in the 3100 block of West Fourth Street, then transported to Spencer Police Department. He was processed and turned over to Clay County Jailer.

Police arrested 21-year-old Caity Slawson of Spencer for first-offense operating while intoxicated at 1:43 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, in the 400 block of East 18th Street. She was transported to Spencer Police Department, processed and turned over to Clay County Jailer.

Jeremy Quinn, 24, Cylinder, was pulled over for a traffic violation at 1:32 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, in the 3500 block of 280th Avenue. Upon investigation it was found Quinn had been drinking. The deputy then ran Quinn through several field sobriety tests and determined he had been operating while intoxicated. He was transported to the Clay County Jail without incident and held for a court appearance.

Wynett Gider, 42, Spencer was charged with first-offense operating while intoxicated, no proof of insurance and excessive speed for going 78 in a 65 mph zone. Deputies made the stop at 2:08 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, in the 3000 block of Highway 71. Gider was transported to the Clay County Jail.

Spencer Police officers charged 51-year-old Mark Krukow with third-offense operating while intoxicated and interference with official acts at 12:47 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, in the 1200 block of Fairview Avenue. Police officers at the scene also charged 48-year-old Gloria Nieman of Spencer with interference with official acts and assault on a peace officer. They were both transported to the Clay County Jail.

Richard Struve, 56, Sioux Rapids, faces a second-offense operating while intoxicated charge following a traffic stop in the Webb area at 8:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12. A deputy on patrol near the intersection of M54 and 510th Street pulled Struve's vehicle over for a minor equipment violation. A conversation with Struve led to field sobriety tests. He was held on a $2,000 cash bond.

Shayne Michael Pomeroy, 22, Ruthven was arrested on a second-offense operating while intoxicated charge at 2:06 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in the 700 block of East 18th Street. He was transported to the Spencer Police Department, processed and turned over to the Clay County Jailer.

Also on Nov. 15, deputies charged 36-year-old Jason Nellis of Scottsdale, Ariz., with first-offense operating while intoxicated. He was pulled over for a traffic violation at 1:05 a.m. near the intersection of Highway 71 and county road B53. After speaking with the driver the deputy believed Nellis had been drinking. The deputy had Nellis perform several field sobriety tests and determined that he was intoxicated. Nellis was arrested. A search of the vehicle turned up several open containers of alcohol. The passenger Darin Lowe was cited for an open container of alcohol and was released. Nellis was transported to the Clay County Jail where he was charged with OWI and open container. Nellis was held in jail to appear before the magistrate.