FAIRMONT–Using tools like Minnesota’s DWI Dashboard, Fairmont police are continuing to analyze the data and work to limit intoxication behind the wheel.

The tool was unveiled in 2016 and can be accessed by anyone. It compiles DWI arrests and crashes by local police, county and state officials. It also includes data like age and gender, time of arrest, and intoxication levels.

As of Oct. 29, the tool had logged 49 arrests and 12 crashes in Martin County this year. By this time last year, 50 DWI arrests had been made, and 8 crashes had occurred. In the Fairmont city limits, 30 DWIs and 4 crashes had been reported by this time last year. This year, the DWI number is down to 22, and the crash number is up to 8.

Fairmont Police Chief Michael Hunter, who’s been in police work since 1995, said online crash forms were first utilized in the early 2000s. He said the DWI reporting is now done online as well through what is called E-charging.

“All that information on DWI arrests and DWI-related crashes is available to the public online,” Hunter said. “We can break that down to particulars, like what county and city they occurred in. It allows us to look at numbers between our agency and throughout Martin County. We have a great way to work with our law enforcement partners and make sure we’re addressing DWIs as they occur.”

With the DWI Dashboard at their disposal, Hunter said it gives Fairmont PD the ability to see DWI trends like time of day and day of the week which helps them respond effectively. He said it also helps them collaborate more effectively with community partners.

“A lot of our community partners are breaking it down to the age of people involved in the DWI,” Hunter said. “Are we focusing on some of our youth that are seeing an increase in DWI, or are we looking at a different age or demographic involved? We can find that right here on our dashboard.”

Hunter said a goal of the Fairmont PD is to educate and prevent before someone drives while intoxicated. Having information on dates and times of arrests helps them identify when drunk driving is more likely, like holidays. He said there are instances where plans are not made ahead of time to ensure everyone gets home safe and sober.

One of the more surprising trends Hunter said the DWI Dashboard has helped him see is increases in DWIs occurring during the day.

“Back when I started my career, it was rare to see a DWI arrest during the day,” he said. “Now we’re seeing some that occur during the day. Some of those do unfortunately involve crashes, but we’ve seen a slight increase in those.”

Fairmont PD has been partnering with community groups, including the Martin County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition and Toward Zero Deaths, to help educate and prevent the mix of alcohol use and driving both among teens and adults.

Going forward, Hunter said Fairmont PD is looking to further commit itself to preventing DWIs daily. He said Fairmont officers seek to engage in DWI prevention daily while on duty, looking for clues of impairment.

“Sometimes people don’t know they’re over the limit,” Hunter said. “Sometimes people obviously know they’re over and they still choose to drive. We would love to see people make better choices. We would love to see everybody stay safe, and that’s our goal here within our community.”

If someone is exhibiting signs of intoxication and attempting to or already operating a motor vehicle, Hunter said it is vital 911 is dialed to help prevent potential incidents.

“In 1995, very few people had cell phones,” he said. “Now everybody does. It gives us those extra set of eyes and people who are in our community can see certain driving conduct. We may not be right there, but we’re a short phone call away. If there’s a concern, dial 911, and help keep our roads safe.”

To see DWI information for Fairmont, Martin County, and Minnesota, visit the DWI Dashboard at https://bcadataportal.state.mn.us/DWI.