MASON CITY, IA- Super Bowl Sunday is a fun time to kick back and relax. It's also a day law enforcement take very seriously.
This Super Bowl weekend marks the start of a new enforcement initiative for the Iowa State Patrol. Their goal is to crack down on drunk driving and seatbelt violations.
They're setting their sights on Iowa's top risk counties. Cerro Gordo County is among 22 with the highest number of motor vehicle fatalities and personal injuries. Troopers say one thing when it comes to drinking and driving after the game...don't do it.
Tina McCullough and her family are planning to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday with a few drinks, but before they start the night's festivities, she's got a plan in place so the ride home isn't a problem.
Tina McCullough said, "our plan usually is that my husband drives he'll just stop after a certain point, so he's not had too much and if we have more of a party we would just stay put..we wouldn't drive home."
That's what Sergent Kevin Knebel likes to hear.
Sgt. Knebel from the Iowa State Patrol said, "if you can feel anything from the alcohol, you shouldn't be driving."
He says the troopers are looking extra carefully for drunk drivers the night of the big game.
Sgt. Kevin Knebel said, "we know that that comes with a little bit of drinking, we're just asking people to use a designative driver and make sure they're safe on the roadway especially with all the bad weather we're expecting."
Sgt. Knebel says if you factor in the snow and slick conditions, driving is already hazardous.
He says Super Bowl Sunday is not the biggest night for picking up those drinking and getting behind the wheel, but if you do get caught, the consequences can be great.
Sgt. Knebel said, "you loose your license, get a criminal record not to mention the monetary damage it will do to your reputation all in all not a good thing and something that's easily avoidable."
Sgt. Knebel says most of the intoxicated driving problems happen when game watchers leave house parties, not bars. Even though McCulough is attending one of those, she says she's keeping the booze and driving separate.
McCulough said, "it's important because it's the safe thing to do; you not only can hurt yourself but others very seriously it's not even an option."
The Iowa State Patrol say they have nearly 19-thousand OWI arrests a year in Iowa.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says that there have been almost $15,000 arrested for DWI in the last three years on Super Bowl weekend.
Sergent Knebel suggests that if you are holding a house party to keep an eye on guests that are drinking too much.
