State Patrol Enforcement Campaign For The Holidays

ST. PAUL – To keep motorists and memories safe this holiday season, law enforcement across the state will be on the lookout for drunk drivers beginning this week. The extra enforcement campaign runs on weekends through December 27.

Holiday parties and family gatherings can create special memories, but for some, the memories are painful after losing a loved one to a drunk driver. Lynne Goughler knows all too well — there is no pressing the rewind button after a drunk driver gets behind the wheel and forever changes the lives of others. Lynne lost both her parents to a drunk driver during the week of Thanksgiving.

“Instead of having the cherished memories of celebrating Thanksgiving with my family, every November I relive the pain of losing my parents,” said Goughler. “It is my dream that in my lifetime we will eliminate drunk driving.”

No Holiday Cheer with Drunk DrivingDuring the Thanksgiving holiday period over the last three years (2011 – 2013), there were 1,624 drivers arrested for DWI. 

Crashes involving drunk drivers have lasting effects on survivors and their families: 17 people suffered life-changing injuries in crashes involving an impaired drive during the Thanksgiving holiday period the last three years.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
An increasing number of motorists are getting the message to drive sober or get pulled over. DWI arrests have gone down every year since 2006 when law enforcement officers arrested 41,951 drivers in Minnesota for DWI. The 2013 numbers statewide dropped to 25,719 — the lowest in recent history.

However, there are almost 600,000 Minnesota residents with a DWI on their record — that’s one out of every seven drivers in the state.

With 279 drunk driving-related traffic deaths in Minnesota since 2011 -  81 people in 2013 alone - traffic safety officials continue to emphasize enforcement and education in an effort to reduce fatalities on the state’s roads.

“We’re encouraged by the drop in DWI arrests, but it’s clear there is much more work to be done through education and enforcement,” said Donna Berger, Office of Traffic Safety director. ”The responsibility falls on all of us. Speak up if you see a friend or family member who has had too much to drink. If you are a server, don’t be afraid to cut off a customer. Let’s keep the holiday memories special, not tragic.”

DWI Consequences

• Loss of license for up to a year, thousands of dollars 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.

Tips to Prevent Drunk Driving

• Plan for a safe ride – designate a sober driver, use a cab/public transportation or stay at the location of the celebration.
• Offer to be a designated driver, or be available to pick up a loved one anytime, anywhere.
• Buckle up – the best defense against a drunk driver.
• Report drunk driving – call 911 when witnessing drunk driving behavior. Be prepared to provide location, license plate number and observed dangerous behavior.

Definitions

• Driving While Impaired (DWI) is a violation for driving under the influence of alcohol.
• Alcohol-related: any evidence of alcohol detected in a driver, pedestrian or bicyclist.

• Impaired-related: any driver, pedestrian or bicyclist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above.
• Drunk-driving-related: any driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above.

Still time to register for Minnesota’s first pheasant summit

There’s still time to register for the first Minnesota Pheasant Summit and contribute to strategies that aim to enhance habitat for this important species.

Gov. Mark Dayton is inviting Minnesotans to register for the summit, which takes place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Southwest Minnesota State University, 1501 State St., in Marshall. Click the “Join us for the event” button at www.mndnr.gov/pheasantsummit to register.
The summit is free and open to all Minnesotans interested in preserving the state’s pheasant population. It will focus on why the pheasant population has declined in the state, and possible collaborative efforts to improve pheasant habitat statewide.

The meeting will bring together hunters, farmers, conservationists, policymakers, key members of the governor's cabinet, and others. Participants will discuss strategies to increase the state’s pheasant population, improve pheasant habitat, and ensure that future generations of Minnesotans have opportunities to enjoy one of the state’s most popular and iconic game birds.

Can’t make it? A survey is available so anyone can share thoughts about what can be done to improve pheasant numbers and habitat, and what should be discussed at the summit. The survey is available by clicking the “Can’t make the event” button at www.mndnr.gov/pheasantsummit/survey.html.

The state’s pheasant population index is up 6 percent over 2013, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Despite this slight increase, the state’s pheasant population is still 58 percent below the 10-year average, and 71 percent below the long-term average.
More about pheasants, pheasant habitat in Minnesota, and the summit can be found at www.mndnr.gov/pheasantsummit. 

Minnesota income tax brackets for 2015

 ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Revenue is required by law to adjust individual income tax brackets for inflation each year. For tax year 2015, the state’s individual income tax brackets will change by 1.58 percent from tax year 2014. Indexing for inflation of individual income tax brackets first began in 1979 and has continued every year since, except from 1987 to 1990.

This annual adjustment will prevent taxpayers from paying taxes at a higher rate solely because of inflationary changes in their income. The adjustment does not change the Minnesota tax rates that apply to each income bracket.

The bracket adjustments are based on the change in the U.S. Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the average of the 12 months ending August 2014 compared to the average of the twelve months ending August 2012. The department adjusts the brackets each year by the inflation factor and rounds the result to the nearest $10.

The brackets apply to tax year 2015. Taxpayers who make quarterly payments of estimated tax should use the following rate schedule to determine their payments, which are due starting in April 2015.

2015 Minnesota Income Tax Brackets

Marginal Tax Rates	5.35%	7.05%	7.85%	9.85%
Married, Filing Jointly	$0—$36,650	$36,651—$145,620	$145,621—$258,260	$258,261 and over
Married, Filing Separately	$0—$18,330	$18,331—$72,810	$ 72,811—$129,130 ­	$129,131 and over
Head of Household	$0—$30,870	$30,871—$124,040	$124,041—$206,610	$206,611 and over
Single	$0—$25,070	$25,071—$82,360	$ 82,361—$154,950	$154,951 and over

The marginal tax rate is the rate of tax paid on a particular range of income.
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