The Storm Lake Police Department will step up enforcement this weekend as part of Saturation Saturday, a nationwide campaign aimed at reducing drunk and drugged driving ahead of the Labor Day holiday.
The police department says officers will conduct extra patrols, sobriety checks and public education efforts on Aug. 29, the weekend before Labor Day — a busy time of celebration and travel. According to the department, Labor Day consistently ranks among the most dangerous travel periods for alcohol‑related crashes.
The initiative, launched by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in Missouri in 2016, now includes agencies across the country. MADD emphasizes high visibility enforcement as a way to both catch impaired drivers and send a clear message that drunk and drugged driving carries serious consequences.
In Iowa, a first‑offense OWI is a serious misdemeanor that brings mandatory jail time, a $1,250 fine, license revocation for up to a year, substance abuse evaluation and required education courses. Insurance costs often rise for years afterward, and national estimates place the average cost of an OWI arrest at around $10,000.
The human toll remains far greater. Federal data shows nearly 12,000 people were killed in drunk driving crashes nationwide in 2024, with alcohol‑impaired incidents accounting for roughly 30 percent of all traffic fatalities. Storm Lake police have made more than 120 OWI arrests over the past two years, and while OWI incidents declined in three of the last four years locally, officers say continued vigilance is essential.
Police encourage anyone celebrating the holiday weekend to plan ahead — whether by choosing a sober driver, arranging a rideshare or using public transportation. They also urge parents to talk with teens and young drivers about the risks of underage drinking and impaired driving. The department says drunk and drugged driving is entirely preventable, and they hope this weekend’s effort helps keep Storm Lake’s roads safe.
