Here’s a stat that should make every South Dakota driver do a double-take, and hopefully make them hand over the keys after they’ve had too much to drink: South Dakota leads the nation in DUI arrests per capita.
Unfortunately, the Mount Rushmore State is topping a list that we don’t want bragging rights for. According to Dakota News Now, South Dakota records the highest number of DUI arrests per 100,000 people in the country. In 2024 alone, there were roughly 670 drunk driving arrests statewide, nearly double the national average.
That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when you think about how often we’re out enjoying local favorites, like downtown Sioux Falls breweries, city events, and backyard get-togethers. Unfortunately, too many of those types of things end with someone getting behind the wheel when they shouldn’t.
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So what’s being done to combat this ugly stat?
Law enforcement agencies across South Dakota, including right here in the Sioux Empire, have ramped up DUI sobriety checkpoints. Funded by state and federal highway safety dollars, these checkpoints are designed to catch impaired drivers before they can cause serious harm. You’ve probably seen them set up on major Sioux Falls routes during weekends or holidays…