News Release
January 28, 2025
512 Citations Issued in Two-Week Dane County Impaired Driving Campaign
A total of 512 drivers were cited for traffic violations during a holiday season two-week crackdown on impaired driving which involved all 22 law enforcement agencies in Dane County, according to the Dane County Traffic
Safety Commission (TSC).
From Dec. 20, 2024, through Jan. 1, 2025, the Wisconsin State Patrol, Dane County Sheriff’s Office and all Dane County police departments implemented increased community education and enforcement looking for
impaired drivers through a collaborative effort organized by the TSC’s law enforcement subgroup.
Lt. Chad O’Neil, Stoughton Police Department, co-chairs that group. “This effort was about more than stopping or arresting drivers,” Lt. O’Neil said. ‘The goal was to save lives by reminding drivers of the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”
During this two-week effort, these agencies recorded:
1,373 stops of vehicles whose drivers were suspected of impaired driving or other traffic violations
512 traffic citations, including 12 for having open alcohol containers in the vehicle and 123 for speeding
46 arrests for OWI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated). An additional 22 arrests were made for other criminal violations.
1,072 verbal or written warnings for risky driving behavior, including 224 for speedingThe Dane County Traffic Safety Commission is a coalition of 53 public and private organizations working together to monitor and improve traffic safety. The TSC is partnering with Safe Communities, a non-profit organization, to expand county traffic safety initiatives.
This enforcement campaign was planned during the holidays, when driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is especially common. Special attention was given to eight areas identified as “hotspots,” where the most impaired driving crashes have occurred and where other drivers and pedestrians should be especially watchful:
East Washington Ave. and surrounding streets near the Capitol
East Washington Ave. near East Towne Mall
Packers Ave./Northport Dr. near Warner Park
East Washington Ave. from Union Corners to Hwy 30
Hwy 51, Town of Dunn
Hwy 151/Main St./Hwy 19, Sun Prairie
Hwy 14/Fish Hatchery Rd/Hwy 18, Fitchburg
Hwy 12/18 and Broadway St., Monona
“There’s no doubt these stops and citations helped avoid far worse consequences had these drivers continued on their way under the influence. That’s why smaller and larger law enforcement agencies across the county came together with one goal: to save lives, reduce injuries and keep our communities safer,” Lt. O’Neil said.# # #
********** Participating Agencies *********
Wisconsin State Patrol
Dane County Sheriff’s Office
Belleville Police Dept.
Blue Mounds Police Dept.
Cottage Grove Police Dept.
Cross Plains Police Dept.
DeForest Police Dept.
Fitchburg Police Dept.
Madison Police Dept.
Maple Bluff Police Dept.
Marshall Police Dept.
McFarland Police Dept.
Middleton Police Dept.
Monona Police Dept.
Mount Horeb Police Dept.
Oregon Police Dept
Shorewood Hills Police Dept.
Stoughton Police Dept.
Sun Prairie Police Dept.
UW-Madison Police Dept.
Verona Police Dept.
Waunakee Police Dept.
For additional comment, directly contact: Lt. Chad O’Neil, Stoughton Police Department, coneil@cityofstoughton.com, (608) 646-0453.