Scott County Is Now the 3rd Deadliest County in Minnesota for Traffic Deaths
Scott County became the third deadliest county in the state for traffic-related fatalities in 2025, behind only Hennepin and Ramsey. Impaired driving is a huge part of it.
Prior Lake Police Chief Mark Duggan shared that stat at Tuesday night's city council meeting — and he didn't sugarcoat it. He said the true number of impaired drivers on the road at any given time is likely 300 to 400% higher than what officers are actually catching. They just don't have enough time between all the other calls for service to dedicate more to DUI enforcement.
To prove his point: the chief himself went out and worked alongside overnight officers this past Friday night in minus-35-degree weather. Within about 45 minutes of actively looking, he had a DUI driver directly in front of him. The driver was a local resident, had been drinking locally, and blew more than twice the legal limit. Nearly crashed a couple times before being stopped.
"If the chief of police within a couple hours is finding impaired drivers, the reality is they're everywhere," Duggan told the council.
He was quick to note it's not a reflection on Prior Lake's residents or businesses — it's a reflection on how dangerous and prevalent impaired driving is everywhere.
One officer in particular has been making a serious dent. Officer Amanda Ley finished 2025 with 52 DUI arrests, nearly single-handedly responsible for a double-digit jump in the department's impaired driving enforcement numbers. She was recognized Tuesday night as the 2025 Officer of the Year.
For context, a single DUI arrest isn't quick. Once an officer pulls someone over and suspects impairment, there's a 10 to 30-minute evaluation process, followed by hours of processing. While that's happening, the rest of the team has to cover the street for every other call. That's 52 times in one year.
Duggan described those arrests as 52 deadly and dangerous drivers who chose to risk their own lives and the lives of everyone else on the road. Ley was sworn at, run from, and physically fought by suspects during some of those stops.
The statewide picture actually improved in 2025. According to the Advisory Council on Traffic Safety's 2025 report, Minnesota saw about a 20% drop in overall traffic fatalities, down to 370 from 475 the year before. But Scott County went the other direction, which is why Prior Lake PD shifted more attention to impaired driving enforcement last year.
The state's Toward Zero Deaths program tracks impaired driving as one of the four leading causes of traffic fatalities in Minnesota, alongside distracted driving, lack of seat belt use, and speed. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety publishes detailed crash data annually.
Public safety technology is becoming a bigger part of how south metro police departments are tackling these issues. Lakeville recently proposed 20 license plate reader cameras to help track stolen vehicles and suspects, and Rosemount just won a national award for its new public works and police campus. Prior Lake PD is also evaluating a drone-as-first-responder program that could change how officers respond to 911 calls.
If you're going out in Prior Lake, Savage, Shakopee, or anywhere in Scott County — plan your ride home before your first drink. And if you see a driver who looks impaired, call 911.
