Minnesota Police Cite 972 Drivers During Week-Long Distracted Driving Campaign

Authorities in Minnesota cited 972 drivers during a week-long crackdown on distracted driving. 

More than 300 law enforcement agencies had extra enforcement on the roads this year in an effort to reduce texting and driving. 

Police issued tickets to 972 drivers during the 7-day campaign, compared to 909 citations during last year’s 6 day campaign. 

In Blue Earth County, police stopped a driver twice in one day. Two different officers made the stop.  In another stop, a trooper attempted to stop a driver for two miles before the driver finally pulled over.  The driver wasn’t fleeing, but was extremely distracted by texting. 

“Multi-tasking is often praised in our society but behind the wheel, it can be a death sentence,” said Donna Berger, Office of Traffic Safety director. “If you’re looking down at your phone, you may not see that car suddenly stopping ahead of you, that person biking along the side or that oncoming truck because you drifted across the center line. Please put the phone down and eliminate distractions to stay safe and stay alive.”