Minnesota police announced yesterday that they will be conducting a 10-day enhanced crackdown on highways around Minneapolis called the “Highway Enforcement for Aggressive Traffic (HEAT).
State troopers and other law enforcement parties will be conducting the extra crackdown each evening from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., and they’ll be looking to turn up the heat on speeders and other criminal activity. The main focus will be Interstate 94 between downtown Minneapolis and Interstate 694, but extra enforcement will be all over highways in and out of Minneapolis. In addition to more state troopers on the highways, drivers can also expect to see an increased presence of State Patrol helicopters in the sky.
“Some drivers are speeding for no reason, while others are fleeing police after committing a crime,” said Col. Matt Langer, Minnesota State Patrol chief. “These HEAT patrols will increase our presence on the freeways so we can stop speeders and catch criminals who attempt to escape. If you don’t pull over we’re going to find you with our aviation assets.”
Hoping To Prevent Traffic Deaths
The goal of the crackdown is to help keep Minnesota roads safe, as there were 497 traffic deaths on our roads in 2021, which was the highest mark since 510 deaths were recorded in 2007. Speeding is one of the most common reasons for a fatal car crash, but police have also seen an uptick in distracted driving accidents, despite the fact that it is already illegal to use a cell phone while driving unless it’s in hands-free mode. Make sure you watch your speedometer and put the distractions down at all times, but be especially mindful if you’ll be traveling in and out of Minneapolis for the next week and a half.
If you or someone you know ends up getting caught in this crackdown, make sure they don’t just plead guilty and hope for the best. Instead of being left to the mercy of the system, pick up the phone and contact the team at Appelman Law Firm. We’ll review your case and explain the best options for contesting the ticket. This can help save you thousands of dollars in the long run in the form of fines, administrative fees and automobile insurance premiums.
For more information about how we can help you fight your speeding or related traffic violation, reach out to Avery and the team at Appleman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277 for a free case evaluation.
