Despite the fact that we’re announcing the news on April 1st, this is no joke – Starting today, law enforcement across Minnesota will begin a statewide distracted driving crackdown throughout the month of April.
The statewide enforcement runs from April 1 through April 30, and it is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The goal of the program is to alert people to a larger police presence in hopes that drivers will make smart decisions behind the wheel while also citing those who continue to drive distracted. Preliminary figures show that distracted driving contributed to nearly 30,000 crashes in Minnesota between 2019 and 2023, and that’s likely a low estimate considering many drivers try to hide the fact that they were distracted at the time they were involved in an accident.
“Simply put, a two-ton vehicle with a distracted driver behind the wheel can steal a life,” said OTS Director Mike Hanson. “Don’t fool yourself. You’re distracted anytime you shift your attention from driving. It can be challenging, but for everyone’s safety, focus on driving.”
New Tech Will Help Capture Distracted Drivers
Previously, many distracted driver cases that end up in court came down to a he-said, she-said argument where the officer claims they saw the individual using their cell phone illegally behind the wheel, while the driver contests this allegation. However, in an effort to provide more evidence to back up their case, police are bringing new technology into this year’s distracted driving crackdown.
Some law enforcement agencies will have access to special patrol cars that look like a standard police vehicle, but they’ll be equipped with two extra side cameras that can capture video evidence of the vehicle in the neighboring lane. Each camera has a wide and a zoom lens, making it easier for police to capture physical evidence that shows a driver was in fact using their cell phone illegally while they were behind the wheel.
“When we’re driving and we see people with their phone in their hands, we can click the record button and it captures that as evidence that we can use if they dispute the citation in court,” said Commander Jeremy Ellison with the Saint Paul Police Department.
A first-time violation of Minnesota’s hands-free law will cost you more than $100 after surcharges and additional fees are included, and subsequent offenses will run you north of $300, so it’s an expensive lesson to learn. The consequences can be even more severe if you end up in an accident because you were distracted, so put the phones, the fast food and the lipstick down while you’re behind the wheel. Focus on the road, and everyone wins.
If you or someone you know ends up being cited for a hands-free violation or needs assistance contesting a different traffic or criminal matter, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm. Give us a call today at (952) 224-2277.
