Whether you’re racing to work or speeding home to pick up your kids before soccer practice, make sure you don’t go too far above the posted speed limit, otherwise you’ll likely see red and blue lights in your rearview mirror. That’s because Minnesota police are currently conducting a speeding campaign that will run through July 23.
According to police, more than 300 agencies across the state will be conducting extra speeding crackdown efforts in order to help cut down on one of the four fatal driving behaviors. Speeding, along with drunk driving, distracted driving and lack of a seat belt make up the four most dangerous driving behaviors, and one factor plays a role in more than 50 percent of crashes.
State Patrol Lt. Robert Zak said the posted speed limits are there for a reason, and police will be watching intently over the next two weeks.
“The faster the speed, the harder it is to stop a vehicle,” State Patrol Lt. Robert Zak said. “The speed limit is the law. It is not a suggestion. Don’t speed. It could be the difference between life and death.”
Speeding In Minnesota
The two-week crackdown coincides with a nationwide speeding enforcement, and the local efforts are being paid for by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Police will be out and about throughout the state, but they also said they’ll be paying extra attention to areas where they get many complaints from the public about speeders. If you want to avoid a ticket during the crackdown, the director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety reminds drivers to be “Minnesota Nice” behind the wheel.
“Most speeders think they are above average drivers, but they are 60 percent more likely to be in a crash,” said Donna Berger. “Drive Minnesota Nice and choose to obey the speed limit.”
Although ticket prices vary by county, the average speeding ticket in Minnesota will cost the driver about $110 in fines and court fees for going 10 mph over the speed limit. That amount doubles if the driver is caught going 20 miles over the posted limit, and that doesn’t account for potential increases to car insurance.
For these reasons, it imperative that you consider contesting your speeding ticket in the court of law. There’s a chance that you can get the fine reduced if you challenge a small speeding charge on your own, but if you are facing a big fine, increases in car insurance or the potential suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, at least sit down with an attorney and talk about your options before deciding how you wish to proceed.
To help you in this decision, we offer a free initial consultation where we’ll lay out all your options and explain what’s best for you. If we think we can help, we’ll explain our side, and if we think it’s best for your to just challenge the ticket on your own, we can walk you through that process as well. Our goal is to provide you with all the tools you need to challenge a citation, whether or not that includes having us by your side. Reach out to us today for more information.
