The ideal summer conditions in Minnesota mean the roads and highways can often be traversed at high speeds, but you’ll want to avoid going too far over the speed limit for the foreseeable future, because we’re currently in the midst of a statewide speed crackdown.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety announced that law enforcement agencies across the state would be working overtime to catch speeders over a two week period from July 8-July 22. The crackdown is part of the campaign Towards Zero Deaths, which has a goal of eliminating traffic fatalities in Minnesota. In 2015, 78 people lost their lives on Minnesota roads in accidents where excessive speed was a contributing factor.
The summer months are especially problematic, as there are an average of 23 traffic-related deaths on Minnesota roads during what police call the 100 deadliest days – the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Avoiding Traffic Tickets in Minnesota
When it comes to avoiding a traffic ticket in Minnesota, here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Don’t Overspeed – You’re rarely going to get pulled over for going 4-8 miles over the speed limit, it’s when you get up into double digits that you’re in trouble. The majority of people speed, just don’t do it excessively.
2. Don’t Lead The Pack – If everyone around you is speeding, you’re probably fine if you match the speed of one of the other drivers, but don’t be the car in the left lane leading the pack. Match the pace, don’t set it.
3. Know The Hotspots – Oftentimes by the time you see an officer, he’s already got the speed gun on you, but stay alert to areas where speeds drop and keep your eyes on the road ahead. If you’re in some traffic and can spot a cop and slow down before others, odds are the cop isn’t going to pick you as his target.
4. Be Polite – Nobody likes to get a traffic ticket, but don’t be rude to the cop. The quickest way to a ticket is to challenge their authority or be condescending. There’s a time to defend yourself against the allegations, but that’s in court, not during the traffic stop.
5. Be Non-Memorable – If you’re challenging the case in court, the cop is going to have to recite details of the stop from memory, if you are a non-memorable traffic stop, the cop will have a tougher time accurately describing what happened that day, increasing your likelihood of getting the charges thrown out.
