Nearly 5,500 MN Drivers Cited In April Phone Crackdown: See The Top Cities

ST. PAUL, MN — Nearly 5,500 Minnesota drivers were cited for hands-free cell phone violations during a statewide distracted driving crackdown in April, state officials said Thursday.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said 296 law enforcement agencies reported 5,426 hands-free cell phone citations during the campaign, which ran from April 1 through April 30.

The campaign was coordinated by the DPS Office of Traffic Safety with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“We hear it from drivers constantly — they are frustrated by selfish and entitled behavior behind the wheel. Too many drivers are choosing distractions over safety, putting everyone else on the road at risk. It is reckless, frustrating, and can be deadly,” Mike Hanson, director of the DPS Office of Traffic Safety, said in a statement.

“The results of this campaign show that we still have a lot of work to do to keep people from using their cell phones while driving.”

DPS said officers reported several notable incidents during the crackdown:

• In St. Cloud, police stopped a driver for typing on a laptop while also holding a cell phone in heavy traffic.
• Elk River police stopped a driver who was holding two phones while driving.
• Elk River police cited another driver for taking a photo of a squad car while stopped in traffic.
• The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office said one semi driver was so distracted that they did not notice a deputy trying to pull them over until the next county.
• One driver was cited for their sixth violation of Minnesota’s hands-free cell phone law.

The St. Paul Police Department reported the most distracted driving citations among metro agencies, with 912.

Metro agencies with the most distracted driving citations:

• St. Paul Police Department: 912
• Minnesota State Patrol West Metro: 311
• Minnesota State Patrol East Metro: 205
• St. Anthony Police Department: 98

Greater Minnesota agencies with the most distracted driving citations:

• Mankato Department of Public Safety: 383
• Minnesota State Patrol Virginia: 285
• Minnesota State Patrol St. Cloud: 141
• Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office: 132
• Minnesota State Patrol Duluth: 111

DPS also said officers arrested 48 drivers for DWI during a one-day impaired driving enforcement campaign on April 20.

The day is often associated with cannabis use, but DPS said officers were focused on any kind of impairment. State officials said drivers should always plan a sober ride.

Metro agencies with the most DWI arrests during the April 20 campaign:

• Minneapolis Police Department: 3
• Minnesota State Patrol West Metro: 3
• Crystal Police Department: 3
• Minnesota State Patrol East Metro: 2
• South St. Paul Police Department: 2
• West St. Paul Police Department: 2
• Woodbury Police Department: 2

Greater Minnesota agencies with the most DWI arrests during the April 20 campaign:

• Duluth Police Department: 3
• Minnesota State Patrol Duluth: 3
• Rochester Police Department: 2