MN Troopers Catch 516 Speeders During Aggressive 'Heat Patrols'

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota State Patrol said its troopers stopped 516 vehicles for speeding during a 10-day Highway Enforcement for Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) effort that ended Friday.

Troopers also arrested 23 people for driving while impaired and six for outstanding warrants.

The HEAT Patrols began on Feb. 14 but were suspended for several nights due to snowstorms. The patrols took place from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. each night in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.

The patrols were conducted on Interstate 94, Highway 100, Highway 494, and Interstate 35E.

"The goal of these HEAT patrols was to combat dangerous driving through speed enforcement, while making a difference related to violent crime," said Colonel Matt Langer, chief of the Minnesota State Patrol.

"The hard work by our troopers over the 10 days of HEAT accomplished both."

On top of the speeding violations and DWI arrests, troopers also cited:

• 80 people for driving without a valid license.
• 22 drivers for violating the hands-free cell phone law.
• 13 drivers for failing to move over for a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights activated.
• Six people for not wearing their seatbelts.