This year’s enforcement crackdowns by the Minnesota State Patrol have been paying off big time, with an increase of more than 20,000 citations handed out compared to 2022, and thousands of illegal activities stopped, from driving under the influence to street racing.
The total number of DWIs, speeding, street racing incidents, and cases where drivers weren’t wearing seatbelts are all down significantly this year compared to 2022.
State Patrol Colonel Matt Langer says that the decrease in activity comes as no surprise.
“The most important thing that we are proud of right now is a 15% reduction in traffic fatalities so far this year versus last,” Langer said. “That means Minnesotans are alive today, that wouldn’t have been last year.”
Langer shared in a press release that the work his officers do is to protect Minnesotans and keep roads safe.
“We do the work that we do because we’re passionate about keeping our roads safe and saving lives,” Langer said. “The extra enforcement is working. The State Patrol has responded to 25% fewer deadly crashes than at this time last year. It shows our commitment to our mission is making a difference.”
Langer says both the number of drivers stopped for speeding and the number of total citations issued more than doubled this year over last.
