Thousands of aggressive drivers got a comeuppance, state reports

Article by: Tim Harlow , Star Tribune
Updated: September 10, 2007 - 9:32 PM

State Patrol turned up the heat on driving violations this summer.

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The latest: The Minnesota Department of Public Safety had warned motorists that law enforcement was going to crack down on aggressive driving and speeding this summer, and it carried through on its promise.

The numbers: In June and July, law enforcement agencies participating in the department's Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT) program stopped 10,166 vehicles and issued more than 7,000 tickets for driving above the speed limit.

Authorities also handed out nearly 2,900 citations for offences such as drunken driving, outstanding warrants, firearms violations, illegal open-bottle offenses and not wearing seat belts during the two-month period, the Department of Public Safety said. In addition, 10,000 warnings for speeding were issued.

In the Twin Cities: State Patrol officers in the Twin Cities handed out the most speeding tickets, 2,989. More than 1,200 people were cited for other violations. In total, 5,671 vehicles were stopped in the metro area.

Outstate: Officers in the Brainerd area issued 762 tickets, Detroit Lakes, 301; Duluth, 322; Mankato, 349; Marshall, 625; Rochester, 754; St. Cloud, 555; Thief River Falls, 99 and Virginia, 276.

Other details: Last year, officers statewide issued more than 34,000 speeding tickets and issued 45,000 warnings for driving too fast.

HEAT is a yearlong $1.5 million federally funded speed and traffic enforcement program and part of an effort to reduce traffic deaths in Minnesota.

So far this year, 333 people have died on state roads, compared with 331 at this time last year. In 2006, the total of 494 deaths was the lowest since 1945.

TIM HARLOW

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