Austin Police Department, Mower County Sheriff’s Office join MSP in enhanced speed enforcement campaign until July 19th

The State Patrol continues to see a number of distracted drivers. Trooper Troy Christianson says in addition to cellphone use, he’s also seeing an uptick in drivers watching videos: 

Christianson says he’s also expecting an increase in travel in July as more things open up:

The Austin Police Department and the Mower County Sheriff’s Office are among the law enforcement agencies around the state joining the Minnesota State Patrol in conducting enhanced speed enforcement on state roadways through July 19th.  The extra enforcement will target speeding violations as well as aggressive driving.  

Christianson says from April 1st to May 21st the State Patrol alone pulled over 232 drivers traveling more than 100 mph. That’s compared with 93 drivers during the same time period last year, a 149 percent increase. 

Overall fatal crashes and fatalities from March 16 to May 31 increased over last year despite reduced traffic. While a crash can have more than one contributing factor, speed was the most frequently cited factor. Preliminary reports show speed has already contributed to 36 motorists dying on Minnesota roads in 2020, compared with 27 at this time last year.

The State Patrol reminds motorists that fines double when traveling 20 or more mph over the limit, and if you are traveling in excess of 100 mph, you can lose your license for up to six months.