Law Enforcement Agencies Wrote Over 17,000 Speeding Tickets in the Month of July

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Public Safety, along with almost 300 local law enforcement agencies, just wrapped up a speed enforcement campaign after voicing frustration with drivers going too fast.

From July 1st through the 31st, there were 17,205 speeding citations issued, which is 1,083 more than last year. In 2020, law enforcement also raised concerns regarding excess speed as fewer cars were on the road, so people drove faster with less traffic. During the campaign, 55 agencies reported drivers traveling over 100 miles an hour, including one in the St. Cloud District of the Minnesota State Patrol who was traveling at 131 miles an hour. That was the fastest speed recorded in the state.

The DPS says there was also a jump in the number of speed-related deaths this year. From January 1st to July 31st. There have been 94 people killed in speed-related crashes compared to 66 last year.

Local law enforcement agencies who participated included the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, which wrote 47 speeding tickets during the campaign. One driver was cited for going 103 in a 55. The Cold Spring Police Department wrote ten speeding tickets, Foley wrote eight, Little Falls police wrote two, and one of them was for a driver going 81 miles an hour. Meeker County Sheriff’s Deputies wrote 26 citations; Melrose police wrote six with one driver going 100 in a 70 mile per hour zone. The Minnesota State Patrol St. Cloud District reported a total of 591 speeding tickets. Morrison County wrote 16 citations, including one driver clocked at 100 miles an hour. Paynesville police wrote nine tickets, Sartell police wrote ten tickets, with one driver going 60 in a 30 and another going 65 in a 40. Sauk Centre police cited 33 drivers, with one clocked at 111 miles an hour. Sauk Rapids police wrote five tickets, Sherburne County wrote 99 tickets, St. Cloud police wrote 39, and Stearns County Sheriff’s Deputies wrote 128 tickets with one driver going 115 in a 70. Wright County Sheriff’s Deputies wrote the most in the five county St. Cloud area with 232 citations issued. The top speed was a driver was going 99 in a 55.

See a list of all participating agencies by clicking here.

Fines for speeding vary by county but typically cost over $110 with court fees for a driver cited for going ten miles an hour over the speed limit. For a driver going 20 miles an hour over the speed limit, fines double. Drivers can lose their license for six months for going over 100 miles an hour.

For the most up-to-date traffic statutes, click here.

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