More than 6,000 drivers cited for prioritizing phones over safety during distracted driving enforcement campaign

ST. PAUL – Law enforcement officers across Minnesota issued 6,450 hands-free cell phone citations during April’s month-long distracted driving enforcement campaign. This is 1,000 more citations than were handed out during last year’s campaign.

“We are not out to write tickets – we’re out to save lives. But if drivers won’t take safety seriously, enforcement becomes necessary.” said Mike Hanson, director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). “Every time you take your eyes off the road, you’re gambling with your life and the lives of others around you. No text, no call is worth a tragedy. Just put the phone down — nothing is more important than getting home safely.”

Law enforcement partnerships boost safety efforts

OTS coordinated the statewide campaign with funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. OTS is reporting the results from law enforcement partners — troopers, deputies and police officers — who stepped up to stop distracted drivers.

The St. Paul Police Department issued the most citations, with 1,326. Across the state, law enforcement used a variety of visible and proactive methods to identify distracted drivers. In South Lake Minnetonka, officers use a new camera system to give law enforcement a bird’s eye view of the road, while Dakota County law enforcement got up in cherry pickers to see in cars and identify drivers on their phones.

Citations by agency

In the Twin Cities Metro Area, agencies with the most citations included:

• St. Paul Police Department: 1,326
• Minnesota State Patrol (west metro district): 329
• South Lake Minnetonka Police Department: 305
• Elk River Police Department: 214
• Minnesota State Patrol (east metro district): 204
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office: 127
• St. Anthony Police Department: 125
• Dakota County Sheriff’s Office: 107

In greater Minnesota, agencies with the most citations included:

• Mankato Department of Public Safety Police Department: 305
• Minnesota State Patrol (St. Cloud district): 221
• Minnesota State Patrol (Duluth district): 212
• Minnesota State Patrol (Virginia district): 209
• Minnesota State Patrol (Detroit Lakes district): 140
• St. Cloud Police Department: 110
• Wright County Sheriff’s Office: 101

View the full list of participating agencies.

Examples of distracted driving stops from law enforcement

• A 32-year-old man was stopped twice in less than 10 minutes in St. Paul for a hands-free cell phone violation. The driver was cited for use of a wireless device both times.
• At the end of April in St. Paul, traffic congestion brought drivers to a stop on the road. One driver was on the phone — right next to a law enforcement officer. The officer activated the squad vehicle’s lights, approached the car and saw the driver was still manipulating the screen on her phone. She was startled to see the officer and was cited for violating the hands-free cell phone law.
• In Le Sueur, while conducting a felony stop, the sergeant helping direct traffic noticed a driver on her phone while driving. The driver was stopped and cited at the scene.
• In the Minnesota State Patrol’s Mankato district, one driver was stopped for taking a video call while driving.

Results April 1-30

2025

• 6,450 citations for hands-free cell phone violations
• 241 Minnesota agencies participated

2024:

• 5,380 citations for hands-free cell phone violations
• 278 Minnesota agencies participated

2023:

• 3,427 citations for hands-free cell phone violations
• 275 Minnesota agencies participated

Hands-free cell phone use is the law

Hands-free means drivers can’t hold their phone in their hand. Accessing or posting on social media, streaming videos, checking that box score or Googling information on a device while driving are all against the law in Minnesota, even in hands-free mode.

Visit HandsFreeMN.org and DriveSmartMN.org for more information about the law.

Distracted driving is dangerous driving

• In 2024, at least 29 fatalities and 137 serious injuries were attributed to distracted driving.
• Between 2019 and 2024, there were 115,643 citations involving distracted driving.

About the Minnesota Department Public Safety

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s more than 2,100 employees operate programs in the areas of law enforcement, crime victim assistance, traffic safety, alcohol and gambling, emergency communications, fire safety, pipeline safety, driver licensing, vehicle registration and emergency management. DPS activity is anchored by three core principles: education, enforcement and prevention.

About the Office of Traffic Safety

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) designs, implements and coordinates federally funded traffic safety enforcement and education programs to improve driver behaviors and reduce the deaths and serious injuries that occur on Minnesota roads. These efforts form a strong foundation for the statewide Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program. OTS also administers state funds for the motorcycle safety program, child seats for needy families program, school bus stop arm camera project and oversees the funding for the Advisory Council on Traffic Safety.