MSP adding five new unmarked squad cars in response to motorist frustrations
The Minnesota State Patrol (MSP) is adding five new unmarked squad cars to specifically target dangerous driving behaviors in response to motorists frustrated by seeing others text, surf the web or participate in other distractions while driving.
Troopers driving the unmarked vehicles will be assigned to Mankato, Marshall, the east and west metro area and Brainerd.
In 2014, driver inattention contributed to 61 deaths and more than 7,000 injuries on Minnesota roads. In the last three months, the State Patrol has investigated at least two deadly crashes where driver distraction was suspected.
Since the “texting and driving” law went into effect in 2008, the patrol has seen a dramatic increase in drivers stopped because of the behavior, from 180 in the first year of the law to 3,467 so far in 2015.
