Crackdown On Distracted Driving Looking To Reduce Fatalities
JORDAN, Minn. (WCCO) -- Minnesota State Trooper Tyler Uthe was working his day off on Monday, putting in overtime to help spread a critical safety message.
"We're out here looking for distracted drivers," he said, "anything that takes your attention off the road."
He's among 300 troopers, deputies and city police officers working saturation patrols between April 11 and 17.
"We've seen people reading books, doing crossword puzzles," Uthe said.
The goal is to not only catch offenders, but to also convince motorists that distracted driving is killing people.
Working the southwest metro, Jordan police officer Charlie Crohn works to spot distractions from the seat of a public works truck.
Not only is he higher up for a good view, but the truck doesn't tip motorists to the unusual police presence.
"You'll be surprised," he said. "I'll pull up to someone at a stoplight, and it will turn green and they're still sitting there, thumbing at their phone."
That's when Crohn radios responding officers, who make the stop.
One of their first stops on Monday was made after a driver was observed clearly weaving across the lines, but he later denied being on his phone.
To Crohn, stopping distracted driving is also a personal mission.
"I've been an officer for 10 years, and too many times I've had to go to too many people's families and tell them their loved one is not coming home," he said.
Even at stoplights, it's still illegal to be texting or checking email. Any distraction that steals attention from driving could lead to a ticket - and if you're lucky, before it leads to a crash.
Already, Minnesota is off to a deadlier start to the year. If the high road fatality pace continues, the state could surpass last year's 74 deaths caused by distracted driving.
It's why this crackdown is so important - to convince drivers to put down their phones and pay attention.