Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office Issued 132 Distracted Driving Tickets During Statewide Crackdown

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office issued more than 130 citations during a distracted driving crackdown last month. 

See Also: At Least Two Lives Lost in Crashes on Minnesota's Roads Wednesday 

That’s according to a Facebook post published by the sheriff’s office. 

The local law enforcement agency was one of many that participated in a statewide extra enforcement campaign focused on distracted drivers. It started April 1 and came to an end on April 30. 

132 Distracted Driving Tickets Issued in Olmsted County During Statewide Crackdown

Deputies wrote 132 tickets during the crackdown. 

The sheriff’s office shared notable incidents during the enforcement campaign, including a realtor seen looking at a property on a tablet that was resting on their steering wheel.

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Another motorist was ticketed after filming a distracted driving traffic stop and a driver who was stopped twice in two weeks by the same deputy for driving distracted. 

See Also: Rochester Man on Supervised Release Accused of Fleeing Traffic Stop

A deputy also issued a ticket to a motorist who was playing a game on their phone while driving and cited a teenager who failed to notice a deputy trying to stop them for a half mile. 

The sheriff’s office said the young driver was adjusting their playlist during the attempted traffic stop. 

“Every distraction behind the wheel, no matter how quick, puts everyone on the road at risk. Texts, apps, calls, and GPS can wait. Your attention can’t. Please keep your eyes up, your hands on the wheel, and your focus on the road so everyone makes it home safely,” the sheriff’s office post says. 

900 Traffic Stops in April

In all, deputies conducted 900 traffic stops in Olmsted County last month. A total of 227 tickets were issued. 

47 were for speeding and two of those were given to motorists busted traveling over 100 mph in a 65 mph zone.