Enforcement
Ensuring compliance with traffic laws is a major component in changing driver behavior and reducing unsafe driving practices. When a specific traffic safety problem has been identified, a targeted enforcement campaign can be planned to address the issue. These campaigns are often most effective when used with an education campaign to make drivers understand the safety issue and its impact on the community.
Targeted enforcement areas
Several unsafe driving behaviors are commonly targeted by enforcement campaigns:
- Driving while intoxicated (DWI)
- Driving without a seat belt
- Speeding and aggressive driving
The Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety maintains a full list of enforcement program resources.
Enforcement Programs & Initiatives
Safe & Sober
The Safe & Sober Campaign is the umbrella that unites all of the Office of Traffic Safety’s enforcement program efforts.
Statewide traffic enforcement mobilizations
One-month intensive efforts by local law enforcement and the Minnesota State Patrol are aimed at specific issues such as seat belt use and driving while intoxicated (DWI). Agencies can receive incentives for participation.
Click it or Ticket
State and local law enforcement agencies across the country participate in this high-visibility enforcement and education campaign that uses the threat of a fine to encourage seat belt use.
Operation NightCAP
Operation NightCAP (Night-time Concentrated Alcohol Patrol) is an impaired driving prevention program that involves law enforcement saturation efforts throughout the state.
NightCAP Junior, a project within Operation NightCAP, is scheduled during events attended by youth and where underage drinking is common.
Saved by the Belt
The Saved by the Belt program has helped create strong relationships between law enforcement agencies and communities since 1999 by honoring traffic crash survivors who were buckled up. Saved by the Belt certificates are available online, so agencies can simply download the form, type in the information, and distribute the award.
Minnesota Speed Management Program
The Minnesota Speed Management Program (MSMP), a cooperative project between the Minnesota Departments of Transportation and Public Safety, was developed within the framework of the Minnesota Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan. The overall goal was to reduce the number of fatal and life-changing crashes on Minnesota highways. The MSMP, in concert with other efforts that are part of the Minnesota Comprehensive Highway Safety Plan, resulted in fewer speeders on Minnesota highways and fewer fatal and life-changing crashes, making Minnesota’s roads safer.
The research report Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Minnesota Speed Management Program was published by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in 2007.
Law Enforcement Resources
Targeted traffic enforcement programs often require law enforcement agencies to put additional officers on duty or transfer resources from other areas.
Law Enforcement Liaisons
The Department of Public Safety’s Safe & Sober Campaign has three law enforcement liaisons who connect the Office of Traffic Safety with local agencies. Liaisons serve as a resource to local agencies on traffic enforcement programs and travel with supplies of brochures, posters, and small incentives. In addition, they are available to assist with informing government bodies of the importance of traffic safety, motivating officers, and contacting the media.
Overtime Grant Program
The Safe & Sober Grant Program provides funds to law enforcement agencies to conduct increased traffic enforcement and community outreach. Each year, requests for Safe & Sober overtime grants equal about twice the federal funding available.
Challenge Program
The Challenge Program helps and recognizes those enforcement agencies that have demonstrated a commitment to reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries. Award winners are chosen based on public information, media relations, and enforcement activities conducted throughout the year. The size of each agency is taken into account in evaluations.
State Patrol training
The Minnesota State Patrol provides training for local law enforcement agencies in field sobriety testing and occupant protection usage enforcement (seat belts, child seats, etc.).
Rural Highway Safety Clearinghouse - Enforcement section
The Rural Highway Safety Clearinghouse provides links to safety publications and other resources, organized by topic.