
Minnesota Police Departments Using New Unmarked Lifted Trucks To Catch You
Unmarked police vehicles have been used for years to catch speeders and other lawbreakers. Now, police departments are using a new type of vehicle to patrol roadways.
Pickup Trucks Equipped With Lift Kits
Pickup trucks equipped with lift kits and hidden emergency lights are being used in the fight against distracted driving. Even with Minnesota hands free phone law, people are still on their cell phones and getting into accidents.
Kare11 reported last spring that nine police departments were using distracted driving awareness vehicles. I had no clue until I saw one the other day that they were even on the roads. More are being built and more departments are ordering the vehicles.
The pickups have a lift kit so it's easier to see what a person in their car is doing. Most people when they illegally use their phone, place the phone on their lap. With the lifted truck, officers can see what people are potentially being distracted by in their cars.
Trucks Are Equipped With Camera Monitors
The trucks can be equipped with cameras that can help identify distracted driving and also record it as evidence.

Two Officers In Each Vehicle
To make sure the police officer isn't distracted while driving, they have a partner who's dedicated to observing, ticketing, and documenting distracted driving.
29 People Die On Average Due To Distracted Driving Each Year
It's hard to prove distracted driving after a crash, but the numbers are estimated that 1 in 11 crashes in Minnesota are caused by distracted driving. On average, 29 people die each year due to distracted driving, and 146 people have life-changing injuries.
What are the fines for distracted driving?
If you're caught violating the hands-free cell phone law, it's a $100 fine (plus court fees). If it's your second or subsequent offense, the fine goes up to $300. You also could be charged with a felony if you cause a crash and kill someone while breaking the hands-free cell phone law.
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Gallery Credit: Stacker