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Nine new police pickups will patrol for distracted drivers
One year after Richfield began using a lifted pickup – equipped with four cameras to combat illegal cell phone use – a state grant is expanding the effort.
RICHFIELD, Minn. — The hidden red and blue lights and solid black paint job are the only low-profile aspects of an otherwise high-riding police pickup that has been patrolling the streets of Richfield and several other south metro departments for the past year.
The unique vantage point is all aimed at addressing a high-priority issue.
“There is a lift kit on this truck,” said Richfield Police Sgt. Matt Steen. “So we don’t have to crane our necks to see that they’re holding their phone in their lap and that’s where most people hold it is down in their lap.”
The unique squad truck has helped officers see violations of Minnesota’s hands-free cell phone law, and the four cameras on board also record evidence.
“Monitors for all four cameras are up front here by the driver,” Steen said.
In case you’re wondering, the truck also features the same monitors, which are used by a second officer dedicated to observing, ticketing and documenting that activity.
“It allows us, as police officers, to make sure we’re not distracted,” Steen said. “We’re able to have somebody concentrated and focused on driving.”
Since deploying the car, Richfield’s officers aren’t the only ones using it for targeted enforcement.
“We’ve partnered with Eden Prairie, Edina, Bloomington, St Louis Park, Airport and Hopkins,” Steen said. “They all have their own badges they can put on the pickup.”
According to Richfield, the truck helped those agencies write 179 distracted driving tickets and 313 seatbelt tickets in 2023.
That was enough for the Office of Traffic Safety, with money approved from the legislature, to expand funding for the trucks to these nine other agencies:
- Orono Police Department
- St. Paul Police Department
- Blaine Police Department
- Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office
- Eagan Police Department
- Grand Rapids Police Department
- Brooklyn Park Police Department
- Washington County Sheriff’s Office
- Elk River Police Department
“We do expect the other agencies to be collaborating with other agencies in their counties as well,” said Shannon Grabow, Enforcement Coordinator for the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety.
The need is clear. Despite public awareness campaigns and targeted enforcement every April, five years since Minnesota passed a hands-free cell phone law, distracted driving is still blamed for roughly 1 in 11 crashes, resulting in an average of 29 deaths and 146 life-changing injuries a year.
Grabow: “What we see is people are reverting back to a lot of the dangerous behaviors that they did engage in prior to the hands-free bill.”
Kent Erdahl: “When you look at those (distracted driving) numbers what do you think?”
Steen: “No, the numbers are probably more like 6 in 11. I would say, over half of all crashes, the number one contributing factor is distracted driving.”
Sergeant Steen says distracted driving is notoriously hard to prove after a crash, and can include any activity that distracts someone cognitively, physically or visually. But he says there’s a reason why the state is so focused on cell phones.
“The problem is, with the phones, it’s a combination of all three of those factors,” Steen said. “You’re cognitively, physically and visually impaired, and it’s like driving drunk. They’ve given statistics that being on your phone and texting is like driving at a .08”
In total, the Office of Traffic Safety is dedicating about $642,325 to cover 80 percent of the cost for those nine new pickups. The departments themselves have to cover the other 20%. The vehicles are expected to begin hitting the road in the next six to eight months.
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Interstate 94 South is closed at Dowling Avenue as police investigate an overnight incident.
MINNEAPOLIS — A portion of I-94 is closed Sunday morning as officials investigate an incident that happened on Saturday night.
According to the Minnesota State Patrol, all southbound traffic in the area is being directed to exit the interstate at Dowling Avenue near Minneapolis.
Officials ask the public to stay clear of the area and find an alternate route if possible.
It is unknown how long the closure will be in place.
KARE 11 will update this story when more information is released by officials.
Tonya Yarmakov, 23, was reported missing from Savanna State Park on Sept. 4.
NORTHFIELD, Minn. — On Friday night, a Minnesota college held a vigil for a woman reported missing more than two weeks ago.
St. Olaf College in Northfield hosted a candlelight vigil for 23-year-old Tonya Yarmakov, who was last seen on Sept. 4 while camping with her family in Savanna State Park near McGregor, Minnesota.
The Aikin County Sheriff’s Office said family members allegedly told authorities they left Yarmakov alone on a dock as they went fishing, and around noon, saw her get up and run away.
She is 5 feet tall and has dark brown hair. The sheriff said she was last seen wearing a rainbow tie-dyed t-shirt, gym shorts, black shoes and black headphones.
Yarmakov has autism and Type 1 diabetes, causing greater concern for her welfare, authorities said.
Officials said they’ve used drones, dogs and planes to search for the missing woman.
If you have information about Yarmakov’s current whereabouts, the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office urges you to contact them at 218-927-7435 or call 911.
Saturday’s event includes helpful resources for caregivers and anyone impacted by dementia.
MINNEAPOLIS — Thousands of people are pouring into downtown Minneapolis Saturday morning for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, Twin Cities.
KARE 11’s Karla Hult is emceeing the walk – one of the largest walks in the country, with 7,000 to 10,000 people attending – along with Gabi Del Moral of Telemundo Minnesota.
“Those of us who know Alzheimer’s or another dementia, also know this disease can feel so overwhelming and isolating,” said Hult, whose dad finished his Alzheimer’s marathon in 2019.
“It’s why I’ve always cherished the Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” Hult said. “There’s just nothing like connecting with a stadium full of people who understand how it feels to live with this cruel disease. Together, we find incomparable empathy and support. Together, we find new strength to fight. And together, we find the joy that still exists during the journey.”
The event includes helpful resources for caregivers and anyone impacted by dementia.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, money raised from the event provides local support groups, classes and resources at no cost to Minnesota families. The Alzheimer’s Association is also a significant champion and supporter of critical dementia research, including research projects currently happening in Minnesota.
This year the goal is to raise $1.5M through the event.
More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease – a leading cause of death in the United States. Additionally, more than 11 million family members and friends provide unpaid care to people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Minnesota alone, there are 101,000 people living with Alzheimer’s and 164,000 unpaid caregivers support them.
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