Minnesota State Patrol to Add Unmarked Cars to Combat Texting and Driving

We all know texting and driving is not only illegal here in Minnesota, it's dangerous. And now, the Minnesota State Patrol is trying a new tactic to catch you if you text behind the wheel.

According to this TwinCities.com story, the State Patrol will be adding five unmarked squads, deployed in various areas of Minnesota, all designed to bust those texting while driving.

The story says, "Troopers will use the cars to patrol the Twin Cities, Mankato, Marshall and Brainerd. 'As state troopers, we're as tired of distracted driving as the public is,' Col. Matt Langer, chief of the State Patrol, said at a news conference Monday. In 2014, distracted driving contributed to 61 deaths and more than 7,000 injuries on Minnesota roads, the news release said. Distracted-driving stops in the state have risen from 180 in 2008 -- the year it was outlawed -- to almost 3,500 so far in 2015."

The story goes on to say that the five unmarked squads will replace aging marked cars that will be coming off the road, and that no new troopers will be added for the campaign.

While it's good to see the patrol beefing up its enforcement of those who text and drive, I noticed that Rochester isn't one of their special enforcement areas. And, I don't know about you, but it seems like I've been able to see somebody with their nose buried in their mobile device while they're driving just about every day here in the Med City.

Maybe the Rochester Police Department could join those departments elsewhere who've deployed a plainclothes officer dressed as a pan handler, but with a homemade sign stating they're police officers searching for those who're texting and driving. You could put one of those officers on the Highway-52 ramps at 2nd Street in Rochester, and they could probably write several dozen tickets each day!