Public Safety

State Patrol

Statewide Outcome(s):

The State Patrol supports the following statewide outcome(s).

People in Minnesota are safe.

Context:

·         The State Patrol provides for the safe and efficient movement of traffic on Minnesota’s roadways. The division works to reduce crashes, increase safety, and provide for the protection of Minnesota’s citizens through enforcement, education, and assistance.

·         The division addresses property damage, injury, and fatal crashes on Minnesota’s roadways. It also addresses traffic safety issues such as speeding, impaired driving, lack of seat belt usage, and distracted driving. Additionally, the agency is charged with commercial vehicle enforcement and education activities as well as Capitol Complex security.

·         Primary customers are the 4,007,753 licensed drivers in Minnesota, operating 6,887,625 registered motor vehicles, visitors to our state, pedestrians and bicyclists, in addition to assisting other local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Additional customers include the trucking industry and federal commercial vehicle related partners. The State Patrol serves 14,000 state employees and 300,000 visitors who visit the State Capitol each year.

·         Sources of funding include trunk highway funds, special revenue funds, emergency 911 funds, and federal funds. Special revenue funds include motor vehicle title transfer surcharges, disposition of drug forfeitures, portion of the seat belt violation fine money, service fees for air patrol services, escort service fees, and E911 service fees. The general fund supports security activities at the State Capitol.

Strategies:

·         The State Patrol enforces motor vehicle, commercial vehicle, and traffic related statutes to reduce the deaths, injuries, property damage, and life changing events on Minnesota’s roadways.

·         Educational programs and mass media efforts aim to increase voluntary compliance with driving behaviors that will make our roadways safer.

·         Assists other federal, state, county, and local allied agencies in their public safety efforts.

·         Strives to reduce the number of fatalities per 100 million miles traveled.

·         Works with other law enforcement agencies in Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Office of Traffic Safety, and other stakeholders involved in the traffic safety cause.

·         The Commercial Vehicle Section works with federal partners, the trucking industry, and pupil transportation operations in Minnesota.

·         The Capitol Security Section works with the employees and visitors on the Capitol Complex, including the Governor and other elected officials.

Results:

·         Traffic safety strategies in Minnesota are working, as evident in the drastic reduction in fatal crashes over the past several years.

·         Aggressive seat belt education and enforcement is increasing voluntary compliance to an all-time high.

·         The number of alcohol involved fatalities continues to drop overall, however the percentage of fatalities being alcohol involved has remained relatively steady, with an increase from 2010 to 2011.

·         Continued refinement of Minnesota’s impaired driving laws, ignition interlock program, and enforcement programs will be aimed at reducing the number and percentage of alcohol involved fatalities.

·         The fatality rate for commercial vehicle involved crashes declined greatly from 2010 to 2011.

Performance Measures Notes:

*The total number of alcohol involved fatalities has decreased; however, the percentage of alcohol involved fatalities as increased.