Blaine Police Conduct Targeted Distracted-Driving Enforcement; 38 Violations Issued

BLAINE, Minn. — October 28, 2025 — The Blaine Police Department carried out a focused distracted-driving enforcement operation Tuesday after reporting a recent uptick in violations, making dozens of traffic stops and issuing multiple citations aimed at curbing unsafe phone use behind the wheel.

Throughout the day officers made 34 traffic stops and issued 38 violations, 26 of which were for violations of Minnesota’s hands-free law, according to local reporting and department social posts about the enforcement effort.

The operation follows continued statewide concern about distracted driving. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) — Office of Traffic Safety — reports that distracted driving contributed to one in nine crashes in Minnesota for the period 2017–2021 and has been linked to thousands of injuries and dozens of deaths in recent years. DPS officials and safety campaigns have urged drivers to “park the phone” and use hands-free features when necessary.

Blaine Police used social media to warn motorists and explain the purpose of the blitz: to remove the temptation to hold phones while driving and to reinforce the state hands-free law. The department reminded drivers to “stay alert, put the phone down, and focus on the road ahead.”

Minnesota’s hands-free law, passed in 2019, prohibits holding a wireless communications device while driving; limited, single-touch or voice-activated functions are allowed under the statute. Penalties increase for repeat offenses and can be escalated if a hands-free violation results in injury or death. State traffic-safety campaigns and local enforcement efforts, such as Tuesday’s operation in Blaine, are part of broader efforts to reduce distracted-driving crashes across Minnesota.

Blaine Police asked drivers to treat the enforcement as a reminder that safety is the priority and to help prevent needless crashes by removing distractions before they get behind the wheel.

MinneapoliMedia