MN State Trooper: Texting & Driving Is An Epidemic

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It didn't take long for Minnesota State Trooper Scott Rudeen to spot a person looking down while driving on Interstate 494 in the South Metro. He said he sees it all the time.

"People are busy these days," Rudeen said.

He said people are trying to do too much at once.

He pulled a woman over recently who was emailing and driving at the same time and didn't even stop, even while he was writing her a ticket.

Rudeen likened the situation to driving while intoxicated.

"We've done a lot in the past 20 years with education and enforcement to stop the behavior, and now we are seeing the same thing with texting and driving," he said.

State Troopers write thousands of citations every year for people who text and drive. Rudeen said the solution is enforcement, education, and time.