Eastside Defender

Local police departments across Minnesota are frustrated by mandatory State surcharges on traffic tickets. Some cops believe the minimum ($142 in Hennepin County) is sometimes too much punishment for minor offenses. Officers tend to issue less-effective warnings rather than tickets.

A desired compromise, called a "local citation", is considered to be against State law. Legislators this week will consider legalizing the option, already used by dozens of Minnesota cities despite its shaky legal status. White Bear Lake, for example, fines minor traffic offenders $40.

Local citations and legislation to legalize them are endorsed by the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, the Minnesota Board of Police Officer Standards and Training, and the League of Minnesota Cities.