550 Cited in Minnesota for Texting While Driving

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety says law enforcement officers across Minnesota cited 550 people for texting while driving during a recent 10-day crackdown on distracted driving.

The enhanced enforcement campaign by more than 400 departments this month also netted nearly 1,400 citations for failing to wear a seat belt and more than 400 citations and arrests for driving with a revoked or suspended license.

State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske tells the Star Tribune some drivers think they can multi-task. Besides texting, Roeske says drivers were distracted by shaving, applying makeup, reading newspapers, using their laptops and eating.

DPS says distracted driving contributed to about 17,500 crashes last year. Sixty-eight people lost their lives and more than 8,000 were injured.