Several east metro law enforcement agencies will be getting specialized pickups that give them a higher vantage point to see dangerous driving behaviors, the state’s Department of Public Safety announced Wednesday.

It will allow officers to witness more easily if drivers are distracted, not wearing seat belts or using their cellphones in violation of the state’s hands-free law.

“We need to get creative in how we’re combating the unacceptable driving behaviors and rising deaths we’re seeing on our roads,” DPS’ Office of Traffic Safety Director Mike Hanson said in a statement. “People are dying because drivers are selfishly making terrible choices. These trucks are not going to be the entire answer, but this tool will help our law enforcement partners raise the awareness of these critical traffic safety issues and help change behavior — and we’ll take any help we can get.”

The Office of Traffic Safety is providing grants totaling $624,325 to the St. Paul, Eagan, Blaine, Brooklyn Park, Elk River, Orono and Grand Rapids police departments, along with the Washington County and Olmsted counties’ sheriff’s offices.

The funding is from the 2023 Minnesota Transportation Omnibus bill, and each agency is required to match 20 percent of total equipment costs.

Richfield police have been using a Ford F150 since 2020, allowing officers to ride higher — and stealthier — than in a typical squad car or SUV.

“It’s higher up and people don’t expect a truck to be a law enforcement vehicle,” said Lt. Brad Drayna.

Other law enforcement agencies have borrowed the vehicle for traffic details. The pickup has a small law enforcement decal on the side, tinted windows and concealed emergency lights.

“There’s so many people texting and driving, and everyone’s nonchalant about it,” said Richfield police Sgt. Matt Steen, who had the original idea for the truck. On Tuesday, a man who Steen pulled over told him, “Sorry, I missed breakfast and I was ordering lunch online,” Steen said.

St. Paul police “are honored to be selected for this grant,” which is going through the city council approval process, said Alyssa Arcand, a department spokeswoman.

Distracted driving contributed to an average of 29 deaths and 146 life-changing injuries a year in Minnesota from 2019 to 2023, according to the Office of Traffic Safety.

Preliminary numbers show traffic fatalities are up this year, with 84 such deaths compared with 52 at the same time last year.

Law enforcement agencies across the state are taking part in a distracted driving extra enforcement and awareness campaign throughout this month.

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After amending proposed requirements that would mandate infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations in new parking lots, the St. Paul City Council will vote on the zoning code ordinance on April 17.

The zoning rules would require new surface parking lots with more than 15 parking stalls to have conduit capable of hosting future electric vehicle charging stations.

For lots attached to multi-family residential buildings, at least 80% of the parking spaces would have to have an electrical conduit or raceway connection to electrical service, with sufficient panel space reserved to power EV charging.

St. Paul City Council President Mitra Jalali introduced an amendment on Wednesday that loosens but does not eliminate the standard for parking lots attached to commercial structures, dropping the conduit-readiness requirement to 20% of commercial stalls. The thinking, she said, is that most commercial lots will not need to offer overnight charging for patrons the way multi-family residential developments will as the EV market grows. Her amendment, which was recommended by city staff, was adopted 7-0.

“For commercial … it would adjust it and tweak it so the same amount of charging (readiness) is not required,” Jalali said. “The core purpose … is to expand the charging infrastructure in multi-family residential development.”

Minneapolis, Bloomington and St. Louis Park currently all require the installation of actual chargers, though the number varies.

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An open house detailing the upcoming enhancement project of Washington County Highway 13 is scheduled for April 18. The event aims to gather public input and provide details regarding the pre-construction of the project on the highway, commonly known as Radio Drive, stretching from Washington County Highway 20 to Hargis Parkway.

The open house — to run from 4 to 6 p.m. — will be hosted at Saint Therese Senior Living of Woodbury, located at 7555 Bailey Road. While there will be no formal presentation, Woodbury residents are encouraged to attend and will have opportunities to interact with the project’s design team, review design alternatives, and learn about the project’s timeline and upcoming stages.

The project’s proposed enhancements include the expansion of the existing two-lane highway to four lanes, the addition of multi-modal trails, and measures to manage and treat storm water runoff. Additionally, improvements to the intersection of Radio Drive and Dale Road are being planned.

For those unable to attend in person, materials from the open house will be made available at www.co.washington.mn.us/3622/County-Highway-13-Radio-Drive following the event, with a virtual open house running concurrently from April 18 to May 2. Once the project begins, regular construction updates will also be shared on the project website.

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