In this issue:
- OTS: Roadside testing pilot project will give experts new data on drugged driving
- DPS: We expanded services in 2023, making sure you get the help you deserve
- BCA and State Patrol: Setting a new standard for excellence with accreditation
- Commissioner's corner: State Patrol travels 17.8 million miles in 2023
- Featured social media
 Ramsey County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Broden examines the tube used to collect oral fluid for roadside testing.
Most Minnesotans are familiar with the preliminary breath test and how our Minnesota State Patrol troopers and our traffic enforcement partners use the roadside test to help keep our roads safe from alcohol-impaired drivers, but what's the approach for detecting drugged driving? Earlier this month, our Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the Minnesota State Patrol launched a pilot project aimed at answering that question. On Jan. 5, drug recognition evaluators (DREs) from law enforcement agencies statewide were trained to use an oral fluid roadside testing instrument. OTS is asking drivers to help us with the testing evaluation by voluntarily agreeing to take the test when the DREs ask.
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Devices: We are also training DREs on two devices to compare how the two work. The devices, the SoToxa Oral Fluid Mobile Analyzer and the Dräger DrugTest 5000, detects the presence of cannabis or other drugs in a driver.
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Purpose: The goal of the study is to provide state lawmakers with trustworthy information so they can make sound decisions about what policy they want to bring forward in the law.
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Voluntary testing: The test will not be mandatory. Results of tests taken as part of the 2024 pilot project will not be admissible in any DWI court proceedings or used for any other type of impaired driving penalties.
 A collection of photos showcasing various divisions of the Department of Public Safety.
Whether you are the victim of a crime, worried about traffic safety or looking to get your driver's license, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) spent 2023 improving our services to make sure you get the help you need when you need it.
“We strive to provide timely, accurate and compassionate service to all Minnesotans," DPS Commissioner Bob Jacobson said. “Not only on your worst day or during an emergency, but when you are making important decisions like buying a smoke alarm or celebrating milestones like getting a driver's license."
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Better service: We launched programs like the Driver and Vehicle Services virtual assistant to get your questions answered.
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Keeping you informed: You can keep track of the number of vehicle crashes our Minnesota State Patrol responded to and see other data in the State Patrol dashboard.
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More positive change coming: This year is already shaping up to be busy as we construct a new State Emergency Operations Center, launch the Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Office and unveil a completely rebuilt website among other priorities.
 The CALEA accreditation process involves multiple steps.
Our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Minnesota State Patrol are positioned to be two of the only agencies in the state to receive law enforcement accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).
What does this mean for you? You’ll have peace of mind, knowing that the people who keep you safe are putting in the work to prepare for any emergency and are held to the highest standards.
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The goal: The accreditation allows us to hold ourselves accountable to a high national standard, showing us where we can improve and what we’re already doing well.
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Making your voice heard: Pages on our website will allow you to submit feedback about the State Patrol and BCA to CALEA throughout the accreditation process and beyond.
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Ongoing process: Every four years, we will begin the process again, when we’ll be audited and reassessed by CALEA, which ensures we are following the latest best practices.
 Minnesota state troopers stand with their squad vehicles.
Our state troopers are on our roads 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Over the course of 2023, they traveled 17,794,433 miles while on duty. This averages out to roughly 27,000 miles per trooper, or enough for each trooper to circumnavigate the globe once.
Our troopers put on the most miles (1,579,032) during August and the least miles (1,378,487) during February.
While they were out there, they kept traffic moving safely and efficiently, assisted motorists during crashes and protected Minnesotans from dangerous driving behaviors.
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