Ask the Chief

Is speeding worth it?

This is a question everyone who has received a ticket has asked themselves. This is also the tragic question loved ones have asked after a family member was killed due to speeding. Sadly, the answer is NO.

Speeding does not save you anytime, is harder on your vehicle and cost you more money in gas.

Here is some math that proves that point. It’s exactly 12.3 miles from the Minneota Police Department to the Lyon County Sheriff Department in Marshall.

To make the math easier, we will say the speed limit for the entire distance is 60 mph so it will take you approximately 12 minutes to drive to Marshall from Minneota. (The truth is that in Minneota the speed limit is 30 and in Marshall there is a section that is 40 and 30 along with a stop light).

If you were to drive at 70 miles per hour, the same trip would take approximately 10.5 minutes.

So by going 10 mph over the speed limit you only save 1.5 minute of time.

If a driver is paying attention and not talking on their phone, texting, eating, or doing one of the hundreds of other things we do in our cars the emergency stopping distance at 60 mph is 150 feet.

At 70 mph, the stop distance is 204 feet, and that is under perfect conditions.

If your reaction time is slower because you aren't paying attention due to other distractions, you may not have enough time to stop before hitting another vehicle, animal or person.

I have started writing more tickets in Minneota for speed because the risk to some one's life is not worth the seconds you are going to save in your trip.

I have also see more Minnesota State Troopers and Lyon County Deputies stopping speeders for the exact same reason.

A speeding ticket will cost you approximately $120 and up for each violation. If you get three moving violation tickets in one year, you could lose your license.

Forbes magazine did an article claiming that a speeding ticket may raise your insurance premium by 10 percent.

Are you wanting to pay fines and higher insurance rates simply to save a minute or two off of your trip?

Minneota Police Chief Bill Bolt

Contact Us

The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492