'Less Abrasive' Policing Program: Edina Giving Warnings for Minor Violations

Last year, Edina police chief Jeff Long was having a conversation with city council member Josh Sprague.

Despite the city’s reputation as a speeding ticket stickler, the pair agreed that the city’s citations were reasonable—the average ticket in Edina is issued to motorists driving around 16 miles over the speed limit—but Sprague suggested that police ease up a little, focus more on educating the public.

“I know that you guys write good tickets,” Sprague told Long. “But why don’t you each month just write some warnings so we can educate people in a way that’s less abrasive.”

From this suggestion, came the police department’s “Focus In” program, which launched in January as a way to provide gentle, non-ticketed guidance on small violations such as driving without snow cleared off from windshields or breaking curfews.

“There are a lot of little problematic things that confuse people,” Long said. “Do adults have to wear seatbelts? Do I have to have lights on in just the rain, or snow too? Do I have to yield to a pedestrian—what if he waves me through the crosswalk—can I go then?”

Since January, Edina officers have been able to sign up for off-duty pay to work in the program. Each month, police “focus in” on different violations. In July, it’s pedestrian safety: how drivers should yield to pedestrians, how pedestrians can cross the road lawfully.

Since the start of the program, Long estimates officers have put in about 100 hours, resulting in 422 stops—none of which included fines.

“I tell them unless it’s egregious—if someone hits someone in a traffic crossing—don’t write a ticket,” Long said.

The program is designed to raise awareness about low-priority laws, but there are some rules too minor or silly to even merit a warning.