Overview

• Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty will decline most felony charges that originate solely from non‑public‑safety traffic stops, with exceptions for cases presenting a compelling public‑safety interest.
• Her office cites Minneapolis data showing guns turned up in less than 0.5% of 2017–2018 moving‑violation stops, along with DOJ findings of racial disparities and language in Minneapolis’ state and federal consent decrees.
• Sheriff Dawanna Witt and suburban chiefs criticized the move as an overreach that lowers safety standards, noting the Sheriff’s Office seized 377 illegally possessed guns this year, nearly half during traffic stops.
• Police leaders said they were not consulted and were notified just before the announcement; the County Attorney’s Office said it unveiled the policy a month early to engage stakeholders and avoid leaks that could undermine the process.
• Ramsey County adopted a similar approach in 2021 that officials there say did not harm public safety, while the state police union condemned the new policy and Minneapolis police said their patrol practices have largely reflected this approach since 2021.