Overview

• Effective Oct. 15, the county will decline felony cases that stem solely from stops for minor equipment or other non‑public‑safety violations.
• Covered examples include expired tabs, broken lights, cracked windshields, excessive window tint, missing mirrors, or items hanging from a rearview mirror.
• Cases may proceed only under a compelling public‑safety interest, evaluated case by case, such as when recovered evidence ties to a violent crime.
• Minneapolis police said patrol practices will not change because similar limits have guided the department since 2021, while the state police union criticized the policy as weakening enforcement.
• Officials pointed to Ramsey County’s 2021 shift, which cut non‑public‑safety stops by about 86% and searches by 92% with stable firearm recoveries, and said the Hennepin policy applies county‑wide and aligns with Minneapolis consent decrees.