Overview

• Hennepin County will generally decline to charge most felonies that stem solely from non‑public‑safety traffic stops, covering infractions such as expired tabs, broken lights, excessive tint and missing mirrors.
• Moriarty says prosecutors will assess cases individually with limited exceptions for compelling public-safety concerns, citing Ramsey County’s similar approach since 2021 with rare overrides.
• Both the county attorney’s office and Hennepin police leaders cite data showing roughly 0.5% of traffic stops lead to meaningful prosecutions, though they draw opposing conclusions from the figure.
• Anoka County Attorney Brad Johnson criticized the policy in a Facebook post invoking Timothy McVeigh, and Moriarty replied that McVeigh’s plate-less stop falls outside the policy’s scope.
• Moriarty reiterated her rationale in a FOX 9 interview and planned a community discussion with Valerie Castile, as law enforcement leaders and Rep. Tom Emmer continued public criticism including concerns tied to gun seizures during stops.