A speed enforcement week led to 111 tickets from Albert Lea police officers and Freeborn County deputies.

An increased speed patrol was held July 6 through July 21, and the campaign was coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety.

For illegal or unsafe speeds, 30 motorists were ticketed during the campaign. In addition, 81 other drivers were cited for various offenses. That includes 22 drivers cited for driving without a valid license, five cited for drug offenses, seat belt citations and two arrests for DWIs.

“When we increase our speeds behind the wheel we increase our chances of crashing,” said Albert Lea Police Lt. Jeff Strom. “This campaign was about educating motorists that speeding is a dangerous and potentially deadly habit.”

In Freeborn County, the average speeding citation for 10 mph over the speed limit is $120. Motorists traveling at 20 mph over the speed limit face double that fine, and those ticketed traveling more than 100 mph can lose their license for six months.

The Albert Lea Police Department and Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office cite these dangers of speeding:

• Greater potential for loss of vehicle control.

• Increased stopping distance.

• Less time available for driver response for crash avoidance.

• Increased crash severity leading to more numerous and severe injuries.

Extra speed enforcement and education efforts are part of the Department of Public Safety Office of Traffic Safety’s traffic safety initiative called Toward Zero Deaths. A primary goal of the initiative is to create a safe driving culture in Minnesota in which motorists support a goal of zero road fatalities by practicing and promoting safe and smart driving behavior. Toward Zero Deaths focuses on the application of four strategic areas to reduce crashes: education, enforcement, engineering and emergency trauma response.