Minnesota Department of Public Safety

05/23/2026

Many Minnesotans will use the long Memorial Day weekend to get started on some outdoor summer projects. Whether it’s a fence or deck, landscaping or garden — make sure you call before you dig.

Hitting a buried utility line can be inconvenient, costly and dangerous.

Plan ahead this year by calling 811 or visiting Gopher State One Call.

Once utilities have been properly marked, you’re able to dig safely.

While you tackle that to-do list this weekend, make sure you’re keeping your family, neighbors and community safe.

05/22/2026

Congratulations to our Minnesota State Patrol pilots and the Saint Paul Fire Department rescuers for this successful night rescue. The Minnesota Air Rescue Team used exceptional teamwork, years of training and the right equipment to bring two canoeists to safety.

05/21/2026

For a group of hikers trapped near Bemidji after a storm, texting was their lifeline for help. When calls wouldn’t go through, one person remembered they could try texting. That message made all the difference.

Stories like this are why we’re spreading the word about texting 911, through a partnership with TPT - Twin Cities PBS. Through their 24/7 public health and safety channel TPT Now, Text-to-911 information is now available across six languages.

Learn more:

Twin Cities PBS’ TPT Now is leading a new awareness campaign to make sure more Minnesotans know help can be just a text away.

05/21/2026

When people think of accessibility, they often picture wheelchair ramps, parking spaces close to a building or service animals. Today, on Global Accessibility Awareness Day, we call attention to less obvious ways life can be made easier for people with disabilities.

Thanks to digital accessibility, which includes alternative text on images, captions on videos and careful use of color, people with disabilities can navigate websites and get the information they need. A more accessible world helps keep everyone safe.

Read more about accessibility in our latest Safety Matters blog: https://dps.mn.gov/news/ooc/improving-lives-all-mnns-accessibility

05/20/2026

The days from Memorial Day to Labor Day are some of the most heavily traveled of the year nationwide and are often referred to as the “100 Deadliest Days” on the road.

To help prevent crashes and save lives, law enforcement agencies across the state are stepping up high-visibility enforcement targeting dangerous and reckless driving behaviors. Tomorrow, multiple agencies are gathering in Eagan for a coordinated roll call supporting the summer safety campaign.

Nearly 300 hundred law enforcement agencies are participating statewide. The goal is simple: keep Minnesota roads safe and let violators know they will be stopped.

Help make Memorial Day safe and fun. Obey speed limits, wear a seat belt, never drive impaired and stay focused on the road.

Minnesota law enforcement officers are gathering at Eagen Police De...

05/19/2026

Two minutes — the time it takes to brush your teeth, load the dishwasher or tidy up your desk.

But could you and your loved ones get out of your home in that amount of time?

On average, that’s how long people have to escape during a fire, and that time begins when the fire starts.

That’s why it’s so important to have working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan — so you’re alerted as quickly as possible and you know exactly how to get out.

In the first four months of 2026, there have already been 35 confirmed fire deaths.

Last year, there were 61 fire deaths in total. Even one death is too many.

Make a plan, test your alarms and practice your escape plan.

05/18/2026

What if you lose control?

Taking a motorcycle ride can be a thrilling adventure that can make your day glorious.

But it can also result in a big, bad bummer day if something goes wrong and you were not prepared for a “what if” along your route. A guy named Rick has had his boots resting on pegs for decades and has a thing or two to share about the value of training and defensive driving.

Read some of the lessons Rick has learned from 40 years of coaching riders: https://dps.mn.gov/news/ots/what-you-lose-control-lessons-40-year-rider-coach

05/16/2026

Peace Officers regularly put their lives on the line for their communities. They answer the call, helping people on their worst day to make our communities a better and safer place. Every year, we pause to honor those that have given their lives in the line of duty.

05/15/2026

SCAM ALERT: Be vigilant and don’t fall for the latest internet scam. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does not issue summons for traffic violations. If you need to check your driving record online go to the DVS website: https://onlineservices.dps.mn.gov/EServices/?Link=CredentialStatus

05/11/2026

Today marks one year since 42-year-old David Storbakken was last seen.

He has been missing since May 11, 2025, when he was spotted making a purchase at a Speedway in Roseville. He has a history of being in the Twin Cities, Duluth and Bemidji areas.

There is a reward of up to $10,000 for information in David’s case.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, contact the Saint Paul Police Department at 651-291-1111 or call 911.

05/11/2026

A seat belt, a car seat and a legacy.

When Jennifer Starkson stood up at a press conference last year, she had a simple message: Use the right car seat for your children on every trip. She knows firsthand why it matters.

Her daughter, Morgan, was killed in a crash, but Morgan’s three children survived because they were properly secured in car seats. In the middle of tragedy, those car seats saved lives.

No one plans for a crash, but every driver and parent can prepare for one.

The May extra seat belt enforcement and awareness campaign starts today and runs through the end of the month, reminding everyone to buckle up and make sure children are properly secured every time they are on the road.

https://dps.mn.gov/news/ots/simple-choice-wear-seat-belt-and-save-life-get-ticket-buckle