MN State Patrol extends extra patrols for aggressive driving through Dec.

The Minnesota State Patrol will continue to keep an eye on aggressive drivers by extending its Highway Enforcement for Aggressive Traffic program through the end of the year.

The State Patrol first began the special program in February to focus on traffic safety while providing an increased law enforcement presence in Minneapolis. In March, HEAT was expanded across the state and extended through the summer. Since its start, troopers have worked over 11,000 hours and logged more than 252,000 miles.

As a result, fatalities are down nearly 10 percent from this time last year, according to the state patrol.

Through December, troopers from neighboring districts will work in teams to saturate a specific enforcement area. In addition to troopers on the freeway, State Patrol aviation will be used during patrols to ensure drivers attempting to flee from traffic stops will be located and held accountable.