Crime & Safety

WCCO: Wayzata Ranks #3 in Twin Cities for Speeding Tickets Issued Per Capita

One other city in the Lake Minnetonka-area ranked in the top 10 in WCCO-TV's review of 2011 enforcement records.

Wayzata police wrote the third-highest number of speeding tickets per capita among cities in the Twin Cities metro area, according to a report on WCCO-TV.

That year, Wayzata police wrote 646 tickets for excessive speed. The top three locations in the city of 3,740 residents:

  • Hwy 12/394 (316 tickets)
  • 200 block of Central Avenue (168 tickets)
  • Wayzata Boulevard, Long Lake (95 tickets)

Nearby police departments ranked lower: Minnetrista/St. Bonifacius (10), Minnetonka (12), Mound/Orono (29), Deephaven (31), South Lake Minnetonka (44).

Find out what's happening in Lake Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the WCCO-TV report, speeding tickets aren't a money-maker for local police departments, even in No. 1-ranked Edina: 

Go over the posted speed and it’s up to each department to decide what to do. There are no state standards and police departments don’t set quotas. That’s illegal in Minnesota. When departments do issue tickets, those cities don’t make much money, only about $10 to $20. Most of the money goes to the state and county.

Find out what's happening in Lake Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It’s a loser money-wise. If I could get rid of it I would but I can’t,” Edina Police Chief Jeff Long said.

See the full WCCO-TV report at minnesota.cbslocal.com. There you can also download the full database. 

Map Legend
    Green pins: 0 to 500 tickets
    Yellow pins: 500 to 1,500 tickets
    Red pins: 1,500 or more tickets

Police departments that cover multiple cities have a pin in each of the cities they cover. Sheriff’s offices, state patrol, park police, University of Minnesota police and airport police are not shown.


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