3 worst excuses of Minnesota speeders caught in July

Minnesota troopers, deputies and police officers saw some dangerous speeds and heard some laughable excuses during a July speed enforcement campaign. Between July 8 and July 22, more than 300 law enforcement agencies issued 13,214 speeding tickets, down from 16,410 tickets during last year's campaign.

The worst excuses

Trying to get to McDonald's before it closed.

My multiple boxes of frozen meat are melting in the back seat.

I was going 55 in a 55, or whatever the speed limit is in the area.

Highest speeds       

During the July enforcement campaign, 19 agencies reported speeds of 100 mph or more. Those speeds included:

120 mph, Rosemount Police 
117 mph, Hermantown Police
112 mph, Minnesota State Patrol
111 mph, Rock County Sheriff's Office
110 mph, Medina Police
110 mph, Minnesota State Patrol

There were also 1,543 seat belt citations this July compared with 2,101 in 2015.

Overtime hours accrued by officers during the speed enforcement campaign are covered by federal funds received from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.