Bill From New Hope Rep. Aims For Statewide Traffic Stop Policy
A New Hope state representative is sponsoring a bill that aims to develop a statewide policy for traffic stops.
The bill, proposed by Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope), would have a board develop that policy for all agencies across Minnesota.
It would require officers to be trained statewide in those same safe traffic stop practices, including legal standards and de-escalation strategies.
“Standardized procedures do not take away our discretion, they strengthen it,” Frazier said. “House File 686 provides officers with research-backed best practices, just as use of force and crisis intervention training does. When officers have clear guidelines, they are better equipped to make sound decisions under pressure, ensuring safer and more effective interactions.”
Rep. Frazier sits at the front of the committee room with Valerie Castile.
The bill asked for $200,000 in the 2025 fiscal year, and $500,000 in the 2026 fiscal year. The bill text said that funding will support the bill and its curriculum.
Valerie Castile also testified in support of the bill. Her son, Philando Castile, was fatally shot during a traffic stop in 2016.
“Why don’t we have some type of universal foundation, a model, for policing? We all want to go home at the end of the day at that traffic stop. We all want to go home,” Castile said.
Jeff Potts of The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association spoke in opposition of the bill. He said there are already very similar policies and training in place across the state. He said those include policies addressing professional conduct, avoiding racial profiling, dealing with fleeing vehicles, a use of force policy, body camera policies and conflict management training.
Potts added that he thinks focusing on training, rather than policy, is important.
The bill was in the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee last week. The committee renewed the motion for a later meeting.
The bill is viewable on the House’s website.
