New public safety laws are taking effect in Minnesota today (August 1) bringing several significant changes.
First, it’s now illegal to sell or possess cell phone covers that look like firearms and vapes resembling school supplies or products that appeal to minors. This is part of a broader effort to prevent misleading and potentially dangerous items from being used or accessed by children.
Another critical change is the new penalty for making a “swatting” call, where a false emergency report is made to dispatch emergency responders to someone’s home. If this happens to elected officials, judges, prosecuting attorneys, correctional facility employees, or peace officers, it is now a felony. Additionally, “doxing” protections have been expanded to safeguard election workers’ personal information.
Drivers will also notice a new requirement: law enforcement officers must now inform drivers of the reason for a traffic stop right away. This aims to improve transparency and trust during traffic stops.
Furthermore, the state has increased penalties for “straw purchases” of firearms. This is when someone buys a firearm on behalf of someone who is prohibited from purchasing one. The penalty for this offense has been raised from a gross misdemeanor to a felony.
These changes are part of Minnesota’s ongoing efforts to enhance public safety and adapt to new challenges in law enforcement and community protection