");vwo_$('head').append(_vwo_sel);return vwo_$('head')[0] && vwo_$('head')[0].lastChild;})("HEAD")}}},rules:[{"triggers":["12454059"],"tags":[{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":6}],"type":"g"},"id":"metric","metricId":0}]},{"triggers":["8536412"],"tags":[{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":3}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":4}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":1}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":4}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":3}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":3}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":2}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":3}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959030},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":2}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959030}]},{"triggers":["12454053"],"tags":[{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.39","id":"runCampaign"}]},{"triggers":["12454062"],"tags":[{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":7}],"type":"g"},"id":"metric","metricId":0}]},{"triggers":["8536409"],"tags":[{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":4}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":1}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":3}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":5}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":4}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":4}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":3}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":4}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959027},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":4}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959027}]},{"triggers":["8639604"],"tags":[{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":1}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":6}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":1}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":5}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":1}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":4}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":1}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951908},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":5}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951908}]},{"triggers":["8459768"],"tags":[{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":5}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":2}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":4}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":2}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":1}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":5}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":5}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":5}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951905},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":1}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":951905}]},{"triggers":["8536415"],"tags":[{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":64,"g":2}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":3}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":2}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":48,"g":3}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":55,"g":2}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":61,"g":2}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":62,"g":1}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":63,"g":2}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959033},{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":54,"g":3}],"type":"m"},"id":"metric","metricId":959033}]},{"triggers":["12639747"],"tags":[{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":16,"g":5}],"type":"g"},"id":"metric","metricId":0}]},{"triggers":["12454056"],"tags":[{"data":{"campaigns":[{"c":39,"g":5}],"type":"g"},"id":"metric","metricId":0}]},{"triggers":["10589191"],"tags":[{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.64","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.16","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.48","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.55","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.61","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.62","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.63","id":"runCampaign"},{"priority":4,"data":"campaigns.54","id":"runCampaign"}]},{"triggers":["8"],"tags":[{"priority":3,"id":"prePostMutation"},{"priority":2,"id":"groupCampaigns"}]},{"triggers":["9"],"tags":[{"priority":2,"id":"visibilityService"}]},{"triggers":["2"],"tags":[{"id":"runTestCampaign"}]},{"triggers":["75"],"tags":[{"id":"urlChange"}]},{"triggers":["5"],"tags":[{"id":"checkEnvironment"}]}],pages:{"ec":[{"1625289":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i).*"]]}},{"2121531":{"inc":["o",["pg","eq","141375"]]}}],"pc":[{"141375":{"inc":["o",["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/story.*"],["url","urlReg","(?i)^https?\\:\\\/\\\/(w{3}\\.)?mprnews\\.org\\\/episode.*"]]}}]},pagesEval:{"ec":[1625289,2121531],"pc":[141375]},stags:{}}})(); ;;var commonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={valuesGetter:function(){return{}},valuesSetter:function(){},verifyData:function(){return{}}}}const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var pollInterval=100;var timeout=6e4;return function(){var accountIntegrationSettings={};var _interval=null;function waitForAnalyticsVariables(){try{accountIntegrationSettings=argument.valuesGetter();accountIntegrationSettings.visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid()}catch(error){accountIntegrationSettings=undefined}if(accountIntegrationSettings&&argument.verifyData(accountIntegrationSettings)){argument.valuesSetter(accountIntegrationSettings);return 1}return 0}var currentTime=0;_interval=setInterval((function(){currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var result=waitForAnalyticsVariables();if(result||performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout){clearInterval(_interval)}}),pollInterval)}}; var pushBasedCommonWrapper=function(argument){var firedCamp={};if(!argument){argument={integrationName:"",getExperimentList:function(){},accountSettings:function(){},pushData:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];const getVisitorUuid=function(){if(window._vwo_acc_id>=1037725){return window.VWO&&window.VWO.get("visitor.id")}else{return window.VWO._&&window.VWO._.cookies&&window.VWO._.cookies.get("_vwo_uuid")}};var sendDebugLogsOld=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type,data){try{var errorPayload={f:argument["integrationName"]||"",a:window._vwo_acc_id,url:window.location.href,exp:expId,v:variationId,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(errorType=="initIntegrationCallback"){errorPayload["log_type"]="initIntegrationCallback";errorPayload["data"]=JSON.stringify(data||"")}else if(errorType=="timeout"){errorPayload["timeout"]=true}if(window.VWO._.customError){window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug",url:window.location.href,lineno:"",colno:"",source:JSON.stringify(errorPayload)})}}catch(e){window.VWO._.customError&&window.VWO._.customError({msg:"integration debug failed",url:"",lineno:"",colno:"",source:""})}};var sendDebugLogs=function(expId,variationId,errorType,user_type){var eventName="vwo_debugLogs";var eventPayload={};try{eventPayload={intName:argument["integrationName"]||"",varId:variationId,expId:expId,type:errorType,vwo_uuid:getVisitorUuid(),user_type:user_type};if(window.VWO._.event){window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload,{enableLogs:1})}}catch(e){eventPayload={msg:"integration event log failed",url:window.location.href};window.VWO._.event&&window.VWO._.event(eventName,eventPayload)}};const callbackFn=function(data){if(!data)return;var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2],repeated=data[0],singleCall=0,debug=0;var experimentList=argument.getExperimentList();var integrationName=argument["integrationName"]||"vwo";if(typeof argument.accountSettings==="function"){var accountSettings=argument.accountSettings();if(accountSettings){singleCall=accountSettings["singleCall"];debug=accountSettings["debug"]}}if(debug){sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intCallTriggered",repeated)}if(singleCall&&(repeated==="vS"||repeated==="vSS")||firedCamp[expId]){return}window.expList=window.expList||{};var expList=window.expList[integrationName]=window.expList[integrationName]||[];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(_vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){if(experimentList.indexOf(+expId)!==-1){firedCamp[expId]=variationId;var visitorUuid=getVisitorUuid();var pollInterval=100;var currentTime=0;var timeout=6e4;var user_type=_vwo_exp[expId].exec?"vwo-retry":"vwo-new";var interval=setInterval((function(){if(expList.indexOf(expId)!==-1){clearInterval(interval);return}currentTime=currentTime||performance.now();var toClearInterval=argument.pushData(expId,variationId,visitorUuid);if(debug&&toClearInterval){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intDataPushed",user_type)}var isTimeout=performance.now()-currentTime>=timeout;if(isTimeout&&debug){sendDebugLogsOld(expId,variationId,"timeout",user_type);sendDebugLogs(expId,variationId,"intTimeout",user_type)}if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}if(toClearInterval){window.expList[integrationName].push(expId)}}),pollInterval||100)}}};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",callbackFn]);window.VWO.push(["onVariationShownSent",callbackFn])}}; var surveyDataCommonWrapper=function(argument){if(!argument){argument={getCampaignList:function(){return[]},surveyStatusChange:function(){},answerSubmitted:function(){}}}return function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];function getValuesFromAnswers(answers){var values=[];for(var i=0;i=timeout;if(toClearInterval||isTimeout){clearInterval(interval)}}),pollInterval)}}window.VWO.push(["onSurveyShown",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyShown")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyCompleted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.surveyStatusChange,"surveyCompleted")}]);window.VWO.push(["onSurveyAnswerSubmitted",function(data){commonSurveyCallback(data,argument.answerSubmitted,"surveySubmitted")}])}}; (function(){var VWOOmniTemp={};window.VWOOmni=window.VWOOmni||{};for(var key in VWOOmniTemp)Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(VWOOmniTemp,key)&&(window.VWOOmni[key]=VWOOmniTemp[key]);;})();(function(){window.VWO=window.VWO||[];var pollInterval=100;var _vis_data={};var intervalObj={};var analyticsTimerObj={};var experimentListObj={};window.VWO.push(["onVariationApplied",function(data){if(!data){return}var expId=data[1],variationId=data[2];if(expId&&variationId&&["VISUAL_AB","VISUAL","SPLIT_URL"].indexOf(window._vwo_exp[expId].type)>-1){}}])})();; ;var vD=VWO.data||{};VWO.data={content:{"fns":{"list":{"args":{"1":{}},"vn":1}}},as:"r6.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",dacdnUrl:"https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com",accountJSInfo:{"noSS":false,"pc":{"t":0,"a":0},"rp":30,"ts":1743669585}};for(var k in vD){VWO.data[k]=vD[k]};;var gcpfb=function(a,loadFunc,status,err,success){function vwoErr() {_vwo_err({message:"Google_Cdn failing for " + a + ". Trying Fallback..",code:"cloudcdnerr",status:status});} if(a.indexOf("/cdn/")!==-1){loadFunc(a.replace("cdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;} else if(a.indexOf("/dcdn/")!==-1&&a.indexOf("evad.js") !== -1){loadFunc(a.replace("dcdn/",""),err,success); vwoErr(); return true;}};window.VWO=window.VWO || [];window.VWO._= window.VWO._ || {};window.VWO._.gcpfb=gcpfb;;var d={cookie:document.cookie,URL:document.URL,referrer:document.referrer};var w={VWO:{_:{}},location:{href:window.location.href,search:window.location.search},_vwoCc:window._vwoCc};;window._vwo_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window._vwo_apm_debug_cdn="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/";window.VWO._.useCdn=true;window.vwo_eT="br";window._VWO=window._VWO||{};window._VWO.fSeg={};window._VWO.dcdnUrl="/dcdn/settings.js";window.VWO.sTs=1743667568;window._VWO._vis_nc_lib=window._vwo_cdn+"edrv/nc-e76f33e8accfa6859749db0f9a4d4230br.js";var loadWorker=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb: function(xhr,a){window._vwo_wt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 ||xhr.status===304){var code="var window="+JSON.stringify(w)+",document="+JSON.stringify(d)+";window.document=document;"+xhr.responseText;var blob=new Blob([code||"throw new Error('code not found!');"],{type:"application/javascript"}),url=URL.createObjectURL(blob);window.mainThread={webWorker:new Worker(url)};window.vwoChannelFW=new MessageChannel();window.vwoChannelToW=new MessageChannel();window.mainThread.webWorker.postMessage({vwoChannelToW:vwoChannelToW.port1,vwoChannelFW:vwoChannelFW.port2},[vwoChannelToW.port1, vwoChannelFW.port2]);if(!window._vwo_mt_f)return window._vwo_wt_f=true;_vwo_code.addScript({text:window._vwo_mt_f});delete window._vwo_mt_f}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a)}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadWorker)){return;}window._vwo_wt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadWorker("https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/edrv/worker-1135852b6bc11a94eb64017a8d120ad8br.js");;var _vis_opt_file;var _vis_opt_lib;if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.previewExtraSettings.isSurveyPreviewMode){var surveyHash=window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.SURVEY_DEBUG_EVENTS.HASH;var param1="evad.js?va=";var param2="&d=debugger_new";var param3="&sp=1&a=940895&sh="+surveyHash;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?param1+"vanj"+param2:param1+"va_gq"+param2:param1+"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js"+param2;_vis_opt_file=_vis_opt_file+param3;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/dcdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else if(window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode!=undefined&&window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.mode=="PREVIEW"){ var path1 = 'edrv/pd_'; var path2 = window.VWO._.allSettings.dataStore.plugins.LIBINFO.EVAD.HASH + ".js"; ;_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?path1+"vanj"+path2:path1+"va_gq"+path2:path1+"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js"+path2;_vis_opt_lib="https://dev.visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/cdn/"+_vis_opt_file}else{_vis_opt_file=vwoCode.use_existing_jquery&&typeof vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.use_existing_jquery()?"edrv/vanj-55389bda300ad24b514d62f335aa126abr.js":"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js":"edrv/va_gq-a062e7c4223b2b89f5cddb5055816677br.js"}window._vwo_library_timer=setTimeout((function(){vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&vwoCode.removeLoaderAndOverlay();vwoCode.finish()}),vwoCode.library_tolerance&&typeof vwoCode.library_tolerance()!=="undefined"?vwoCode.library_tolerance():2500),_vis_opt_lib=typeof _vis_opt_lib=="undefined"?window._vwo_cdn+_vis_opt_file:_vis_opt_lib;var loadLib=function(url){_vwo_code.load(url, { dSC: true, onloadCb:function(xhr,a){window._vwo_mt_l=true;if(xhr.status===200 || xhr.status===304){if(!window._vwo_wt_f)return window._vwo_mt_f=xhr.responseText;_vwo_code.addScript({text:xhr.responseText});delete window._vwo_wt_f;}else{if(gcpfb(a,loadLib,xhr.status)){return;}_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}}, onerrorCb: function(a){if(gcpfb(a,loadLib)){return;}window._vwo_mt_l=true;_vwo_code.finish("&e=loading_failure:"+a);}})};loadLib(_vis_opt_lib);VWO.load_co=function(u,opts){return window._vwo_code.load(u,opts);};;;}}catch(e){_vwo_code.finish();_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay&&_vwo_code.removeLoaderAndOverlay();_vwo_err(e);window.VWO.caE=1}})();

Skip to Main Content
Skip to audio player to listen live

Create a Free MPR

news profile

for you

Sign up

Already have an account?

By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.

Welcome back

to news for you

Sign in to your profile

New to MPR News?

Welcome back

to news

for you

Reset Password

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?

Welcome back

to news

for you

Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?

Elizabeth Baier

St. Paul, Minn.

July 24, 2009 4:36 PM

Hecker pleads guilty, says he was texting while driving

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log in Create a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

An attorney for Denny Hecker said the embattled auto mogul was texting while driving when he crashed his car into a light pole last year.

Hecker pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District court on Friday to careless driving. In April, he had been charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence of a controlled substance in a single-car accident on Dec. 3, 2008, that sent him to the hospital for two days. A judge dismissed the DWI charge.

"From the very initial charging in this case, Denny has always stated that he was guilty of careless driving," Hecker's attorney Marsh Halberg said in a statement. "Denny stated that he was focusing on texting while he was driving, and not watching the road or other drivers. That was a careless act of which he is guilty."

Hecker was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but that time will be stayed for a year under the condition that he pays a $1,000 fine plus court fees; that he complete a county driver education program; and that he have no alcohol, drug or driver's license violations for one year.

Turn Up Your Support

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.

Hecker also will have his driver's license suspended for 90 days, but he will be eligible for a work permit after 15 days of the suspension period.

"I believe this is a very fair resolution," Halberg said.

After the crash, police found traces of six prescription drugs in Hecker's blood, but determined the wreck was an accident, and not related to the medications.

Hecker filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. Records show he owes more than $766 million to a dozen creditors, including millions to banks and automakers, and hundreds of thousands to Las Vegas casinos and credit card companies.

Dear reader,

The trustworthy and factual news you find here at MPR News relies on the generosity of readers like you.

Your donation ensures that our journalism remains available to all, connecting communities and facilitating better conversations for everyone.

Will you make a gift today to help keep this trusted new source accessible to all?