By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: Can someone please tell dealers to inform people that their auto lights do not work during daylight hours? Or put it on those digital signs along the interstates? I did not know this when I bought my ‘05 Vibe until someone told me that.  When we have these storms and fog, there are people driving without lights at all or no tail lights, and … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: I was driving on the freeway during the worst part of a recent storm. Just had a question — are people supposed to use their emergency flashers when they are driving? So many cars on the freeway were, and it made it impossible to tell if someone was actually stopped or moving slowly (also, if they changed lanes, there was no way to tell). I … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: I’m thinking about getting a commercial driver’s license with a HAZMAT endorsement. Do I need to have a background or some education in basic chemistry? Answer: No, but there are many responsibilities and requirements in dealing with hazardous materials. For example, you need to know when to use placards and which products can be loaded … [Read more...]

Question: Can a truck with collector plates on it be used in a snow plow business? Is it legal to use collector plates on a vehicle driven on a daily basis? Answer: Driving a vehicle for general transportation with collector plates on is illegal.  It is also illegal to use collector plates for business purposes. There are several different requirements for “collector” … [Read more...]

Question: Are yellow speed signs in curves or busy locations enforceable? I’ve seen 60 mph white speed limit signs then a short distance later a yellow 50 mph sign. The yellow signs don’t say “limit” on them, so I would think going 60 mph in a yellow 50 mph zone isn’t illegal but not a good idea. Answer: The white signs are regulatory signs. Yellow signs are warning and … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: I am driving a bus full of band students to an event and I want to know if I am required to pull a trailer to haul the band equipment. I am an experienced bus driver, but parking will be very tight and it will be next to impossible to back the bus with a trailer. Can we keep the band equipment on the bus with the students? Answer: You are … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: In Kansas we can dial *47 to connect to the Kansas Highway Patrol to report non-emergency issues. Things like road hazards, erratic drivers, motorists on the side of the road, etc. This number is *55 in Missouri and *211 in Iowa. Is there a similar number in Minnesota? Answer: Minnesota does not have a standalone abbreviated number to … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: How do you determine if your tires are unsafe for winter driving? Answer:  Over the years, I have investigated numerous crashes where worn tires were a contributing factor. Tires with inadequate tread depth may cause your vehicle to skid or slide out of control on a slippery or wet road surface.  It is important to remember that unsafe … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: I heard on TV the State Patrol responded to over 1,300 crashes and five fatal crashes the last several days. Do you have any tips for winter driving? Answer: Snow and ice can make driving a bit more challenging, even if you grew up here. It not only involves knowing what to do while your vehicle is in motion, but preparing carefully … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: My question stems from all the vehicles that have loud music playing.  I can hear them coming from blocks away.  When they drive by my house the windows actually rattle.  Is there a state law or ordinance against these boom boxes on wheels? Answer: Minnesota does not have a state law prohibiting loud music inside a vehicle, but many … [Read more...]