Minnesota State Patrol Question: What allows private for-profit ambulance companies to run tax-exempt license plates on their vehicles? Answer: Vehicles owned by ambulance services specifically intended for emergency response or providing ambulance services are exempt under the Minnesota State statutes. All services must have a valid license issued by the board. The … [Read more...]
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Question: What should a person do if involved in a crash? Answer: Crashes happen every day in Minnesota — the State Patrol alone has handled over 41,000 so far this year. It’s important to know what to do immediately after it happens. The first and most important thing to do after you’ve been involved in a crash is to get to a safe place. Worry less about “preserving … [Read more...]
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Question: I see many vehicles driving down the road with ice and snow coming off of them. What is the law about clearing ice and snow from your vehicle prior to driving? Answer: The law states that no vehicle shall be moved on a roadway, unless the load is secured to prevent any leaking, blowing, shifting or falling debris. Ice or snow that may fall from a vehicle could be … [Read more...]
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Question: What is the legal following distance? What can I do when someone is following too close behind me? Isn’t there a rule of so many vehicle lengths for miles per hour to use as a guide? Answer: The only law regarding following distance pertains to vehicles pulling trailers. This includes trucks as well as semi-truck tractors with trailers. They must maintain a … [Read more...]
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Question: Is it a violation if the third brake light quits working on a passenger vehicle? What about a vehicle that is equipped with a brake light(s) that flash or pulsate? Answer: The state statute says that a vehicle equipped with stop lamps or signal lamps shall at all times be maintained in good working condition. So all brake lights, including the third one, would … [Read more...]