I was approached at a gas station and asked several questions about the State Patrol squads.  I was recently issued a 2019 Dodge Charger and he noticed the color was a brighter maroon.  The State Patrol has a distinctive maroon paint color through Ford.  The maroon paint that Ford uses is custom – we are the only agency in the country using it, but with an added cost per … [Read more...]

Question:  Could you explain the zipper merge for merging into construction zones in Minnesota?  I have tried using the zipper merge many times and it seems that hardly anyone else on the road knows about how it is supposed to work. If another driver intentionally blocks a lane, isn’t that against the law? Answer: According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, … [Read more...]

Question:  Are the blue or Xenon headlamps legal in Minnesota? Answer:  Xenon or (HID) high-intensity discharge headlights are legal if they comply with the same Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements as halogen and incandescent headlamps.  Minnesota Statutes Chapter 169.468 requires the Commissioner to adopt vehicle safety rules in substantial conformance … [Read more...]

Question:  Can a vehicle with a Minnesota collector plate be driven legally in Arizona? Is it legal to drive it too and from both states? Answer: The general rule is states honor the registered vehicle and registration laws from the state the vehicle is registered.  So as long as you’re legal in Minnesota you will be fine on your drive to Arizona.  There are several … [Read more...]

Question: I heard DWI arrests are declining, is this this true? What about non-alcohol related DWI arrests?  Answer: While alcohol-related DWI incidents have dropped over the past 10 years in Minnesota, controlled substance-related DWI incidents have increased over the past 30 years. Controlled substance-related DWI convictions •1990: 5 •1997: 128 •2007: … [Read more...]

Question:  This winter has provided snowbanks - barriers in town, eliminating the turn lane, between our east and west bound lanes.  If a school bus is stopped and the stop arm is extended, does the opposing traffic have to stop? Answer: Motorists are not required to stop for a bus if the bus is on the opposite side of a separated roadway (median, etc.) — but they should … [Read more...]

Question: I see a lot of people that have their fog lights on and when I am meeting them on the road and some are very bright and make seeing the road very difficult. Some of them appear to be out of alignment and are blinding. What is the law that covers this?  Answer:  If the fog lights are aimed too high and/or are too bright they are illegal, even if they are in … [Read more...]

Question:  My question is, if I see someone texting and they are driving in an unsafe manner (crossing in and out of their lane or going onto shoulder) should I call 911? Answer:  Always call 911 if you see unsafe driving conduct that could result in a crash.  When calling 911, be sure your phone complies with the new hands-free cell phone law.  You must use voice … [Read more...]

Question: Do I need to obtain the new Real ID and driver’s license when my license expires?  Answer: The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services division (DPS-DVS) began issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards on October 1, 2018, to comply with the federal REAL ID Act.  Minnesotans are not required to obtain a REAL ID driver’s … [Read more...]