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...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: I was wondering what the state guidelines are regarding smoked or tinted headlights. Are they legal? Answer: Minnesota law does not allow for this. It is illegal to equip or operate a motor vehicle with any equipment or material that covers a headlamp, tail lamp, or reflector. I’d also like to remind drivers about when headlights and … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Question: This summer I sent you an email asking about the legality of individuals discharging grass clippings from lawn mowers onto public roads. They can be very slippery when wet and otherwise are a mess. I never heard back from you, nor did I see a response in my local paper  Please advice concerning the grass clippings on public roads.   … [Read more...]