By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: Is it legal to wear earplugs or headphones driving a vehicle in Minnesota?  Does the decibel rating matter? Answer:  State statue says that no person, while operating a motor vehicle, shall wear headphones or earphones that are used in both ears simultaneously for purposes of receiving or listening to broadcasts or … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I was wondering if you could address what someone, such as my spouse should do if needing to call 911 and cannot speak or type as both of those abilities are impaired. We’ve been thinking about getting a medical alert system. Answer: I would agree that a medical alert device might be the best option in this type of … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: My neighbor’s cattle are always out. They don’t take care of their fence and they are getting into my yard. I can deal with that, but my real concern is the highway we live along. I’m worried someone is going to hit a cow and get hurt or something worse. There must be a law about this. Answer: This is concerning as … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I was hoping in a future column you could talk about safely navigating a roundabout. Last fall, a roundabout was put in by our elementary school. Since the start of the 20-21 school year, I’ve been using it 20x/week dropping my kids off and picking them up.  I see many drivers stopping at the yield sign in order to … [Read more...]

Minnesota State Patrol Question: I was recently told that I could not keep the trailer ball mount attached to the receiver of the vehicle when it is not actually hooked up to a trailer.  Is this in fact true?  Answer: There is not a law in Minnesota that prohibits leaving a ball hitch in the receiver when not pulling a trailer.  I do recommend that you remove your receiver … [Read more...]

Minnesota State Patrol Question: I was recently told that I could not keep the trailer ball mount attached to the receiver of the vehicle when it is not actually hooked up to a trailer.  Is this in fact true?  Answer: There is not a law in Minnesota that prohibits leaving a ball hitch in the receiver when not pulling a trailer.  I do recommend that you remove your receiver … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: Did I hear there is extra DWI enforcement going on over the holidays? Answer: Yes, here is some information that we shared on the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s blog. “The holidays are going to be different this year, that’s for sure. With Minnesota’s pandemic restrictions in place for now, friends and … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: If driving a commercial vehicle and stopped, what documents are needed to present to the trooper?  Answer: I will list what is covered in a “Level 1” inspection, done along with weight enforcement.  North American Standard Inspection: An inspection that includes examination of driver’s license; medical examiner’s … [Read more...]

By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I have heard a lot about “click it or ticket” recently, I thought seat belt use was at an all-time high?  Answer: Most Minnesotans are making the life-saving decision to buckle up. According to the 2019 Minnesota Seat Belt Survey, 93.4% of front seat occupants are wearing their seat belts. Unfortunately, that means … [Read more...]

Question: How do you determine if your tires are unsafe for winter driving? Answer: Tire talk is important anytime of the year, but as winter approaches it is important to double your efforts when maintaining your tires. Over the years, I have investigated numerous crashes where worn tires were a contributing factor. Tires with inadequate tread depth may cause your vehicle … [Read more...]