Question: What are the legal ramifications if someone is arrested for DWI with a child in a vehicle? Answer: If the child is less than 16 years of age and is greater than 36 months younger than the driver, the DWI the violation would be enhanced to include Child Endangerment. • First offense DWI under a 0.16: 90 days in jail and/or $1,000 fine. • First offense DWI under a … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper ~ 12/5/2016
Question: The other day at an intersection I noticed a car with the windows so frosted up that the driver had to roll down a window to check for cars coming from my side. What is the law on frosted windows? When I received this question my initial thoughts were of a fatal pedestrian crash that I had been called to. I was the Crash Reconstructionist at an incident where an … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper ~ 11/28/16
Question: What is the procedure if I hit a deer with my vehicle, can I keep it? Answer: The Minnesota State Patrol does issue permits for road-kill deer generally right at the time of the crash or soon after. Any Minnesota resident may claim a road-killed animal by contacting a law enforcement officer. An authorization permit can be issued, allowing the individual to … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper ~ 11/14/16
Question: What is the difference between careless or reckless driving? What about “exhibition driving”? Answer: In general, the difference between reckless and careless is that “reckless” is generally “intentional” or the driver “should know” that the driving behavior could injure or kill someone. Here’s more detail on how they differ: … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper – 11/7/16
Question: Do I need to have a mirror on the outside passenger side of the door on my pickup truck? It has one on the driver’s side and a rear view on the windshield. Answer: Being that your pickup has one on the windshield and one on the driver’s side, you are legal in Minnesota. According to the Minnesota Driver’s Manual, all passenger vehicles must be equipped with … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper ~ 10/31/17
Question: The driver’s training manual says to have both hands on the steering wheel. First it was “two and ten” and now with airbags they say “nine and three.” The question, is it a law that you must have both hands on the wheel? I have never seen that as a law and if so there sure would be a lot of violations. I’m thinking if it is the manual, it must be a law. Answer: … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper ~ 10/24/16
Question: We have a debate in our house about the pedestrian law. Is a pedestrian standing curbside considered a “crossing pedestrian” if they are giving all indications they are planning to cross? Are motorists required to stop for such a curbside pedestrian if they can do safely? Answer: This is a great time of year to review this law as the days get shorter and the nights … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper ~ 10/17/16
Question: I heard one of my neighbors was pulled over by a state trooper for driving his combine down the road. The trooper told him he needed a pilot car. Is this true? Answer: Farm equipment may be driven or towed to the left of the center of a roadway only if it is escorted by a vehicle displaying hazard warning lights that are visible in normal sunlight. The escort … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper
Question: I’ve been helping my neighbor prep for sale a 1955 Ford pickup that has been in her family since new. I noticed the other day that the VIN plate is missing from the glove box door (the rivet holes are still there). It must have been lost by the body shop that painted the truck about 15 years ago, and is now out of business. I was able to locate the VIN stamped into … [Read more...]
Ask a Trooper – 10.3.16
Question: Is there a minimum size that a steering wheel in a vehicle has to be? I noticed a car that had a very small aftermarket steering wheel and was curious what the law says about that. What about the law of having a steering wheel knob attached to the steering wheel? Answer: There is no law specifically related to steering wheel size. If the mounting of the steering … [Read more...]