By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: I enjoyed your article “Trailer Wheel Bearing Talk.” Could you talk more about tire safety? I look around in parking lots and see many tires that are unsafe. Thanks!? Answer: Tire talk is an important conversation as their functions include supporting the vehicle load, transmitting traction and braking forces, … [Read more...]
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By Sgt. Troy Christianson Minnesota State Patrol Question: Can you talk about boat trailer safety with all the traffic we see pulling these things? Answer: State Troopers often encounter motorists pulling trailers that are experiencing breakdowns. Most often it involves a flat tire or trailer wheel bearing. Basic trailer maintenance involves greasing the wheel … [Read more...]
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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 reproductions from radios or other sound-producing … [Read more...]
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Question: If I sell my vehicle to a private party, what do you recommend I do to protect myself in the event the new owner gets into a crash or is arrested prior to them transferring the title into their name? Answer: If the vehicle you sold is involved in a hit and run or pursuit and the driver flees the scene, law enforcement will contact the registered owner in an attempt … [Read more...]
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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...]
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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...]
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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...]
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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...]
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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...]
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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...]