Question: Last week I noticed a truck with a snowplow blade on it. It took up the whole traffic lane. It was not a Minnesota Department of Transportation truck. What is the legal length allowed for a snow blade?
Answer: The maximum legal width is 8 feet, 6 inches in Minnesota. Snowplows start at widths of 6 ½ feet for smaller pickups and go up to 9- and 10-foot-wide plows for dump trucks. The most common size plow is 7 feet, 6 inches. If you are over 8 feet, 6 inches, you can apply for a permit through the state. The permit will allow you to transport the plow on the roadway.
You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober. Help us drive Minnesota toward zero deaths.
If you have any questions concerning traffic-related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848. (Or reach him at, Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us)