Troy Christianson
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolMarch 19, 2019Question: What is the law about pickup trucks with the flashing amber lights? I noticed some of them traveling down the road when they are not actively plowing. Also, is there a law against plowing or blowing snow onto a public road? Answer: Minnesota state law says that a service vehicle shall not display a lighted lamp when traveling on the highway or at any other time except at the scene of a…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota Highway PatrolMarch 12, 2019Question: Can a person “carry” an electronic insurance card on a smart phone? For example, I’ve had my insurance company send my card by email, which I downloaded to my phone. Is this legal, or does a person need to have the paper version? Thanks much in advance! Answer: It would be acceptable if the driver or registered owner is able to show the current auto insurance electronically (mobile…
By by Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolMarch 05, 2019Question: What is the correct following distance? Everyone seems to be way too close behind each other. Answer: The only law regarding following distance pertains to vehicles pulling trailers. This includes trucks as well as semitractors with trailers. They must maintain a minimum distance of 500 feet. While state law does not require a specific distance for vehicles not pulling trailers, it…
By Sgt. Troy ChristiansonSeptember 12, 2017Question: I have a question about the Minnesota State Patrol Blood Relays. Recently, one was performed from the twin cities to Redwing. Why did it involve three patrol officers? I know this isn’t a great distance and have just been wondering what rules or regulations dictate how this is handled. Answer: The story you are referring to was recently shared on our Facebook page, but a number of years…
By Sgt. Troy ChristiansonAugust 22, 2017Question: Can you drive in a bike lane? For instance, use it for a right turn lane? Answer: No, motorists are not allowed to drive in the bike lanes. The solid white lines on any road mean do not cross. There are designated areas where the solid white line is converted to dashed lines and this is where motor vehicles are allowed to enter a bike lane to make a turn. Before crossing a bicycle lane…
By Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolNovember 07, 2016Question: I’ve been helping my neighbor prep for sale a 1955 Ford pickup that has been in her family since new.t 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 the frame and it…
By Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolOctober 17, 2016Question: 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 vehicle must be located in…
By Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolSeptember 19, 2016Question: What are the driver’s license requirements and equipment laws for the new three-wheel type motorcycle vehicles? Answer: The law changed on August 1, 2016. An auto cycle is a motorcycle that: •has three wheels in contact with the ground; •is designed with seating that does not require operators or occupants to straddle or sit astride it; •has a steering wheel; •is equipped with antilock…- By Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolSeptember 05, 2016With the school year quickly approaching I would like to focus on the safety of our children. Following the guidelines below will help keep children safe around school buses. School bus safety tips for motorists: Motorists must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus displaying red flashing lights and/or its stop arm is extended. This is important not only when approaching a school bus from the…
By Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolAugust 08, 2016Question: I read a recent study by the AAA Foundation for traffic safety that nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the previous year. How many “road rage” incidents are reported to the State Patrol on a yearly basis? Answer: Troopers respond to a number of calls on a daily basis based on driving conduct and many other…
By Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolJune 27, 2016Question: How long does a speeding ticket and written warning ticket stay on your record? Answer: A written warning does not go on your driving record, but it is recorded in our computer system. Citations for speed, according to the Driver and Vehicle Services, generally stay on record for five years and serious speeds are 10 years. Each year illegal or unsafe speed is one of the leading…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolMay 02, 2016Question: With all this attention to distracted driving recently, I know that a person can talk on a cell phone while driving if they are 18 years or older. I understand that it is illegal for anyone under that age to be on a cell phone. Does that apply to a hands-free device such as a blue tooth? Answer: Anyone under 18 years of age may NOT operate a vehicle while using a cell phone whether…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolApril 19, 2016Q: What are the requirements for RV triple towing in Minnesota? A: A recreational vehicle combination may be operated without an over-length type permit if: •the combination does not consist of more than three vehicles, and the towing rating of the full-size pickup truck or recreational truck-tractor is equal to or greater than the total weight of all vehicles being towed; •the combination does…
By Sgt. Troy Christianson, Minnesota State PatrolFebruary 22, 2016Question: At a recent gathering, a friend related a story to me that really surprised me. He was traveling along a local road at night when a car came toward him with his high beams on. My friend flashed his high beams to ask him to switch to lows, but the car ignored him. So, my friend flashed them again, and again the car ignored him. After he passed, the car that was behind the “offender”…
By Troy ChristiansonJanuary 25, 2016Question: I encountered a funeral procession along a two-lane highway (no roads entering this section of highway) and the lead funeral home vehicle had a light bar on the dash flashing an alternating red and blue light. Everyone on the highway going opposite the procession pulled over to the shoulder, thinking it was a police officer. Is this legal for the funeral home to do and what is the…
By Sgt. Troy ChristiansonDecember 28, 2015Question: If a person has a permit to carry in Minnesota, can they transport a loaded rifle or shotgun in a vehicle? Answer: The permit to carry law applies only to handguns, so the answer is no with some exceptions. MS 97B.045- A person may not transport a firearm in a motor vehicle unless the firearm is: (1) unloaded and in a gun case expressly made to contain a firearm, and the case fully…
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