Q: Hi there trooper. I just purchased a car for my husband and the tabs on the car are expired. We haven't gotten new tabs for the car yet but the seller gave us a 21-day permit to put on the back window to show officers that we just purchased the car and to show that it will be valid. Some people say we can still get pulled over even if we have the permit paper thing and some say we won't. So will we still get pulled over?

Linda,
Minneapolis, MN

Linda,

I suppose if an officer does not see the permit, you could get pulled over.  However, assuming the permit is valid and still within the 21 days, it will get you off the hook for a charge of expired tabs. Thanks for asking and good luck.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office
Minnesota State Patrol

Q: I have recently been looking into buying a moped or scooter. When I get it I want to modify it to look sort of like a land speeder. I also wanted to put some orange leds in it to make some parts of it glow. Is this legal or is there something I need to do to make it legal?

Joe,
Waverly, MN

Joe,

There is no law specifically prohibiting those lights.  Having said that, I have no idea why you would want them.........but to each his own I guess.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office
Minnesota State Patrol

Q: I have recently been looking into buying a moped or scooter. When I get it I want to modify it to look sort of like a land speeder. I also wanted to put some orange leds in it to make some parts of it glow. Is this legal or is there something I need to do to make it legal?

Sam,
Maple Grove, MN

Sam,

It all depends on exactly what you end up buying.  Alot of scooters can't be driven on roadways, but some can.  If you are buying a vehicle that can be ridden on the roadway, then generally in most cases you can't be adding lights, expecially glowing lights.  So, I would have to say no as an answer to your question.  Also, make sure you know all the rules for the legal operation of the exact type of vehicle you are purchasing.  Driver license statioins and DNR offices both have booklets available that cover most of that information.  Thanks for asking, and good luck.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office
Minnesota State Patrol

Q: How much information can the police access about me with no probable cause? 
 
I was pulled over today and, to my surprise, informed that my DL was expired. The officer did say that for reasons he could not explain my DL was only valid for approximately 1 1/2 years rather than the normal 4 years. I'm assuming I just never received notice to renew and I have never really bothered to scrutinize my DL to note the date. I have a clean driving record, valid insurance and my car was legally parked in a parking lot of a large park area. I expected a warning and I would immediately renew it. Instead I received a citation and was told I was lucky he wasn't going to tow my car---gee what a swell guy. 
 
I'm a wee bit uncomfortable with the concept, in today's information age, of police randomly accessing information on anyone without SOME just cause to do so.

Mike,
Minneapolis, MN

Mike,

There is no way to specifically answer your question.  We generally don't have time to sit and "randomly access information" for no reason.  If an officer is bored and starts running license plates and finds out someone does not have a license, then pulls you over later then they are doing their job.  In your case I don't see what the officer did wrong, but I don't (and never will) know all the facts of your case, but I do know that a court judge will dismiss anything that was charged out based soley on information that was ill gained.

Sometimes (depending on the totality of circumstances) we do need a reason or probable cause to go on before seeking more information.  I do know that we can get alot more information than we normally seek, or want to.  I think knowing that should be a comfort, not the other way around.  Hopefully you have nothing to hide and won't have to worry about it.  The officer may have saved you from other more serious charges down the road by identifying your situation early....before you crashed and hurt someone or whatever (as an example only) then you would have been alot worse off having an expired driver license. Anyway, thanks for asking and good luck.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office
Minnesota State Patrol

Q: Here is the short version to my story. I ordered McDonalds at 22:11 waited a minute or two for my food, pulled out of the parking lot and pulled my food out... I had ordered a mushroom swiss wrap, when I took a bite there was BBQ sauce on my wrap. As I approached the stop sign I reached into my garbage in my drivers door and turned on my little light while stopped at the stop sign to read the receipt. I wasn't there very long, then the person behind me honks there horn at me. Mind you we live in a small town and there was nobody else around on the road I was stopped on. When he honked the horn at me, my window was down and my knee jerk reaction was to flip who ever it was behind me the bird at which time I did that he flashed his lights like ummm Im a cop sitting behind you. He proceeded to pull me over and the first thing out of his mouth was Did you really just flip me off? I said ya and? Sorry... he asked me for Lic/reg/insur. which I gave him. He proceded to ask me what I was doing and I told him.

He said sit tight and then there I sat. He came back at one point just to get my phone number and then walked back to his car... he came back at 22:30 with my information and a ticket. HE cited me for $124.00 for failure to obey a traffic signal RCW 46.61.050. Is this really legal?

Shelby,
Battleground, WA

Shelby,

What you did? No.  What the cop did?  Apparently. Thanks for writing.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office
Minnesota State Patrol

Q: If a person has an accident on private property at a private resident, during a private party and left, can the police issue a "leaving the scene of an accident" to that individual?

David,
Rush City, MN

David,

Yes, depending of course upon the totality of circumstances of each individual case as well as department policy and prosecutor decision in some cases.  The criteria of the law has to be met for that offense for it to be charged out. You did not ask what that all entails, so I will spare you that part of an extended answer.  If the charge is not a good valid charge, the prosecutor won't let it stand either. Thanks for asking.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office
Minnesota State Patrol

Q: If this is true...then how do we get the law changed in Minnesota like so many other states (including Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa) that don't require their front license plates displayed. 
 
See posting on a forum discussing license plates displayed: 
 
miatajunkie3rd April 2005, 16:56 
Originally posted by ThirdLap: 
1. Take front plate and plate mount. 
2. Place in driveway. 
3. Get in car. 
4. Run over plate and mount numerous times. 
5. Place in trunk. 
 
Next time you are pulled over, apologize to the officer and show him the carnage in your trunk. Explain to him that your front plate fell off recently and the dealership has the mounts on backorder. You'll be sure to replace it as soon as it arrives.  
 
Most cops aren't looking to write tickets for this. Absence of a front plate is usually just used to establish probable cause to pull the vehicle over. If everything checks out (and you have a semi-reasonable excuse), you generally stand a pretty good chance of getting out of this type of ticket. 
 
Time to learn. You know how people hang crap from their rear view mirrors? These are known in the world of law enforcement as 'felony danglers'. Similar terms are 'felony taillight' and 'felony front plate'. All give probable cause to pull the vehicle over, allowing the officer a chance to check the vehicle and driver out. Some checks result in the driver being charged with a felony, hence the term. 
 
Jason I agree 100 percent. just keep the plate with you and give some excuse and say you will have it fixed as soon as you get home.

Ron,
Inver Grove Heights, MN

Ron,

Thanks for writing.  The laws get made and changed by the legislature, so you would have to talk to them.  As you are well aware, law enforcement simply enforces the laws (as best we can anyway).  I try not to give my personal opinion but in this case I will say that I think all vehicles should have 2 plates (both front and back) and that there should be no exemptions.  Thanks again for writing.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office
Minnesota Stae Patrol

Q: Hi, 
I have noticed in the past year more vehicles in the Twin City area that display no license plate on the front of the vehicle. My drive to work is about 14 miles and daily I see as many as four to five vehicles with no license plate in the front (but they have Minnesota plates in the rear of the vehicle. Many of these cars do not even have a license plate holder on the front of the vehicle. Many of these vehicles are expensive cars (BMW, Lexus, Acura, Audi, and Corvettes). I would think the odds are against them that either a State Trooper or a local police officer would see them. With the State of Minnesota in need of funds I would think this would be a easy $120 revenue. This is somewhat of a pet peeve of mine as I have a nice looking vehicle and the license plate in the front takes away from the looks of the front of my car, but if I took off my front license plate I guarantee you I would have a ticket in one day! 
 
I look forward to your reply.

Ron,
Inver Grove Heights, MN

Ron,

You ask no question so there is no "answer".  But you seem to want my comments, so here are a couple for you.  I think you are right on, that this is a very common violation and that it should be enforced more.  Keep in mind there are some exemptions in our laws for some vehicles to not have to display both front and rear license plates, which obviously accounts for at least some of the violations you are seeing.  Other than that, what can I say?  I know we are not going to "get them all," but I do hope people read this and get their plates on before they get stopped.  Thanks for writing.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office
Minnesota State Patrol

Q: What are the laws regarding alcohol drinking on privately owned buses or RV buses used for camping? Can a person take friends out bar hopping and allow them to legally drink on the bus? This would be on a non-commercial bus. I understand that the insurance companies policies only allow maximum of 10 people and only alcohol use at a campsite. Would this still be considered "open bottle" for all the passengers?

Craig,
Fergus Falls,  MN

Craig,

The only bus that would be exempt would be a commerical bus, and you are clearly asking about a non-commercial bus, so the answer is no, you cannot have an open bottle\container in that vehicle while on a roadway.  Thanks for asking.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office
Minnesota State Patrol

Q: What is the average fine/jail time for first offense of no motorcycle endorsement?

Nick,
Pine City, MN

Nick,

A copy of a recent bail schedule that I have shows that fine to be $135. That might vary by a couple or few dollars from court to court based on law library fees or other surcharges by the court.

Right now, court or jail is not required as far as I can see.  Thanks for asking.

Sgt. Curt S. Mowers
Public Information Office