Q: I am considering purchasing a 1963 Chevrolet Nova from a private party in Bellleville Wisconsin. I have not inspected the vehicle yet. The current owner told me the vehicle is fully operational & driveable. There are no current plates or tags on the vehicle. The current owner told me has a the title from the person he bought the vehicle from but has not transferred the vehicle in his name. My question. If I were to purchase the vehicle is there a legal procedure for me to purchase the vehicle from him the day I would inspect and drive the vehicle? Is there any way for me to drive the vehicle to Eagan, MN that day as it is approximately a 5-6 hour drive fom Eagan? Is there any such thing as a ferry/transport temporary permit? Can you tell me my options here? Thank you.

Al,
Eagan, MN

Al,

You would have to trailer it.  I would not buy it unless they have a clear and transferrable title on it for you.  If not, you are going to have problems.  Sounds to me like you don't have that.  For people who buy vehicles out of state, even from a dealer, you need to know that the temporary registration from the other state is not valid registration for you here in Minnesota. Good luck and thanks for asking.

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

Q: I am looking into buying a Jeep and I heard that in MN it is illegal to take the doors off. Is that true or are there stipulations, such as no highway driving or so on.

Shirli,
Columbia Heights, MN

Shirli,

Neither I, or one of my partners, can think of a law specifically prohibiting the removal of the doors on your Jeep (unless that interferes with the operation/effectiveness of the seat belt).  If there is a federal law about it, I am unaware of it, as is my partner.  After all, it would still be safer than riding a motorcycle.

Having said that, I know why a driver would do that if they live in California or one of the nice warm southern states but...............anyway.............thanks for asking.

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

Q: I am wondering what the total combined length can be on a pickup and trailers. I currently tow my car behind my motorhome. I am getting a 5th wheel camper and wish to tow my car behind that and am wondering what the total combined length can be as this may determine the 5th wheel I get.  

Thank you for your expertise and time on this site.

Jennifer,
Minnesota

Jennifer,

You are asking about what we call our recreational vehicle combination length, and that is currently 70 feet.  Thanks for asking and good luck.

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

Q: Where can I sleep in my car legally in Minneapolis?

Richard,
Minneapolis, MN

Richard,

I have no idea what the ordinances of Minneapolis are, so you will have to contact them directly to find out.  Sorry.  Thanks for asking though.

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

Q: Why was the Coon Rapids officer not taken to Anoka County Jail and made to take a breath test like everybody else?

Mitch,
Coon Rapids, MN

Mitch,

The simple answer is because he submitted to a blood test, which is (and was) done at a hospital by official personnel not at a jail.  It is false to say that "everyone else is made to take a breath test" because that is simply not true.  Persons can refuse an evidentiary test, but then they are charged with a test refusal as well as the DWI.  In this case, the person in fact consented to a blood test.  The results won't be known for a couple weeks or more.  

If you are really asking about why he was not booked in to jail, the short answer is that I don't know.  However, I do know that even though the vast majority of persons in a similar situation are booked in, not all are.  Jail policy, department policy and the totality of circumstances all play a part in that decision.  When a person is formally charged later in a situation like this (after test results are known and the prosecuting attorney reviews the case file and makes a decision), then they are in fact eventually and appropriately booked in. Thanks for asking.

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

Q: I have a question in response to this attached previous inquiry...Motorist curious about information police see when running license plate  

Q: When the police run your plate number in Minnesota, what information is it that they see on their computers?

Rodger,
Duluth, MN  

Rodger,  

I am not sure why someone would need to know this, but I guess it isn't a big national secret or anything. There is more than one way to "query" a license plate.  

The normal every day way that police do that, gives us the vehicle owner's name, address, date of birth, license plate tab/sticker numbers for that plate, expiration, vehicle make and model year, if the vehicle or plate or stickers is stolen, any "flag" from DVS that might be connected to that plate or vehicle or owner, and that's just about it, maybe a couple of other pieces of information. that I can't think of off the top of my head without stopping and running one quick. Sometimes it tells us the vehicle has no insurance or other things, but not often. From that, we can get a lot more information and run other checks of course to find out if the driver is revoked, has a warrant, etc. There you go, thanks for asking.


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

My question... since the officer can view other information on other types of checks, such as, name of owner and the owners driving status and previous driving record (with past ticket for no proof of insurance and DAS)...is finding out that the "owner" is suspended, and then assuming that it is the "owner" driving that specific vehicle (without seeing their face at anytime), sufficient probable cause or reasonable suspicion to then perform a traffic stop on them in which subsequently, tow the vehicle and tickets them for DAS and no proof of insurance? (let alone with their 8 yr old child with them)
Thank you very much for your time and consideration, it is very much appreciated.  
*JeSs*
Aspiring Human Rights Advocate (not activist;)
Informing & Assisting those who don't "realize" that they DO have rights & that the only thing that it takes to make a "change" in the way things are,  
costs nothing and it lies within themselves,
-yourself.

Word for thought...just because someone's past has been "dealt with," legally, by court appointed Honorable Judges, doesn't mean that it is "gone" and that it is never going to come back... *The truth of the matter is that your past may indeed be your "past" only, and not your current life, but it can and most likely will still "haunt" you and be "thrown back" at you sometime later in your life ;)

Jess,
Brainerd, MN

Jess,

Yes, if the general physical description is relativley close to the person driving, even if we did not "see their face."  If the computer shows a male owner that is revoked but a female is driving then the answer would be no. Thanks for the words of thought and for writing.

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

Q: I recently received a ticket for window tint. I had my windows tinted when I was down in Arizona but a professional shop did it to the Arizona legal limit. I travel alot for work and am always in and out of different states. I now reside in Minnesota, how do I tint my windows so that I comply with all other state laws. Does this mean I have to change tint from every different state I travel to?

Nathan,
Princeton, MN

Nathan,

You only have to comply with your state of residence laws for things like driver licenses, registration, and vehicle equipment.  If you are valid in your state of residence, you are valid as you drive through all other states.  The Arizona shop obviously applied legal tint for Arizona laws, not knowing of course that you were going to move to Minnesota, and they would not know Minnesota laws on tint anyway.  So, no, you don't have to change tint form every state you travel to or through.  Thanks for asking.

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

Q: When being pulled over, are officers required to ask for proof of insurance? I ask because I was pulled over in a speed trap and it seemed the only concern of the officer was to write me a ticket as quickly as possible and pull over more vehicles. He also couldn't produce any evidence (radar gun) as he informed me there was another officer on an overpass doing this and they communicate via radio. This was an Edina officer on Highway 100. Is this legitimate practice?  

Thank you.

Phil,
Minneapolis, MN

Phil,

No, it is not required to ask for proof of insurance.  Most officers do though, unless on a special project as you stated.  Officers don't have to produce evidence of your violation until the court trial.  Most officers try to lock in radar speeds and show the violator, but it is not required to do either one.  Thanks for asking.

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

Q: What happens if you are caught with your old plates still on the vehicle, after you have been issued Whiskey plates?

Brittney,
Plymouth, MN

Brittney,

The driver will get charged for Driving With Revoked Registration Plates, and the plates will get taken, and the vehicle probably towed.  I don't think they will issue the Whiskey plates until you turn in all your other plates anyway so.................      

Thanks for asking.

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

Q: If my license was revoked in Iowa and I am now a MN resident, can I get a MN license?

Thank you.

Lisa,
Winona, MN

Ray,

Eventually yes, but not until you clear up the Iowa license requirements and take some tests at our exam station.  When you apply, they will for sure check your status and see that your previous home state revoked you and tell you everything you need to do to get a Minnesota driver license.  I double checked this with a supervisor from one of our area exam stations.  Thanks for asking.

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