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My grandson was involved in an accident and received a citation for Following Too Close (169.18.8(a)) in Minnesota. The citation has my grandson's information on the front, but incorrectly lists his father's information on the back, including checking the owner and driver boxes, even... View More 
answered on Feb 20, 2025
The citation doesn't become invalid because there is incorrect information on the citation. It can be amended by the prosecutor at any point, even up to the point of trial. This is something that your son and grandson ought to be addressing. Your grandson was likely given a citation and... View More
My grandson was involved in an accident and received a citation for Following Too Close (169.18.8(a)) in Minnesota. The citation has my grandson's information on the front, but incorrectly lists his father's information on the back, including checking the owner and driver boxes, even... View More
answered on Feb 20, 2025
Based on that description, it sounds like the father was convicted by default, for not responding to a petty misdemeanor charge. He could file a motion with the court to re-open the case (can use downloadable forms on the Minnesota Courts website), getting a hearing date for that motion, then... View More
I'm concerned about how a recent Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, which stated that the interior of a car on public roads is public property, might affect my rights during a traffic stop. Specifically, I want to know if police officers can now search my vehicle without my consent.
answered on Feb 20, 2025
No, the decision yesterday does not open the floodgates to suspicionless motor vehicle searches. There are certainly circumstances where your car can be searched without consent, for example a search incident to arrest, but cops are not going to be able to search cars whenever they want and... View More
I'm concerned about how a recent Minnesota Supreme Court ruling, which stated that the interior of a car on public roads is public property, might affect my rights during a traffic stop. Specifically, I want to know if police officers can now search my vehicle without my consent.
answered on Feb 20, 2025
No. The recent Minnesota Supreme Court decision, State v. Bee, A23-1257 (Minnesota February 19, 2025). decided an issue of the interpretation of statutory language - the meaning of "public place" in the context of a criminal charge for carrying in a public place, where the "public... View More
I was pulled over for all allegedly using my cell phone while driving in Bloomington Minnesota, I consulted with several attorneys I’m trying to find a good fit, two different attorneys have told me wait until you get the late notice and then request a trial date… Nothing will happen, you... View More
answered on Feb 9, 2025
Anyone can go to the Minnesota Courts website https://www.mncourts.gov/ and access case records using the citation number on the ticket (or court file number). That's important because the court disables a name search until the defendant has been convicted. If the citation shows up, after a... View More
I admitted to living in MN for a year and a half while having a ND drivers license. I was given a citation and misdemeanor. Can that be dismissed if I get a MN drivers license immediately?
answered on Dec 19, 2024
Some prosecutors will offer the defendant a chance to avoid a smaller license related conviction on their records, if they chow up in court with the issue with their license recticitfied, plus payment of "court costs." No guarantees, but you can ask. Since the issue will need to be... View More
It looks like I can pay the fine and no court date is needed.
answered on Sep 20, 2024
Normally forever. Exception: expungement possibility. But if the defendant instead sets up a court date and gets a prosecutor to agree to an outcome that will eventually avoid a conviction (Continuance for Dismissal, or Stay of Adjudication), then upon successful completion of the period of the... View More
Driver box is checked but it looks like I can just pay a $180 fine? I'm so confused, I was walking and not driving. It also is labeled as a misdemeanor but from what I can tell this should be a petty misdemeanor?
answered on Sep 20, 2024
Some Minnesota misdemeanors are treated as "payable offenses" by Minnesota courts, meaning the defendant can be convicted by paying a fine without a court appearance. But taka a look at Minnesota Statutes Section 171.173, saying that such a conviction would trigger a suspension of... View More
Officer said he does not have a radar or laser reading of my speed, but that he observed me going quickly after somebody called in a motorcycle
answered on Sep 5, 2024
If police have no speed measurement evidence, such as RADAR or LIDAR, the prosecution will have less evidence to present at a trial. So that is more favorable for the defendant. But, all the many considerations for defending a speeding ticket would still apply, including how to persuade a... View More
Radar at 20 - 24 in 55 (unsure exactly, but either coming to stop, or accelerating from stop), stopping too long at stop sign (5 - 10 seconds (7)), and claims license plate lights non functional was the reason for stop. They may be dim, but ARE fully functional.
answered on Sep 3, 2024
Police can lawfully stop a driver if they observe a violation, or facts amounting to "reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity." Since Minnesota laws requires a working plate light, lack of one can be a lawful basis for a stop. If working, but police claim the contrary, a... View More
I'm seeing a lot of road construction where the traffic lights still operate as normal but where there is simply no possibility of cross traffic, no possibility of U-Turns, even. I've seen some drivers, including a bus, treat the solid red light as a stop sign, I've seen some just go... View More
answered on Jun 1, 2024
Sometimes the law doesn't seem logical, like you cannot carry an ice cream cone in your pocket in August in Lansing, Michigan. But in this case, the 100% consensus is the traffic signal is (by the law) deemed to be smarter than you, and must be obeyed. Welcome to Artificial Intelligence. An... View More
I'm seeing a lot of road construction where the traffic lights still operate as normal but where there is simply no possibility of cross traffic, no possibility of U-Turns, even. I've seen some drivers, including a bus, treat the solid red light as a stop sign, I've seen some just go... View More
answered on May 27, 2024
Context provides meaning. A prudent driver would stop for a red light, even when the cross streets at the intersection are blocked off. But a drivers defending a citation for failure to obey a red light might defend the case arguing that the signal should be treated as a stop sign, given the... View More
I'm seeing a lot of road construction where the traffic lights still operate as normal but where there is simply no possibility of cross traffic, no possibility of U-Turns, even. I've seen some drivers, including a bus, treat the solid red light as a stop sign, I've seen some just go... View More
answered on May 27, 2024
Yes, you need to stop and wait for light to change. The fact that the cross street is blocked off doesn't change the semaphore to a stop sign. Pedestrians and folks on bikes need to be able cross and ignoring the light doesn't give them a chance to do that.
I got the ticket in the mail because the cop's printer wasn't working. The ticket doesn't have the information on the back side as it's supposed to because it was a copy of the front of the ticket.
Car tabs were expired for a few months and I got pulled over for it.... View More
answered on May 18, 2024
You can just call and pay the fine. There is information online on how to take care of the ticket. You can just plug in the citation number at this website and you'll be good to go: https://webpay.courts.state.mn.us/CourtWebPay/Search.aspx?ID=100
I was cited by a tribal officer, but I was given a Becker Co. Citation, I requested this remain in tribal court and was denied, because the officer believed dac,IPS is a criminal act and would be heard in district court.
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answered on Apr 16, 2024
Driving after Cancellation (DAC), specifically when labeled as "inimical to public safety" (IPS), is typically regarded as a criminal offense. The categorization as criminal stems from the potential threat to public safety implied by the IPS designation. This determination means that the... View More
The Accident Reconstruction Report, the Crash Report, the Field Report and 2 eyewitness statements are available, and all show that the 16 year old driver crossed over the center line causing the accident. The eyewitness reports specifically state that it appeared to be intentional, with the 16... View More
answered on Mar 31, 2024
There is nothing you can do for force the county attorney to charge out any particular offense. You can certainly voice your opinions on what you believe should occur in the case, but ultimately, the County Attorney has the ultimate authority of what, if anything, to charge out in this case.
Hello! I’m afraid I am facing license suspension, but after further research I’m a little confused. My first ticket was 1/11/2022, second was 11/14/2022, third was 2/6/2023 and my fourth ticket being 3/1/2024. I’ve THOUGHT after 4 tickets your license would automatically be suspended for 30... View More
answered on Mar 3, 2024
The answer is in Minnesota Rules 7409.2200 HABITUAL VIOLATORS, available online. (For those with a Minnesota Driver's License, at least.) Four petty misd. traffic offenses within a 12-month period; or five traffic within a 24-month period will get a DL suspension. The rule is more complex... View More
What does this mean? Is it kinda invalid now maybe? I obviously can't look it up without a citation number
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answered on Mar 1, 2024
Receiving a ticket without a citation number or the recorded speed is unusual and might seem like an oversight that could affect the ticket's validity. However, it's important to note that the absence of this information on the ticket itself does not automatically make it invalid. The... View More
answered on Feb 27, 2024
It appears to on the "2024 STATE PAYABLES LIST TRAFFIC/CRIMINAL" list for Minnesota Courts. That means it should be "payable" online, via the Minnesota court's website without court appearance. But is that a good idea? Doing so will result in the court... View More
She's mental health issues and she is a diabetit was 8 PM the night before Thanksgiving as she got pulled over for a headlight out. As the officer approached her window he had noticed her pupils were Dilated. He jumped the gun and asked her if she was smoking fetal. He asked her to get out of... View More
answered on Feb 8, 2024
In Minnesota, the license revocation process is a separate civil process from the criminal charges. A license is revoked immediately upon a breath test over the legal limit or a blood/urine test that shows a prohibited substance on board. She can apply for a public defender to represent her in... View More
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