Ask A Trooper

Question: I see a lot of people that have their fog lights on and when I am meeting them on the road and some are very bright and make seeing the road very difficult. Some of them appear to be out of alignment and are blinding. What is the law that covers this?

Answer: If the fog lights are aimed too high and/or are too bright they are illegal, even if they are in compliance with the rest of the law. All vehicle lights allowed by statute must also be approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

Minnesota law says that any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to exceed two fog lamps mounted on the front at a height not less than 12 inches nor more than 30 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle stands and so aimed that when the vehicle is not loaded none of the highintensity portion of the light to the left of the center of the vehicle shall at a distance of 25 feet ahead project higher than a level of four inches below the level of the center of the lamp from which it comes. Lighted fog lamps meeting the above requirements may be used with lower headlamp beams.

Minnesota law also states that when a motor vehicle equipped with headlamps, as (herein) required, is also equipped with any auxiliary lamps, spot lamps or any other lamps on the front thereof projecting a beam of intensity greater than 300-candle power, not more than a total of four of any such lamps on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when upon a highway.

It’s the law to have head lights and tail lights on during rain/snow and when visibility is reduced, but best practice is to keep your lights on at all times to make yourself more visible to other drivers.

Anytime your vehicle’s height is altered by adding larger tires/ rims or any type of suspension lift, your headlights and fog lights may need to be adjusted so they are not blinding to other motorists.

Question: What is the deal with the Minnesota State Patrol and the maroon colored squad cars? I’ve traveled all over the United States and don’t know if I’ve ever seen this color used before. Is there a reason for this?

Answer: There is a reason deep within the history of the Minnesota State Patrol. The Minnesota State Patrol was created in 1929. The original trooper uniform — long gray coat, riding boots, gray kneehigh pants and eight-corner hat — was replaced by maroon and gold uniforms. The change was made in 1934 to honor the University of Minnesota national championship football team. The Golden Gophers went on to win National Football Championships in 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941 and 1960.

In 1958 the State Patrol adopted maroon as the standard car color for their squad cars. Our cars have went through some graphic changes throughout that time but the maroon and gold has remained steady as a part of our organization.

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)