Hands-Free: Now the Law in Minnesota

Governor Tim Walz signed a new hands-free cell phone bill into law April 12 to help further reduce distractions behind the wheel.

Starting Aug. 1, drivers will no longer be able to hold their cell phones in their hands. They will be able to use their phones to make calls, text, listen to music or podcasts and get directions, but only by voice commands or single touch activation without holding the phone.

Remember, hands-free is not necessarily distraction-free. We want Minnesotans to stay safe, stay alive and stay out of trouble under the new law.

Visit the HandsFreeMN website for more information.

Motorcyclists, Have You Done Your Training This Season?

Whether this is your first year on a motorcycle, or whether you’re an experienced rider, there’s a motorcycle training course for you. You don’t have to be a beginner to benefit from a motorcycle training course at one of the 25 training locations throughout Minnesota.

You can brush up on your skills with intermediate, advanced and expert courses.

Check out our latest blog to learn why you should take a motorcycle training course, which level is right for you, and how to register.

How Hair Helps Solve Crimes

File under “Things you only think about when watching CSI:” Hair can help solve crimes. It may sound far-fetched, but it turns out you can tell a lot about a person by examining their hair. Just ask the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Hair may not seem very important in the face of major crimes, but with dedicated forensic scientists in state-of-the-art labs, it can mean the difference between an unsolved case and a convicted killer.

Learn more about DNA testing on hair — and some high-profile Minnesota cases it has helped solve – in our blog.