Blog Archive: March 2023
March 31
As the snow and ice melt and the sun comes out, motorcyclists across Minnesota are back out on our roads. Our Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center (MMSC) wants everyone to get out and enjoy the motorcycle riding season safely. Spring can be a dangerous time for motorcyclists. Other drivers aren’t used to seeing riders back on the road ...
March 27
Most of us know the importance of checking your credit report regularly. It’s good to go through and make sure all the numbers and dates line up and that there are no inaccuracies. But have you checked your driving record lately? Like your credit report, your driving record includes information that can have a huge impact on your life...
March 23
The Minnesota State Patrol launched an online accountability dashboard on our Department of Public Safety (DPS) website this week, giving the public easier access to data, policies and other information about the agency. Our goal: promote accountability and build trust...
March 20
After more than 40 years in the fire service, State Fire Marshal Jim Smith will never forget one of his early calls. A passerby spotted flames in a living room window and called 911. Smith was among the firefighters who arrived and quickly put out the fire. During the search of the home, the firefighters entered the bedroom and found the lifeless body...
March 16
Whether you're hitting a St. Patrick's Day parade or celebrating with a green beer at a local bar, you don't have to be Irish to get in on the fun on Friday. But to keep it fun while you take in the parades, parties, music and favorite beverages, plan for a sober ride home to get everyone home safe. To stop bad choices from jeopardizing lives as people enjoy the celebration, troopers, deputies and officers are participating in a statewide DWI extra enforcement campaign this weekend. Our Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) coordinates the campaign...
March 13
If you want to know how serious the speeding problem is in Minnesota, just go out and drive. The ongoing risk to Minnesotans' lives is clear when you look at the numbers. Last year, preliminary data show that approximately 27 percent of fatalities were speed related. Compare that with 35 percent in 2021 and 31 percent in 2020. OTS is taking the problem seriously, working with partner agencies to create a speed survey intended to identify factors that contribute to speeding and other risky behaviors...
March 10
It may not look like spring yet, but it's time to spring forward one hour into daylight saving time. While we're all changing our clocks an hour ahead Sunday morning, take the time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. During a fire, each second is precious...
March 8
Just under 400,000 people have a permit to carry a handgun in Minnesota, according to the 2022 Permit to Carry Annual Report released March 1. Our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) compiles the report based on data submitted by Minnesota law enforcement agencies...
March 6
Picture this: You're spending a long weekend camping near one of Minnesota's borders. You're having a good time on a hike or in a lake, then emergency strikes. You call 911, but because you're unfamiliar with the area, you can only give general location information. You don't know...
March 2
During the pandemic, many of us took the time to take stock of our lives and our careers, reevaluating what we want to contribute to the world. If you're looking for something new and have a passion for public service, consider applying for the Minnesota State Patrol's...
More: February Blog Archive
