Blog Archive: January 2018
Jan. 29
Well, it's almost here: the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. And although you'd expect a lot of partying to happen on the weekend of the big game, the estimated 1 million people converging on the Twin Cities could make being a driver, passenger, or pedestrian on the roads a little dicey -- even if everyone were sober. So to stay safe while you’re out having fun Super Bowl weekend and in the days prior with all the events, make sure you have a game plan. The Office of Traffic Safety advises you to plan ahead if you or your friends are planning to drink...
Jan. 25
It’s no secret that the Super Bowl is a huge production for any city hosting it. But what about the state? The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) is working to support our partners to make sure this year’s Super Bowl will be as safe – and therefore fun – as it can possibly be. And with an estimated one million people converging on the Twin Cities to join the fun, a little safety can go a long way. Here are a few more tips from our various divisions that can help you make the weekend of the big game as fun and safe as possible...
Jan. 22
Ah, television. Wouldn’t it be great if our lives were like that? We’d all be richer and better looking, and, best of all, our problems could be solved in tidy 23- or 47-minute increments. But this is the real world, and that means that problems – like what caused a devastating fire, for example – are a lot more complex and time-consuming to solve. But that doesn’t stop the fire investigators from our State Fire Marshal Division from trying. After all, on average, a fire is reported every 37 minutes in Minnesota...
Jan. 18
You may already have heard, but the state of Minnesota passed a law last year (check out Section 18) saying that individual cities can allow local bars to stay open until 4 a.m. over Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 2-5. That’s good news for revelers who want to spend time with their friends and soak up the atmosphere of this historic event. But just like any occasion involving alcohol, there are important decisions to be made...
Jan. 11
Whether it was from a piano teacher, a soccer coach, or some other adult in your life, you likely heard this phrase ad nauseam growing up: “Practice makes perfect!” Especially when it’s for an event—like a performance or a big game – where the stakes are high and you’re full of adrenaline, you need to rely on those repeated actions to get you through. What stakes could be higher than getting safely out of your burning home with your family? When that smoke alarm goes off, you’ll likely be in bed...
Jan. 8
Standard driver’s licenses…enhanced driver’s licenses…REAL ID? It’s enough to make a person’s head spin. How are you supposed to know which one you should have and when and where you can get it? Worry no more. We’ve put together a handy guide that should make things a lot clearer. The first thing you should know is that REAL IDs are not available in Minnesota yet. The Minnesota legislature passed a law that requires REAL IDs to be available in Minnesota by Oct. 2018, and Driver and Vehicle Services is working toward that deadline now...
Jan. 4
Ever look at your car and wonder what is and isn’t legal in terms of the equipment? What does the law say about your headlights and brake lights? And perhaps more importantly, can you keep the hula dancer on the dashboard and the fuzzy dice dangling from the rearview mirror? Fortunately, the State Patrol is here to help us be sure we’re driving a law-abiding vehicle. Some of the regulations may be obvious (you already knew you’re required to have two headlights, right?), but some aren’t so much. For example, those headlights are limited to 300-watt candlepower...
