# MN laws governing state police driving **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504 "2016-10-23T18:12:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![erpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e56c9b/32.png) [@erpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erpa)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/1 "2016-10-23T18:12:59Z")
I was traveling northbound on I-35E last night when a marked state police car passed me on the right. I would conservatively estimate he was traveling at 120 mph. The shock wave pushed me around in my little Prius C and scarred the living hell out of me. The police car was traveling without any emergency lights or sirens and I expect that if I had started a lane change at that time the consequences could have been devastating. So I’m wondering what laws exist in Minnesota that govern the speed and behavior of emergency vehicles. I’ve found references to how civilians need to respond to “appropriately identified” emergency vehicles (sirens, lights), but I’m not finding anything that governs how emergency vehicles are operated. Any assistance would be appreciated! Thanks in advance. Per ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/2 "2016-10-23T18:38:39Z")
> [@](#): > > No driver of any authorized emergency vehicle shall assume any special privilege under this chapter except when such vehicle is operated in response to any emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law. Chapter 169.03, Sub. 5. - [Sec. 169.03 MN Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.03) > [@](#): > > No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions. Every driver is responsible for becoming and remaining aware of the actual and potential hazards then existing on the highway and must use due care in operating a vehicle. In every event speed shall be so restricted as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care. Chapter 169.14, Sub. 1. - [Sec. 169.14 MN Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.14) > [@](#): > > The speed limitations set forth in sections [169.14](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.14) to [169.17](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.17) do not apply to an authorized emergency vehicle responding to an emergency call. **Drivers of all emergency vehicles shall sound an audible signal by siren and display at least one lighted red light to the front, except that law enforcement vehicles shall sound an audible signal by siren or display at least one lighted red light to the front.** This provision does not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of persons using the street, nor does it protect the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the consequence of a reckless disregard of the safety of others. (Bolding mine.) Chapter 169.17. - [Sec. 169.17 MN Statutes](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169.17) ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/3 "2016-10-23T18:51:34Z")
I find it unlikely that you could accurately estimate the speed of a car passing you as being 120 MPH. You said that this happened on I-35E in Minnesota. The speed limit there is 45 MPH, it appears: > **[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_35E_(Minnesota))** > > Interstate 35E The car would thus be traveling at least 75 MPH faster than you. Why do you think you can estimate velocities that well? Have you ever tested your ability to estimate them that well? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/4 "2016-10-23T21:02:46Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > I find it unlikely that you could accurately estimate the speed of a car passing you as being 120 MPH. You said that this happened on I-35E in Minnesota. The speed limit there is 45 MPH, it appears: > > [Interstate 35E (Minnesota) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_35E_(Minnesota)) I35E is 39 miles in length. Only a small segment has a 45 MPH max speed. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/5 "2016-10-23T21:42:38Z")
Since you know the road better than the Wikiipedia people do, please tell us what the speed limit is on each section of the I-35E. Incidentally, my apologies for messing up the link. Here’s the correct link: > **[Interstate 35E (Minnesota)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_35E_(Minnesota))** > > Interstate 35E ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/6 "2016-10-23T21:56:56Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Since you know the road better than the Wikiipedia people do, please tell us what the speed limit is on each section of the I-35E. Incidentally, my apologies for messing up the link. Here’s the correct link: > > [Interstate 35E (Minnesota) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_35E_(Minnesota)) The Wikipedia article is confusing. The 45 MPH restriction only occurs in the “parkway” section of I35E. The speed limit varies depending how near/far you are to city center. I’ve driven the length of I35E many times, the time being this summer. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/7 "2016-10-23T22:21:29Z")
So what is the speed limit on the various parts of I-35E? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/8 "2016-10-23T22:33:01Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > The car would thus be traveling at least 75 MPH faster than you. Why do you think you can estimate velocities that well? The OP said “conservatively estimate”. That means that the car was probably going at least that fast and there is no reason to automatically reject that claim. It isn’t that difficult to estimate how fast other cars are going if they pass you while you are going fairly fast yourself. My commute every day is mostly down a stretch of interstate known for its high speed driving. You aren’t going to get stopped for going anything less than 80mph and I occasionally do 90mph+ when I am in a hurry. It isn’t a big deal because other cars in the fast lane are going that fast too or they will move over when they see you overtaking them. It isn’t a matter watching a car zoom past you while you are standing still beside the road. It is noticing that someone is overtaking you unusually quickly at a rate of 30 - 50mph relative to your own speed and that is very easy to do. Cars and motorcycles do it to me too fairly frequently and I have done it to other people on open stretches of road especially when I had my BMW (I really was going over 120mph and I am sure that was obvious to everyone I passed). There is no reason to dismiss the claim at all. When you are going 70mph+, it is blatantly obvious when someone passes you so quickly that it is like you are standing still. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/9 "2016-10-23T23:38:18Z")
Are American police officers allowed to practise driving fast on public roads? [That reason](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/4559173.stm) is - or was - used by some police officers in the UK. > [@BBC](#): > > District Judge Bruce Morgan acquitted him after calling the constable the “creme de la creme” of police drivers. > > Pc Milton is trained in advanced driving and was “familiarising” himself with a new car, the court was told. > > … > > But he added: “I can’t help but see the irony that those that brought this prosecution are those very people who have purchased cars that go at this speed and paid for him (the defendant) to go to learn to drive at these speeds.” > > … > > The court heard the roads on which Pc Milton drove were deserted at the time of the patrol and that driving conditions were good. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2016, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/10 "2016-10-23T23:58:52Z")
Have you ever tested your ability to estimate car speeds that high? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/11 "2016-10-24T00:14:59Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Have you ever tested your ability to estimate car speeds that high? I don’t carry a radar gun in my car but you don’t need to. Do you think you can tell the difference between a car going 10mph versus one going 50mph? It would be really odd if you couldn’t and give a reasonably accurate range of speed. If you are going 80mph yourself, that is all you need to do for this question because you are just judging relative speed over a fairly long time interval with lots of reference points. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/12 "2016-10-24T00:21:41Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I don’t carry a radar gun in my car but you don’t need to. Do you think you can tell the difference between a car going 10mph versus one going 50mph? It would be really odd if you couldn’t and give a reasonably accurate range of speed. If you are going 80mph yourself, that is all you need to do for this question because you are just judging relative speed over a fairly long time interval with lots of reference points. But have you ever tested your ability to estimate speeds of exactly 10mph and exactly 50mph? To hell with the actual question, someone is being imprecise on the Internet! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/13 "2016-10-24T00:33:19Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > So what is the speed limit on the various parts of I-35E? It ranges from 45-70 MPH. If you want specifics, you will need to drive it. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/14 "2016-10-24T01:19:51Z")
Why don’t we ask the OP a simpler question: How fast were you driving when the state trooper went by? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2016, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/15 "2016-10-24T04:34:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Why don’t we ask the OP a simpler question: How fast were you driving when the state trooper went by? I wonder why that was not in the original OP post? ---
**Author:** ![JWT\_Kottekoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@JWT\_Kottekoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JWT_Kottekoe)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/16 "2016-10-25T01:53:57Z")
I have been in an ambulance in the state of Minnesota traveling at 120 miles per hour, with no emergency, no siren, and as far as I know, no lights. The driver knew he was breaking the law, but he also knew that no police car was going to stop a speeding ambulance. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2016, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mn-laws-governing-state-police-driving/769504/17 "2016-10-25T08:34:03Z")
> [@JWT\_Kottekoe](#): > > I have been in an ambulance in the state of Minnesota traveling at 120 miles per hour, with no emergency, no siren, and as far as I know, no lights. The driver knew he was breaking the law, but he also knew that no police car was going to stop a speeding ambulance. Over here there’s no such protection > **[Ambulance driver hit with £780 legal bill after going through red lights in...](https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen-aberdeenshire/535895/call-to-improve-legal-support-for-999-staff-after-aberdeen-ambulance-driver-hit-with-780-legal-bill/)** > > An ambulance driver who faced prosecution after she ran a red light at 10mph while responding to a 999 call in Aberdeen is fighting for greater protection > **[Volunteer ambulance driver fired for speeding wins a reprieve](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/10391122/Volunteer-ambulance-driver-fired-for-speeding-wins-a-reprieve.html)** > > Godfrey Smith, a volunteer ambulance man sacked for speeding on his way to save a man’s life has been given a reprieve following local protests against the decision > **[Fined for speeding... in an ambulance: Driver went at 85mph rushing liver for...](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fined-for-speeding-in-an-ambulance-driver-went-808123)** > > The driver was on a blue-light emergency run, taking a child’s liver for a transplant operation, when he was clocked at 84mph etc.