Two Real MN Laws That Most Minnesotans Don’t Know About

There are ALOT of laws on the books in Minnesota. Some of the laws are pretty straightforward, like driving while intoxicated. There is also the Minnesota law that requires Minnesota motorists to move over or slow down for stopped emergency vehicles on Minnesota roadways. But did you know about these two laws on the books?

Wait, There's No Law In Minnesota About This?

Public drunkenness itself is not a crime. Here's the statute stating that being drunk in public in Minnesota isn't a crime in itself. It's generally what happens when you are drunk in public that can lead to a crime. i.e., drinking and driving, fighting, trespassing, and being disorderly, all crimes that someone might commit because they are under the influence of alcohol.

So if you've had a few and you are just minding your own business, you've got nothing to worry about. It's only when you add the other things mentioned above that you can get in trouble with the long arm of the law.

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This law is most likely the least known in Minnesota.

Minnesotans Must Walk This Way On The Road, No Exceptions

This next one seems more common sense to me, but it's on the books here. If you are walking on a road that doesn't offer a sidewalk, you must be walking against traffic. That means walking facing traffic, not with traffic.

"Pedestrians when walking or moving in a wheelchair along a roadway shall, when practicable, walk or move on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder giving way to oncoming traffic. Where sidewalks are provided and are accessible and usable it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk or move in a wheelchair along and upon an adjacent roadway." - MN Statute 169.21

You'd be surprised to know how many people I see regularly walking along County Road 7 the wrong way, meaning with traffic.

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