Minnesota Traffic Violations

Traffic violations are offenses committed by drivers while operating a motor vehicle. In Minnesota, many routine moving violations are payable petty misdemeanors, while more serious conduct is charged as misdemeanors, and the most serious conduct may be felonies.

Everyone living in Minnesota must learn how the state classifies and penalizes traffic offenses, as this affects legal, financial, and civic compliance. They should also learn how to locate and interpret traffic violation records.

What Counts as a Traffic Violation in Minnesota?

Under Minnesota law, traffic regulations are listed under Chapter 169 of the Minnesota Statutes. Any driver who breaks this rule commits a traffic violation. These include payable petty misdemeanors (like basic speeding or a seatbelt ticket) or misdemeanor offenses such as reckless or careless driving. Alcohol-related driving (DWI) is classified as a gross misdemeanor or a felony based on prior offenses and the presence of aggravating factors.

Types of Traffic Violations in Minnesota

A summary of the common traffic violations is listed below:

• Speeding: In Minnesota, default and posted speed limits are set, and drivers who exceed them commit a crime.
• Running a red light/stop sign; disobeying traffic signals: Drivers must obey all traffic-control devices and signals.
• Driving without a valid license/after suspension or revocation: Operating a motor vehicle when a license is suspended, revoked, or canceled is a misdemeanor.
• Driving without insurance/no proof of insurance: In Minnesota, proof of insurance is required, and drivers who violate this requirement are guilty of a misdemeanor.
• Reckless or careless driving: Reckless (consciously disregarding a substantial risk) and careless (likely to endanger) driving are misdemeanors in the state.
• Hit-and-run/failure to stop and notify: Drivers involved in crashes must stop and provide information to the authorities, as leaving the scene is considered a criminal offense.
• Failure to yield/right-of-way: Any driver caught violating the rules that govern yielding at intersections and to pedestrians commits a crime.
• Distracted driving / hands-free law: It is illegal for an individual to hold a phone while driving on the road.

Traffic Violation Penalties in Minnesota

Minnesota does not use a DMV “points” system to manage driver privileges; instead, specific convictions appear on the driving record that trigger certain actions. Penalties may include:

• A conviction for overspeeding may result in a six-month revocation of the driving license. Speeding in work zones and school districts carries additional fines.
• Increase in Insurance Premiums for convicted drivers.
• Alcohol-related offenses (with prior crimes in the past 10 years) may result in suspension of driving licenses, fines of up to $3,000, ignition interlock devices, and possible jail time for more than a year. In Minnesota, the passing of a new law extends the lookback period for prior DWI offenses from 10 years to 20 years.
• Court-ordered traffic safety courses.

How to Search for Traffic-Violation Records in Minnesota

In Minnesota, individuals may need to consult either of the two different systems, depending on what they seek:

• Court case/docket information (tickets, dispositions): Individuals may utilize Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO) to search state district court records by name, case number, or citation. They may view case files and document images (when available) for public cases, including petty-misdemeanor traffic matters on the MCRO portal.
• Driver record: The Department of Public Safety maintains a statewide database for all driver records (including license status, withdrawals, and convictions) through its Driver & Vehicle Services (DVS). Individuals may pay a fee to request copies of their driving records by completing a DVS Record Request Form. They may also access their personal driving records online. Anyone requesting other people's driving records must also submit an Authorization Form along with the DVS request form.

A court case view may display information, including the offense description/statute, filing date, disposition, and financial details. A DVS record reveals license class/status (whether valid, suspended, revoked), withdrawals (with start/end dates), and recorded convictions with dates.

How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on a Minnesota Record?

By statute, DVS must record and retain traffic convictions on a driver’s record for at least five years. Alcohol-related driving incidents are maintained for extended periods. DWI-related entries are retained permanently, with license-consequence lookbacks using a 20-year window for prior DWIs.