Alcohol Legal Limits in Minnesota
If you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol your circumstances will differ according to the estimated blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Blood alcohol concentration measures the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. The units of measure are grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood (g/dL). You can calculate your BAC at home using the blood alcohol content calculator found in the sidebar.
Minnesota’s legal limits for BAC are as follows:
The general BAC limit in Minnesota is .08 g/dL for those aged 21 and over. This means that drivers with a BAC equal to or greater than this amount can be charged with DUI.
The BAC limit for commercial drivers is .04 g/dL. Commercial drivers include drivers of buses and trucks that transport passengers and over 18 , 000 pounds of weight. A driver under the legal limits of .04 g/dL who operates a commercial motor vehicle can still be charged with and convicted of DUI if he or she is impaired.
Drivers who are under 21 years of age are prohibited from consuming any amount of alcohol. This means that drivers under age 21 are subject to a zero-tolerance standard. A BAC of .02 g/dL or greater will get a driver under 21 arrested for DUI. Under-age drivers will be arrested even if they pass the roadside sobriety test and they may be punished differently than drivers aged 21 and older.
Speeding Laws and Legal Speed Limits in Minnesota
Minnesota’s speed limits vary depending on where you’re on the road. All Minnesota roads have a sign at the end or beginning of a town showing the speed limit in town.
The speed limit is 30 miles per hour in all urban and suburban residential districts as well as 10 miles per hour in all alleys, unless otherwise posted.
In addition to residential areas, you are subject to various implied speed limits when you are driving in Minnesota. These include:
The speed limit on all lanes of all interstate highways in Minnesota depends on the location of that portion of the highway. For example, the speed limit on nearly all cities and towns along I-35 is 70 miles per hour while other parts of the highway may be 60 miles per hour. When there is not a sign as to the speed limit, the speed limit is 55 miles per hour.
If you go over the posted speed limit on any roadway, you are subject to receiving a citation for speeding. A fine ranges from $120-$150 based on how fast you were going.
While some Minnesota law enforcement agencies will rely solely on radar and/or laser equipment to clock your vehicle’s speed, others will only issue tickets if they visually estimate the vehicle is going faster than the posted speed limit. This should not give anyone a false sense of security on the roads. Some law enforcement agencies even base their visual estimations on the driver’s car color or model rather than the actual speed of the vehicle.
Marijuana Legal Limits in Minnesota
As of August 2023, marijuana is considered a Schedule I Controlled Substance under Minnesota law, codified at Minnesota Statutes § 152.01 et seq. This means that it is illegal to possess marijuana unless you have a medical marijuana card and are using it for a medical purpose (see Medical Marijuana Legal Limits in Minnesota Section for more detail). The possession threshold is less than 42.5 grams of marijuana or less than five doses of any form of marijuana concentrate, such as shatter or hashish. The penalties for possession include a petty misdemeanor charge, a fine of up to $200. A petty misdemeanor will not result in a criminal record.
Legal Limits on Firearm Possession
It is illegal for certain classes of people to possess firearms in Minnesota. Among the prohibited classes are: This list has its exceptions, though. For example, a felon can possess a firearm if their sentence is discharged by the commissioner of corrections or the governor. It is also legal if the conviction has been reduced to a misdemeanor or if the individual subject to a protective order is not within range of the firearm (as governed by the protective order). If you are purchasing a firearm from a dealer, they must do a background check. You must also have a permit to purchase or carry a handgun to buy from a licensed dealer. If you possess a rifle or shotgun , you do not need a permit. You cannot possess or transfer a machine gun, a short-barreled shotgun or rifle or any sawed-off shotgun. Under Minnesota law, certain types of firearms are illegal to possess. These include: Some of these exclusions are rather technical, but generally speaking, you cannot possess firearms that are considered fully automatic or semi-automatic, converted semiautomatic weapons, any weapon using caseless ammunition, a destructive device or an explosive weapon. All of these factors govern what you need to know about the legal limits in Minnesota for owning and possessing firearms.
Fishing and Hunting Limits in Minnesota
The law places legal limits on the number of fishing and hunting licenses a person may possess and the number of animals that may be taken. For instance, in Minnesota: The license limit for an individual angler is two angler licenses. A nonresident may possess up to 3 angler licenses. However, a resident or nonreside…the combined possessory limit for angler licenses issued by the Department of Natural Resources shall not total more than six (6) for any one person (MN Statute 97A.475, Subdivision 13). The combined limit of deer archery licenses issued by the commissioner is equal to the licenses for which the person is eligible. An individual may receive 10 deer archery licenses. A person who is eligible for a free license for one moose, elk, bear, or wolf under section 97B.121, 97B.105, 97B.111, or 97B.901, subdivision 1a, may receive one deer archery license. An additional archery license may not be obtained under section 97A.411, regardless of whether an archery license was received under section 97A.411 during the same year. A deer archery license issued under this section does not count toward the aggregate limit for deer licenses required by sections 97A.441 to 97A.445 (MN Statute 97B.105 Subdivision 7). A person holding a small game, deer, bear, or moose license may take small game from September 1 to the last day of February. A person holding an angling license may take rainbow, brown, or lake trout from September 1 to the last day of February. A nonresident may not take small game, deer, bear, or moose in Minnesota during the period from September 1 to the last day of February unless the nonresident pays the nonresident fee established under section 97A.473 (MN Statute 97A.473, Subdivision 1).
Noise Legal Limits in Minnesota
The Regulations
Noise levels are regulated statewide and refer to any source of sound that "annoys, disturbs, or constitutes a danger to the public health, safety, or general welfare."
For residential districts, no one may be "guilty of maintaining a public nuisance" by using a "loudspeaker, public address system, amplifier, or other electronic device" or "playing a radio, television receiver, or other mechanical sound-making device" that "causes inconvenience or discomfort to others in the vicinity."
Minn. Stat. § 609.74. Public nuisance.
For other districts, limits are placed on "the making, creating, or maintenance of unreasonable or unlawful noise or nuisance."
Minn. Stat. § 609.74. Public nuisance.
The state does not specify what the "allowable noise levels" are in Minnesota, so local laws must be followed in addition to state law.
You also may not disturb people with annoying noises or "create noise pollution" by using tools or equipment such as a hammer, power tool, automotive equipment , lawn mower, or lawn/garden tools.
Minn. Stat. § 609.376. Malicious, intentional, or negligent noise pollution prohibited; penalties.
Penalties for violating the "unlawful noise" laws are a fine of $25-$1,000 for each instance.
Minn. Stat. § 609.74.Public nuisance.
Who Enforces These Laws?
The nearest authorized party is your local police. However, disturbing the peace laws can be enforced by your local sheriff, state police, state patrol, and sometimes even by the property owner’s watchdogs (such as for an HOA).
What Should I Do If No One Will Listen?
The first step is to contact your law enforcement agency and inform them of the violation. Be prepared to show them a video or audio recording of the noise. Ask them to investigate.
The next step is to contact a property rights attorney who can help you realize your options. In just about every case, it is recommended that you first contact your law enforcement. A good property rights attorney can advise you on how to best deal with your specific situation.