MINNESOTA FIELD FILE

Every section, top to bottom.

About this guide — education built from the Minnesota Statutes as the Revisor of Statutes publishes them, not a law degree in a webpage. Applying them to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Minnesota attorney or a legal aid office. Current as of September 2026.

8 sections · see all 10

Traffic stops

Drinking, possessing, or allowing it. It is a misdemeanor to drink an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle on a street or highway, to possess an opened bottle or receptacle of one in a private motor vehicle there, or, as the owner, or as the driver when the owner is not present, to keep or allow one in the vehicle.

Minn. Stat. 169A.35

An opened container in the trunk, or where there is no trunk in an area not normally occupied by the driver and passengers, is outside the possession offenses. Passengers in a motor carrier bus, a limousine, or a pedal-powered commercial vehicle with five or more pedaling passengers may drink.

Minn. Stat. 169A.35

Sources for this section (1)

Minn. Stat. 169A.35 — Open bottle law

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Minnesota attorney.

3 sections · see all 5

Being stopped

2 sections · see all 3

Impaired driving

29 sections · see all 30

Court and money

1 section

Recording

2 sections

Carrying a firearm

4 sections · see all 10

Charges and penalties

3 sections · see all 5

How you carry yourself

Walk it through

The same law taken one decision at a time. Each opens on its own page.

This guide covers common situations in real Minnesota encounters. Not the whole legal code, not a replacement for a lawyer.

MINNESOTA FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Open ContainerMinn. Stat. 169A.35 — no drinking, and no open bottle, in a vehicle on a street or highway▾

Your Phone Behind The WheelMinn. Stat. 169.475 — hands free only, and $275 for a second violation▾

Speed LimitsMinn. Stat. 169.14 — 30 in an urban district, 55 elsewhere, and 70 on rural interstates▾

Reckless DrivingMinn. Stat. 169.13 — a misdemeanor, and a gross misdemeanor when it causes great bodily harm or death▾

Seat BeltsMinn. Stat. 169.686 — every driver and passenger, with a $25 fine▾

Driving While SuspendedMinn. Stat. 171.24 — a misdemeanor after notice of a suspension, revocation or cancellation▾

After A CrashMinn. Stat. 169.09 — stop, investigate, give information, and render reasonable assistance▾

Traffic StopsMinn. Stat. 171.08 — the license on demand, proof of insurance, and when a driver goes straight before a judge▾

Being stopped

Giving Police A False NameMinn. Stat. 609.506 — a false name, birth date or ID to an officer is a misdemeanor, another person's name a gross misdemeanor▾

Being ArrestedMinn. Stat. 629.34 — when an officer may arrest without a warrant▾

Reading A Search WarrantMinn. Stat. 626.14 — served between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. unless a nighttime search is authorized▾

Impaired driving

The DWI StopMinn. Stat. 169A.20 — under the influence, or 0.08 within two hours of driving▾

Under 21 And DrivingMinn. Stat. 169A.33 — any physical evidence of drinking in the body is a misdemeanor under 21▾

Court and money

Getting The Deposit BackMinn. Stat. 504B.178 — back within three weeks with interest, or the amount withheld again as a penalty▾

When The Landlord Can Come InMinn. Stat. 504B.211 — 24 hours' notice, for a reasonable business purpose, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.▾

Locked Out By The LandlordMinn. Stat. 504B.375 — a court order putting the tenant back in, executed by the sheriff at once▾

Being EvictedMinn. Stat. 504B.291 — paying the rent owed before possession is delivered redeems the tenancy▾

Retaliatory EvictionMinn. Stat. 504B.441 — within 90 days of a complaint, the landlord has to prove it was not a penalty▾

When The Landlord Will Not Fix ItMinn. Stat. 504B.161 — covenants no lease can waive, and rent escrow with the court after 14 days▾

Late FeesMinn. Stat. 504B.177 — only if agreed in writing, and never more than eight percent of the late payment▾

Leaving A Lease EarlyMinn. Stat. 504B.206 — a tenant who fears imminent violence may end the lease on written notice▾

Getting PaidMinn. Stat. 181.13 — a discharged worker's pay is due on demand, with a daily penalty after 24 hours▾

Minimum WageMinn. Stat. 177.24 — adjusted each January 1 for inflation, by no more than five percent▾

Earned Sick And Safe TimeMinn. Stat. 181.9446 — one hour for every 30 worked, up to 48 hours a year▾

Getting Public RecordsMinn. Stat. 13.03 — government data are public unless classified otherwise, and inspection is free▾

Conciliation CourtMinn. Stat. 491A.01 — claims up to $20,000, or $4,000 on a consumer credit transaction▾

What A Creditor Cannot TakeMinn. Stat. 571.922 — garnishment is capped, and public assistance is exempt▾

Unemployment BenefitsMinn. Stat. 268.095 — a quit disqualifies unless an exception applies, and a discharge only for misconduct▾

Getting DivorcedMinn. Stat. 518.07 — 180 days' residence, and an irretrievably broken marriage▾

Maintenance And PropertyMinn. Stat. 518.58 — a just and equitable division, without regard to marital misconduct▾

Custody And Parenting TimeMinn. Stat. 518.17 — the child's best interests, weighed on twelve factors▾

Deceptive Business PracticesMinn. Stat. 325F.69 — fraud or deception in a sale is enjoinable whether or not anyone was misled▾

Door To Door SalesMinn. Stat. 325G.07 — cancel until midnight of the third business day▾

The Lemon LawMinn. Stat. 325F.665 — a replacement or a refund after a reasonable number of attempts▾

Old Debts And Time LimitsMinn. Stat. 541.05 — six years on a contract, two years for personal injury▾

Hurt At WorkMinn. Stat. 176.141 — written notice to the employer within 14 days, and never after 180▾

Discrimination ClaimsMinn. Stat. 363A.28 — one year to file a charge or a lawsuit under the Human Rights Act▾

Housing DiscriminationMinn. Stat. 363A.09 — no refusing to sell or rent because of a protected status, public assistance included▾

Dog BitesMinn. Stat. 347.22 — the owner is liable for the full injury when the dog attacks without provocation▾

Jury Duty And Your JobMinn. Stat. 593.50 — no firing, threats or coercion over jury service▾

Changing A NameMinn. Stat. 259.10 — after six months in the state, an application in district court▾

Debt CollectorsMinn. Stat. 332.37 — what a licensed collection agency, debt buyer or collector may not do▾

Recording

RecordingMinn. Stat. 626A.02 — a party to a conversation, or someone with one party's consent, may record it▾

Carrying a firearm

CarryingMinn. Stat. 624.714 — a pistol in public without a permit is a gross misdemeanor▾

Self DefenseMinn. Stat. 609.065 — deadly force only against great bodily harm or death, or a felony in the home▾

Charges and penalties

AssaultMinn. Stat. 609.224 — fifth-degree assault is a misdemeanor▾

What An Offense Level MeansMinn. Stat. 609.02 — misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, felony, and the petty misdemeanor that is not a crime▾

Clearing A RecordMinn. Stat. 609A.02 — sealing after two to five years crime free, or at once when a case ends in the person's favor▾

Bail After An ArrestMinn. Stat. 629.471 — on a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor, cash bail is capped at a multiple of the highest fine▾

How you carry yourself

Disorderly ConductMinn. Stat. 609.72 — a misdemeanor, done knowing it will tend to alarm, anger or disturb others▾

Resisting And FleeingMinn. Stat. 609.50 — obstructing an officer, and fleeing in a vehicle, a felony▾

Underage DrinkingMinn. Stat. 340A.503 — under 21, consuming, buying or possessing alcohol away from a parent's household is unlawful▾

Walk it through