(00:00:00) Since Roger letting was here about I don't know eight ten months ago something like that. There's been at least one significant change in driving law and that's the requirement that drivers and front seat Auto passengers wear seat belts. You'll have a chance to visit with Colonel letting about that and other state patrol enforcement activities during the hour. Well, the seatbelt law has been in effect for a little over a week now hasn't it? That's right, Bob and what have you observed and what of your Troopers observed about the compliance with it so far? Oh my own personal observation on the day that the seatbelt became law. I was traveling in Northwestern Minnesota using the interstate system and by my count and and it's an estimate but 90% of the people using Interstate 94 on the first of August. We're wearing their seatbelt. It was it was a nice thing to see because although it's a lot. It's one of the safest things that you can do when you're Operating your automobile. I didn't find that that compliance. Was that great coming back. However, I didn't travel on Interstate 94 coming back. I traveled on one of the other roads and I think that there probably was more local traffic on the on the other roads a little more disappointing but still I buy my informal survey in excess of 50% of the people were in fact working to seatbelt. I suppose the acid test really would be to drive down Grand Avenue and st. Paul or Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis and see if people who are going to the store and going downtown just an ordinary errands are wearing their seatbelts because a lot of people do have got into the habit of wearing them on the interstate figuring. Well now I'm in a dangerous situation. Where is right around town doesn't make any difference right? Yes in and the majority of the accidents occur within 25 miles of home. So that those short trips that you make are more critical than the long trips. Although there are you know, it's important no matter which trip you're making but even more important on those short ones. Well now what are what are your Officers doing as far as enforcing the laws concerned see the law Al we are treating it as a secondary violation at this time and I don't mean to infer by that that it's not important it certainly is important. But if a trooper stopped someone for a speeding violation or perhaps going through a stop sign or you might have a headlight out and they bring that information to your attention if they make an observation that you're not using your seat belt. They will any issue you a warning ticket and a brochure which discusses it. It gives information with regards to the use of seat belts here in the state of Minnesota after the 1st of November. We will then treat it as a primary violation by that if a trooper is traveling down the road and he makes an observation that the track of the vehicle alongside of him or one of these meeting is not using the seatbelt and it's quite easy to observe because of the shoulder harness he would then Turn around and he would stop the individual for that that primary violation again. It would be a warning violation and issue the the brochure for the information of the individual who's operating the vehicle will open the telephone lines. Now for questions for Roger letting to 276 thousand is the number of Minneapolis st. Paul to to 76 thousand. If you have a question for modulating chief of the state patrol in other parts of Minnesota, our toll-free number is 1-800-695-1418 hundred six hundred 529700. I think that equally well publicized as the law itself is the fact that there is no penalty. No fine associated with a nobody goes to jail for not wearing a seat belt. What good does it do to have a toothless law so-called on the books at all? Well, there are many people that have stated that if it were a law they would wear their seatbelts. I think that the fact that it is a law is going to is going to cause some people to wear the seatbelt because they might feel that although I don't necessarily feel it's it I have to do it because the law says so I will do it. It's interesting because we are one of 27 States at this time that has a seatbelt law. We are the only one that does not have a penalty. It would be a great thing if here in Minnesota, we could have a law without the need for a penalty because the people complied unfortunately, I don't think that'll be the case and there has been an indication from the authors of the bill that that in this next legislative session. They will be going in for a penalty and of course, we as law enforcement people. We'll be in favor naturally in favor of a penalty. I would prefer that we didn't have to do that. But I do think that it'll probably be necessary. We have a bunch of people with questions for you going to letting so let's get some of them on the air get their questions answered this morning. Hello, you're on with Roger letting good morning Colonel Redding. I have a couple questions related to the thing you're talking about what the seatbelt law. First of all, is there a law in the state of Minnesota or something where it is illegal to drive a car wearing these headphones for personal stereos. I've seen a number of drivers doing this especially bicyclists also and the second question two is I'm is there also a law saying that a child has to be restrained in a car seat. I also see just driving around in Aaron's here in the city people holding one and two-year-old children, you know in their lap or they're in the back seat without any sort of car seat. And you know if there are laws, how is the State Patrol responding to arrest for the violation while we do write a large number of tickets for violation of the child restraint law your statement that a mother or a person care having a child Seated on on their lap. Well, they're operating the VA or Weller passenger in the vehicle. It is definitely illegal the seatbelt law requires that any passenger that all passengers under the age of eleven writing in any seat of a passenger vehicle must wear a belt in other words. If there's a child under the age of eleven seated in the back seat of an automobile, they must be wearing their seatbelt whether the backseat or the front seat. That is the only requirement in the seat belt law with reference to the backseat of the motor vehicle. With regards to the headphones. Yes, the there was some interest during the last legislative session to pass a law that would require that bicyclists also would be included in that law at this time. They are not but all any any motorist who is operating a motor vehicle with headphones, whether it's for the purpose of listening to his private cassette or listening to a radio that is definitely illegal. It has been on has been a law for many many years. There was a proliferation of these smaller radios in cassette type of broadcasting devices that people purchased a year ago and we saw that there were a number of people that were using those in their automobiles. They were definitely illegal we brought it to their attention and we I know that in speaking to the Troopers, they don't find anywhere near as many of those as they did find before but it became quite costly for those that Was to use those while operating a motor vehicle, of course, the reason for that is so that they can hear emergency vehicles and stuff. I would assume or anyone else around them and just it's a distraction. There's something that their concentration is completely their their their ability to hear is strictly the ability to hear what comes through those phones where if you've got a radio in your automobile, certainly you'll hear the radio, but you'll also hear the other the other noises that are around you whether it be a screech of tires or anything else and so that it doesn't put your concentration entirely in One Direction with the use of the headphones and the caller has a question this morning. Hello. You're on the air now, it's good morning. Currently. I have a comment in general about driving in Minnesota and really a question about sort of selective enforcement of traffic laws throughout the state. It seems to me that a lot of people in Minnesota in particular seem to feel that the Really passive. Pardon me passive violations such as oh stopping in a stabbing at the end of an entrance ramp or driving in the left hand lane of the interstate at 40 miles an hour are really not something that one should care about a whole lot and that attitude seems to have been passed along to the state patrol. I'd like to know what if anything you folks are doing about enforcing the nuisance violations against what I guess I see is sort of numbskull drivers and I'd like to hang up and listen to your your response. Thank you. That's the your description is interesting II to feel very strongly about the people who would use the left lane of the interstate system traveling at speeds of 45 miles an hour 50 miles an hour when in fact the speed limit is 55. I think that 55 is a safe speed and I would hope that the people when the traffic The roads are clear and the traffic allows them to that. They would be using the 55 and if they're not using it why certainly use the right lane of traffic we do we do cite people for becoming a rolling road block. So to speak if they're traveling at less than what the freeway speed allows. There is there's an arrangement or a stipulation in the law that states that anyone who is traveling at less than 40 miles an hour on the freeway system is impeding traffic. So if anyone has a vehicle that's constructed to travel at less than 40 miles an hour because of other problems load or whatever that they have to travel at less than 40 miles an hour. They certainly should not use the freeway system because they are subject to arrest we do arrest people for that. Perhaps through this program. I'll be making the same statement. I don't mean it as a as an excuse, but I do mean it as a fact the Minnesota state patrol does not have enough manpower. We certainly hope we're going to be able to achieve Manpower. Increase in this next legislative session. We haven't had an increase since 1970 and certainly the number of licensed drivers registered vehicles and Miles being driven on our highways has increased dramatically in the last 16 years. I suppose if we're going to talk about pet driving beasts that people have one that I suspect a lot of people have is you see road construction. This is the road construction season in Minnesota. We haven't gotten to Winter yet. We're in the road construction season and oftentimes on the on the freeways, you will see a sign that says right lane or left lane closed one mile ahead than half mile ahead and quarter mile. He had to get plenty of warning that there is a lane closure and a lot of people will indeed get into the correct Lane into the open Lane and they'll slow down as the line of traffic slows down, but then there are always a few bozos who zip along at top speed up until right the point where the lane closes and then they'll they'll burst into line there and the people that are that are in that line are considered enough to let him in there in considered enough to not to not realize that everyone has You know is to in order to have a smooth flow of traffic if they would merge when the when the first sign indicates that they should merge rather than going down the whole length and they there are people that do this regularly if we can we have some locations where they've done this during rush hour traffic we've had people using the shoulder of the road and in some areas where we've had a large number of complaints. We've had a concentration of enforcement out in in the areas. I'm thinking of one in particular where the people are just they're cited for it yet. It does it ties up traffic to a degree in the sense that people then become doctors and they're interested in knowing what's going on the first person who sees the party being stopped becomes aware of what's going on. And and I guess you could say it's gratifying to them because they find that hey there is some justice in the world. I try to obey the laws and I do what the signs require that I do this fellow chose not to and because he chose not to he's caught. I feel good about that. There are other people who don't know what's happened and because of that way as they approach that location, they have a tendency to slow down and we get a tremendous back up. It creates somewhat of an irritation to some of the people at with the don't have the knowledge of knowing what's going on. And certainly we can't stand out there and broadcast we pulled this fellow over because he was traveling down the shoulder of the road and he was doing something that is in violation. And we appreciate the rest of you folks obeying the law. However, this felid chose not to so we're doing the enforcement action that we feel is necessary now it is true that every time there's a patrol car or a police car or an ambulance why people do slow down and little rubber necking they certainly do it's just I guess it's human nature, but it's it does create some problems especially during rush hour and people often ask the question. Why do we never see a trooper out in the traffic during rush hour while you put a trooper in that traffic during rush hour, they can only they're locked into the situation. They can only see the cars that are immediately around them and their ability to respond to an emergency that might occur at several. Away from their location is quite difficult for them during that rush hour time many times. You'll see a trooper parked at a location and I think many of the people say, well, you know, he what's he doing out there. Who's he trying to get? Well, certainly if anybody is violating the law. He's required to take the enforcement action, but his primary purpose in many of those instances during rush hour time is just to wait for the inevitable accident call that he's going to get and to be able to respond to it and one location that this occurs quite frequently is in what we call Spaghetti Junction are you might see a squad car parked down there? It happens to be the central location for the the Troopers that are working that that area so that they can go in any direction in response to the accident call. It might occur. They're not sitting down there for the purposes of waiting and for someone to go down and make an error down here so they can pounce upon and that's not the purpose at all matter of fact in Spaghetti Junction the traffic generally travels as a recommended speed sign are at 35 miles an hour and I doubt Much that many people get up to 35 miles an hour and that area. Yeah. Well, we'll have to find another spot in a few years because that's where 35 is going to cut. That's that's correct. Yes. All right, Roger letting is with us chief of the Minnesota state patrol answering questions today about traffic enforcement activities of the patrol. And your next go ahead with your question today. I'd like to ask about driving on freeways 35W 94, for example, I set the cruise control at 55 most cars passed me regardless of the lane. I men, especially large trucks the Unk they glare they flash their lights and they drive back as if to push my rear bumper. I I understand exactly what you're saying. We found that the traffic speed has certainly increased on the freeway system particularly both in the metropolitan area and even out State the state patrol writes about a hundred and sixteen thousand speed arrests a year and although that's you know by comparison to the number of drivers that we have certainly we could be writing a lot more but that's only one of the responsibilities we have we have the number one priority. Of course on the state patrol is to get the drunk drivers off the road. And unfortunately, when we arrested drunk driver many times that person will hire an attorney which he has a right to do but it's it ends up in a trial situation and the trooper arrives for trial if the if the court case is called for 9 o'clock in the morning. The trooper arrives his case doesn't come before the judge until 11:30 the attorney steps up before the court and says your honor because of press of business. Not able to proceed with this. I'd like to continue into the case and I think the court has an obligation to give give the defense the defendant the best defense that the attorney can provide him. So they generally allow a continuance and the trooper then leaves the court and if he has any Witnesses, they leave also it ties up our people for extended periods of time. I don't mean that in a sense that it's a criticism as it's a fact it's but it's unfortunate because we don't have enough Troopers as it is and then tie them up in situations like that pulls them off the road and it's conceivable that in many people that are probably listening can take a trip from here to 450 miles throughout the state of Minnesota and not see a trooper. I really I don't like to hear those things but I can understand why they happen especially with the situation that we have. Well, you see you've noticed speeds creeping up generally around the state. Yes. Yes. I have Bob I would the only way that I feel that the That we're going to be able to control the 55 mile an hour speed limit better than we have been we've got to increase the perception of apprehension. And the only way that we're going to do that is with law enforcement out there in the in the state patrol is the one who has the responsibility for the greatest responsibility for enforcing the speed limit here in the state of Minnesota, especially on the rural highways of the state of Minnesota. So it's about half past the hour. We have more listeners with questions. Go ahead. You're next. Hello. Hello. Yeah, I have I guess it would be an observation and a question. One of the observation would be that I am not a motorcyclist, but I kind of use a seatbelt law as the same type of thing that they tried to do to the motorcyclist with the helmet as we have more and more laws. We have less and less freedoms Freedom is what this country was founded upon now, there's another side to that. I understand and you can take that and draw it way out. I understand that also, but Have more laws. We have less Freedom. Another one is that fellow the called in a couple of calls ago was talking about the state highway patrolman to get over in the left lane themselves and drive below the speed limit. They're a nuisance out on the freeway. Thank you. I yes, I I didn't realize that that was the the the intent of the individuals comment as a matter of fact that surprises me because this is the first time I've heard of that of a State Trooper traveling at 40 miles an hour in the left lane of traffic that that that surprises me in Puzzles me I'd I guess I'd like to know the specific location on something like that. And I know that says perhaps difficult and I don't mean that as an evasive and evasion of the question, but we we certainly want the traffic to flow when he wanted to flow legally but to move along as efficiently as possible and certainly someone traveling in the left lane of traffic at 47 45 miles an hour is not creating an Should flow of traffic with regards to the other statement. I would prefer to answer that as a private citizen and state that I'm a taxpayer here in the state of Minnesota seat belts do save lives. It's been proven to me that they do here in the state of Minnesota. For example back in 19 1985. The total cost the economic loss here in the state of Minnesota from motor vehicle accidents was 480 million dollars. Now, that's a lot of money if wearing a seatbelt is going to prevent a person from being injured then I think it would be great if it would if on a voluntary basis that would occur but in some cases the law was necessary in order to get that accomplished now, if a person doesn't want to wear the belt perhaps they should have An arrangement, whereby they would sign a statement saying that if I'm involved in a motor vehicle accident and because of my injuries, I'm no longer able to earn a living here in the state of Minnesota rather than become a burden upon the state. I will depend upon the insurance that I have to support whatever costs there are in order for me to live then I would say that that's that's fine. But as a taxpayer, I think that my tax dollars should be used to the best advantage and I don't think it's being used to the best Advantage when someone gets involved in a motor vehicle accident is is injured or killed and the mere fact they were a seatbelt could have prevented that sort of a situation talking with Colonel Roger letting in the Minnesota state patrol today and will take your call next. Hello. Hi, I was I actually have a couple questions. What if you have like an older car and the seat belt in the front seat is like not there or it's not working properly. How is that and I have to get it fixed is do I have to pay for? Or does the state pay for that and my second question is when do you think there will be a mandatory seatbelt law for persons in the back seat? Well, there is a mandatory seat belt law for those under the age of 11 using the backseat of the automobile. I'm not I have no information indicating. There's going to be an expansion of that seatbelt law that would require all person seated in the back of wear their seatbelt. The first part of it was she's got a busted front seat belt and are we as taxpayers going to figure out if you have a seat belt that isn't functioning in your automobile. It is a it would be that would be something that the the motorist would be required to repair. However, anyone who is driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle, it's manufactured before January 1st of 1985 is not required to wear a seatbelt because those Vehicles were not produced with the seat belt as a from the by the manufacturer. I think you said 85 me 1964 65 65. Yeah. Well now question about seat belts, you know. They do have quite a few older cars on the road. And I wonder if the seatbelt material fabric actually holds up over a period of ten fifteen years, or if it ought to be replaced as a routine maintenance at every so often. Well, I don't know about perhaps that's something that that some of the the seatbelt suppliers could information that they could provide but they are made of nylon and they're certainly a there. Well, there will be a well-constructed. I've never noticed any any fraying even on some of the older automobiles one thing that I suspect that someone might ask is that how are you going to enforce a law where only the lap belt is used in the automobile? Because that's the way it was manufactured and certainly that's something that if the the trooper stops the vehicle and it is observed that the individuals wearing the lap belt that they're not in violation. There are fewer and fewer of those automobiles on the road. So the naturally the possibility of that sort of thing happening is going to be less and less as the years go on another listener with Question been waiting for a while how your own which I have at. Somebody told me I would do next and then some other lady came in. Well, I'm sorry about that. We are on right now. How's that? I thought you were answering my question. Well, ask your question right now on what do we have a seat belt law or a shoulder harness law. I have been using my seatbelt since 1974 because my car buzzes and I never start off without fastening it but any policeman driving by me with see that I don't have a shoulder strap on and you could pull me up and say where is your shoulder strap? You keep calling it a seatbelt law and it seems to me from your description of what goes on it's a shoulder strap law. Well really it is it's a seatbelt law because in the newer automobiles, the shoulder harness is is integrated in the seatbelt Arrangement by I don't mean to infer that. The the harnesses is a separate part of the seat belt. It's a part of the seat belt. Regularly in the newer Automobiles and some of the older automobiles the the seatbelt the harness itself was something that had to be attached in addition to the belt because it was a separate attachment for that. That would be required if its installed in the automobile because it is in fact a part of the seatbelt. Alright, I hope that cleared it up for it. I'm sorry that we got mixed up on getting you on the air at the time that we said but here's another listener with a question. Hi, you're on the air. Yeah, I have a couple of questions seatbelt law. First of all, I have a job that I do a lot of deliveries in a short period of time now, I tried putting the seat belt on when I when the law went into effect at the beginning of July, I believe and I found it to be real cumbersome for me when I have to do 15 20 stops and get it in and out of the car lot and I'm using my own vehicle to keep taking a thing. Putting it on taking off. I used up more time than what I could have used by just leaving it off and second of all also slightly pertaining to seatbelts is is it possible that the state of Minnesota could regulate on who and who do not hit licenses to the fact that I've noticed that the majority of the people at least in my area that seem to be having the accidents are older people are people that did not go through the regular testing program that to gain a driver's license. Now, is it possible that an individual or the state could set up a system that once every four years instead of just going in and renewing your license that would be required to either take a written test or a behind the wheel test to see if those people are capable of operating a motor vehicle safely and I'll hang up and listen to your comments. Thank you with regards to your situation. There is an exemption in this law that states. A person who is engaged in work that requires him to alight from and re-enter a passenger vehicle at frequent intervals and who while engaged in that work does not drive or travel in that vehicle at a speed exceeding 25 miles per hour would be exempt from the requirement that they wear the seatbelt. I guess if you're if you're making frequent stops, you would perhaps you would be doing that in an area that is heavily populated because of the that would be the only area where you have that much of a frequent need to make those stops and you're traveling perhaps at speeds of 25 miles an hour or less which is normal traffic here in the metropolitan area on the on the city streets. So just because of the traffic lights on the volume of traffic so that there is an exemption for that that situation with regards to the regulation of the license issuance. There has been a great deal of interest in that area. I don't I think that there would be perhaps a requirement that there be A change in the law that would require legislation to require that everyone submit to a test every four years. It would be expensive. It would require certainly it would require additional people to be involved in the testing procedure. But I think it would be money that would be certainly well spent be kind of challenging though. They have to take that drivers test again notice that it I mean, I'd sure hate to do it. I think that it would be great because the things that he points out is he I don't think he intended to do this but he his statement was that the the older people and there are people who come in from other states. Also who are young people who have not been required to take the type of a test in some cases. We have a We have a reciprocity with some states where they can they can forgo portions of the test. Although in the cases in those cases why they have taken those types of tests. In other states. It's true that many people have received a driver's license without ever having taken the test. They paid a sum of 35 cents receive the driver's license. And in fact didn't didn't even have to know how to drive in order to obtain it in those cases. There are many things that they have learned through the practice of watching others and just picking it up as the years go on, but there are many things that are occurring out there that are violations of the law and they're doing it unknowingly and I think I think a test would bring it to their attention that use those turn signals. It does require a full stop at a stop sign. The speed limit is in fact 55 miles an hour a number of things like that. All right Colonel Roger letting chief of the Minnesota state patrol is with us today and we have more people with questions. Hi, you're on the air with now. Yes, my pet. Peeve is a driver or the tailgating truck and I have a three-part question. Number one does Minnesota have a law governing how closely trucks can follow other vehicles. And if so, what is that law? And what is the highway patrol do to enforce that? I'll hang up and listen to your answers. Thank you. Thank you. It's I guess I guess I'd have to admit this one of my pet peeves to just recently I went to a conference that was a trucker's conference and while enroute to that conference I discovered the very thing that you're referring to it was it was unbelievable and I was I was offended I was I was concerned about the people that were being tailgated by this truck. The trucker was obviously in a very unnecessary hurry and heavy traffic. I was in a situation. I was not able to stop the person because I was traveling in a vehicle that didn't have the abilities to the red lights and siren. But at any rate, I did contact the company I brought it to the attention of The safety safety man and made him aware that we in Minnesota don't condone that type of action interestingly enough the the truck conference that I was in route to a past many resolutions at their conference. And one of them was that they were interested in seeing that the 55 mile an hour speed limit were to continue and there are many truckers out there that do feel that the 55 mile an hour speed limit is is a practical speed and there are many truckers out there and one of them I'm sure is you're thinking of several when you approach that question that certainly don't feel that way about it Trucking industry is very concerned about their image. They feel that they want an image that shows that they're they're safe. They're safe dry. They have their safe drivers out there and they're very concerned about safety and for one or two persons to go out and drive in the manners that they don't condone and we don't condone. Really destroys their image and they feel they're very uncomfortable about this. They would like to see regulation. As a matter of fact, there are many truckers that have contacted me recently. Oh stated that they would like to have the ability to contact us when they see improper driving by other truckers because they're very conscious of the image that they're portraying and they don't want that image to continue. Is there a specific law on tailgating in the yes. Yes. That was another part of that. Yes. There is a there's a law regarding tailgating trucks must maintain an interval of five hundred feet. There is no law that specifies that a trucker if he's close to another person the the trooper would treat that as a careless driving act because he is definitely driving in a careless manner when he drives. So close to the event of an emergency when the vehicle in front stops. He doesn't have the ability to do so and as a result a collision occurs, there is a law for trucks but there isn't a law that specific other than the careless driving law. We have a couple of lines available again in the Minneapolis st. Paul area. Our telephone number is two two seven six thousand. If you have a question about traffic law enforcement for Colonel Roger letting chief of the state patrol 2276 thousand in the Twin Cities and in other parts of Minnesota, the toll-free number is 1-800-695-1418. Go ahead please hello. I have a question for Colonel letting first of all, I think the seat belt law is a good thing because of the savings that will give the state but it seems ironic that there's a seatbelt law, but there isn't a law requiring motorcyclists to wear a helmet and so I'm wondering if the colonel knows of any statistics giving the cost of accidents involving motorcycle riders who don't wear helmets and what he thinks of that situation. Well, I certainly agree with you as far as the helmet law is concerned. I know that there are many many motorists are many many motorcyclists who do wear their their helmets. They aren't required to do so because the law has there's no provision in the law for it. But I know of many clubs that that have that all of the people when they when they make their trips wherever they're going they do it with the helmets wearing their helmets. I've got some information regarding the motorcycle crashes and The the information that we got because the law does not require that they wear helmets. We do have some information on the number of people that do use helmets. I don't have any figures on the cost of the motorcycle accidents adjust the motorcycle accidents. They were included in the total cost of all of the crashes that occurred on our highways but interesting that 53% of all the motorcycle all of fatal motorcycle crashes took place in rural areas and that that seems to be true of more even more. So with the automobiles people are very they feel that the people in rural Minnesota seem some of them have the attitude that it is necessary to wear a seatbelt out there because we don't have that much traffic there is not much of a concern and yet the majority of the accidents do occur within the rural parts of the state of Minnesota. Well, I didn't know that either I would have thought it would be in the metropolitan area where there's such greater density of traffic and all of that. Maybe it's maybe people are just more alert in the Twin Cities to one thing. I might comment as if one thing I might comment. Go to the motorcycle. The helmet use is that there was a study that was conducted in the summer of 1985. And in the this observation study indicated the fifty fifty three percent of the Motorcycle drivers and passengers at 86 sites throughout the state of Minnesota. We're wearing helmets. I think the helmet uses much more popular than people perceive it to be. Yeah. Alright. Another caller is waiting with a question handle your on now. Good morning. I have a question. That's first that legality of people driving down the street or Highway in the morning drinking a cup of coffee. It's wondering if that was legal or illegal. And also I just want to comment that about the sum of the factors in the wearing seat belts. I've always wore mine but maybe stay in some facts for the arrogant people that don't want to wear their seatbelts. Is that have them then in the ground and somebody can crawl on top of there. Roughhouse with maybe what a 30-pound weight in that individual should try catching that or try breaking the fall that him. He'll be pretty close to somebody trying to brace. They're falling to the - or windshield just by putting out their arms and interesting observation. Let's see what Roger has to say about that drinking coffee question, but it isn't the drinking coffee question. It is not illegal, but it's certainly a distraction. I've seen this any number of times and in the heavy traffic. I've seen gentlemen combing their hair young ladies putting on their lipstick by canting their mirrors over these things are all you know, they're there if if it's a distraction to the driver, it's something that certainly they shouldn't be doing in the interest of safety. If it causes them to do commit an act that would cause him to go over center line or something like that. They're going to be it's going to be brought to their attention his his statement about the drinking. Of coffee. It seems to be quite a very popular thing to be doing when you're operating a motor vehicle in it. It's I don't I don't encourage that at all. Some people shave some people dictate memos and it's kind of interesting what people will do and think that they can drive perfectly well to you know, it's kind of a full-time job driving is I've always thought of it that way. Well, I had an occasion as a trooper on the road one day to pick up a fellow for speeding and it was just amazing when I pulled up alongside of him. He was reading a book. This was quite quite high speeds to amazing. All right, another caller with a question for Roger letting hi. You're on the air. Yeah. Hi. It's a pleasure to speak with you. I think you have a tough job and you perform a valuable public service and really don't get the support that you need from really the legislature and the public on the whole. They're really I wanted to mention something about the tailgating a particular the China. We've talked about already a couple of times. I wonder if the state patrol has maybe statistics about how often this occurs. I wonder if if your department is actually even fully aware of how much of this goes on. I know in my driving on the interstate. I've seen a lot of instances where as long as there's not a trooper around. It's like there's a really a game going on. We're Reckless packs of drivers just harass others by coming up behind them and like the lady was saying before flashing lights and sounding the horn and glaring at people and there's even a little trick where some you'll come around you and then pull back in real fast to try to a clip you or come. Very close to clip. You got to clipping you any event. I guess. What I'm what I would wonder about is is there some way the citizens can participate more with the Department Public Service to our Public Safety to help do something more about these kinds of drivers to get them off the road. Yes there certainly as we have an arrangement in its if you were as a motorist observe something that is it is it is so blatant that that it if it really affects really and truly offends you and if someone is traveling several miles over the speed limit We know that there are a number of people out there that that are traveling several miles over the speed limit and we would like to take enforcement action on every violation that that occurs out there, but we can't because we don't have enough people for that. But if you see something if you will just get the direction of travel the license number at the license number is so important and the color of the vehicle if possible the time of day the highway location and put that in writing to me. We then run a check to find out who the owner of that vehicle is and we prepare a letter and send it to that individual. Your name is never mentioned and certainly the individual that you're identifying is you're not going to be able to obtain that information from us as to who the individual is because we don't want you and that other individual getting together exchanging Barb's or whatever, but but we do want We do want that information and we do provide it to the individual who owns a vehicle we found that we've had some excellent responses from the people whether it be thanking us for bring it to their attention because it was the son driving the automobile and they don't they're certainly don't condone that type of driving or whether it be another situation where they bring some other things to our attention as a result of that correspondence that we have with them. Certainly if you want to prefer a charge against them it's required that you the person appear in court and they sign a formal complaint but short of that which requires that you take time off. We do have an arrangement, whereby we contact these people and we've had some excellent results. Okay, we have more listeners with questions about traffic law enforcement today and you're next. Hi. Yes. I have two parts to Christian one. I find that the 500-foot interval very amusing. I've never seen it truckers used to be helpful. Always in recent years their abusive and their tailgating and I think it would be interesting to try putting some men on 35W approaching Downtown Minneapolis to see just what they do. The other part of the question is both cars and trucks do an awful lot of Lane shifting. We all have to shift Lanes depending on where we're going to exit but is cutting in and out in a brightly passing cars seems to me a non-productive. Do I agree with you the non productive aspect of it particularly? Because if you remain in your lane of traffic and you can observe these people that will try to jump from Lane to Lane and back and forth and then when it comes time to exit if perhaps are using the same exit you are you exit right behind them it there's no there isn't that much of an advantage because if people would just stay in their Lane and and travel down the road if they're going to change lanes then stay in the other lane that there that they've changed into because the flow of traffic moves so much smoother your statement about the 500-foot interval amusing. Yes. I think it I don't I feel perhaps in the sense that in in hearing it. It has its me sound amusing but it's frustrating for us because the the trucking industry really sincerely wants to do something about the the concerns that they have of their Public Image and I'm not I'm not here as an advocate for the for the trucking industry. I merely Of their concerns because I've had Communications with them they want to do everything they can right now they're putting together a program that whereby they will be reporting a drunk drivers or improper driving whether it be by a trucker or by a motorist and there they want to report this information to the state patrol so that we can take the necessary enforcement action. We want we want to encourage the motorists to do the same thing because we can only get it accomplished through the through the cooperation of everyone. We certainly don't want to force things on people and that's not the impression that we want to leave with the citizens of the state of Minnesota with regards to the state patrol because we feel that we're a very highly accepted organization among the citizens of the state of Minnesota. We're professionals the young gentleman and ladies that are part of the state patrol. I think they do a very professional job, but we do need the cooperation of the public and we strongly encourage you people to give us The cooperation you can whether it be by reporting or just obeying those laws out there we have about five minutes left with Roger letting today and before we get to another caller Roger, I'd like you to comment on the proliferation of signs that we've seen around the area of the ones that say baby on board ex-wife in the trunk. Yeah, things like that. Yes there Bob. It's it's there's there's been it's at the appears to be a fad. It's perhaps like the hula hoop or something of that nature, but it's a fad they're illegal anything that is of a non-transparent material is placed on a car window is illegal. The only things that are permitted on a car window are those things that are authorized by the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety or those things required by law by that if you purchase a new automobile, you generally don't get your license plates immediately because they have to be applied for and so there's a small piece of paper that's placed on the back windows that identifies that the vehicle tax has been paid for in the license of been applied for and then there are Park stickers in there are some They're stickers that that are they are authorized by the commissioner. Anything else is illegal. And that that also that includes those sign those swinging signs that are certainly a distraction in an automobile. They may be perceived as being cute and there are people who feel it with the sinuses baby on board. The other motorists are being more careful because they're aware that I have my child with me. I want to be as careful as I can around anyone whether they have a child on board or not because we're all fellow motorist out there using the road and the fact that there's a sign there certainly doesn't have any bearing on my actions. I feel the same about the courtesies that I want to extend to every Motors when I'm using the highway. So those those kinds of things should go on the bumper if anywhere right? That's correct on the bumper if they choose to put it on the painted portion of the automobile. Certainly that's their option but not on the Windows. All right, let's take a few more questions here before Roger letting has to leave today. Go ahead, please you're next. Okay, I'm calling about a used car that might. Or block a 1970 that doesn't have seatbelts. Is she responsible or was it illegal for the dealer to seller that unfortunately, she is responsible. I have a friend of mine who just recently purchased a used Cadillac and for whatever reasons the individual who owned the car chose not to didn't like the seat belts in there. And so he he or she took a knife blade and just cut them off. And so this friend of mine has two has gone to the Cadillac dealer and add a great deal of expense had the seat belt the one side of the seat belt installed and unfortunately it isn't it illegal for the dealer to sell it but it would be illegal for your daughter to operate it without having the the required. It would be the same as a muffler. It's they could sell you an automobile without a muffler which can operate it. So just one more thing to check out when buying a used car, I guess I guess so. I'll write another listener with a question. Hi, you're on the air. Go ahead, please. Yes. I had a couple part question, hopefully. Be able to get to them. I think the captain will agree that most of the Minnesota citizens are overwhelmingly law-abiding but since the Minnesota public in its Collective wisdom has decided to begin to exceed the 55 mile an hour limit perhaps there are some reasons has there been any cost study done on the relative cost productivity loss of productivity caused to the workforce of the state of Minnesota by being forced to travel at 55 miles an hour and also concerning the there are concerns. He's expressed about the efficiency of the traffic flow in the state by people driving had less than 40 miles an hour and hurting the traffic flow. In other countries. I've read some studies where speed limits are higher than ours and yet their accident rates are lower than ours. All right, we have about 45 seconds Roger. Well with regards to the regard to the cost of 55 there have been some Studies that have been conducted I don't have that information. I think that the cost if there is an increased cost and perhaps there is it would certainly be more than offset by the the the lower number of fatalities than and high injury costs with regards to the efficiency here in the state of Minnesota last year. We had a 1.84 fatality rate per 100 million miles driven on our highways. We had a 62 percent compliance with the 55 mile an hour speed limit in Montana a state that doesn't have anywhere near as many people as we do in Minnesota has over four million people in this state Montana takes a rather lacks attitude towards the enforcement the 55 mile an hour speed limit because they had that I believe they call it an inefficient use of a natural resource and a $5 fine. They're fatality rate per 100 million miles driven was I believe it was 3.04 which is almost twice as many fatalities per 100 million miles driven as we head and there we must And Roger letting thank you very much for coming in and visiting with us. Thank you Bob. I thoroughly enjoyed it Roger letting is chief of the Minnesota state patrol. Thanks to Dorothy Hanford for answering the telephones today and David sleep music coming up on the MPR FM Network and Sport folio on ksjn 1330 AM the time now 12 noon weekend made possible by economics laboratory products and services who are household institutional and Industrial Cleaning worldwide. This is MPR a member supported service. And this is ksjn and Minneapolis and Saint Paul the news and information service of Minnesota Public Radio the weather forecast calling for 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon is going to be a little warm around 88 degrees today with a southwesterly breeze at 10 to 20 partly cloudy tonight a 60% chance of thunderstorms the low of 62 tomorrow Breezy and cooler with Cloudy Skies a 30% chance of showers in the morning turning partly cloudy in the afternoon the high tomorrow around 78 degrees, but a minute now past twelve o'clock Mr. J.G. Preston as stepped into the studio across the hall. How are you Potter buddy? I'm just dandy. How are you doing today? I'm glad