Ask a Trooper 

Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol

Question: Can you talk about drug use and impaired driving. It seems like I am seeing more and more of this.

Answer: Drug-impaired driving is as dangerous as alcohol-impaired driving. Minnesota law prohibits driving while impaired by controlled or intoxicating substances. These substances include illegal drugs, prescription drugs, and over the counter drugs (cold medicines), as well as household products. These substances can cause drowsiness and impair a driver’s mental and physical ability to safely operate a vehicle and to respond to driving conditions.
Legal drugs that may not cause impairment alone can produce powerful intoxicating effects when mixed with alcohol. The safest rule is do not mix drugs with driving at all. Use of drugs can lead to traffic crashes resulting in death, injury and property damage. It can lead to arrest, fines and jail sentences.
Pay attention to warning labels for legitimate drugs and medicines and to doctor’s orders regarding possible effects. Stay away from illegal drugs. Don’t use any drug that hides fatigue – the only cure for fatigue is rest.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205. (You can follow him on Twitter @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).