Question:I was recently pulled over for an equipment violation. On the citation there is a box with “pm, m, gm” with the “pm” circled. I’m curious as to what that indicates. Thank you for your time.

Answer:Those indicate the level of the violation that occurred.

– “Petty misdemeanor” means a petty offense which is prohibited by statute, which does not constitute a crime and for which a sentence of a fine of not more than $300 may be imposed.- “Misdemeanor” means a crime for which a sentence of not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both, may be imposed.- “Gross misdemeanor” means any crime which is not a felony or misdemeanor. The maximum fine which may be imposed for a gross misdemeanor is $3,000.

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).