by Sgt. Jesse Grabow
Columnist

Question: I recently moved back to Minnesota I bought a big bad truck and a snow plow. I now have more friends than I ever knew! I plow for friends and family but am not a professional, I do not charge for such, I get the occasional bakery treat for my work! My mom lives in rural St. Louis County on a gravel county road with a blind driveway both ways. There no signage posted to such. Though I am always careful when at the end of her driveway, it always on my mind that I will get t-boned one of these days by someone driving too fast, (seems everyone on this road is going do so). Question: May I post a temporary sign, on her property? It would be in the shoulder right of way, stating “Caution Snow Removal In Progress” or something similar and then take it down after I am done plowing? As is, one day there will be a collision I fear.

Answer: If it is in the right of way, no. If it is on private property away from the right of way, yes. Having said that let me make some comments about the situation. First of all, thanks for wanting to be safe! I don’t think a sign would be effective anyway, and there are other things you can do. Have a vehicle parked on the shoulder before the driveway with flashers on, put up some emergency triangles behind that vehicle. Get a yellow flashing light for the top of your truck that you can put on when removing snow (which is legal for snow removal vehicles). Last of all, use caution when plowing snow. If at night, you can even put flares out before the driveway/work zone. Thanks again for wanting to be safe, and thanks for asking.

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)