If I come to Minnesota to fish with my boat and trailer, do I need a license for my boat and trailer to comply with Minnesota laws?

Answer 1: As long as the trailer registration is current and up to date and in compliance with North Dakota law, you would be fine here in Minnesota. For the boat registration it is a bit different. If your boat registered in North Dakota, is either being stored or used in Minnesota for more than 90 consecutive days, you would need Minnesota boat registration.

Question 2: Why are people that used to live in North Dakota but now live in Minnesota and homestead their house still allowed to drive with North Dakota plates on their car or pickup, year after year?

Answer 2: Just from that bit of information you provided I would say “they” are NOT allowed to drive a vehicle with North Dakota registration year after year. There are very few exemptions and Minnesota law states, “All other vehicles must be registered in Minnesota when used upon the public streets or highways.” There is nothing here that would allow a person living in Minnesota to license their car in a foreign state and drive it here. It basically comes down to if the person is a Minnesota resident and/or where that vehicle is domiciled. You mentioned “homestead” and this is also something we would look into for an investigation for establishing what state they are a resident of when having places in both Minnesota and North Dakota. The term domiciled in Minnesota means that the vehicle is ordinarily driven,

garaged, or parked in Minnesota. Although, the vehicle may be driven, garaged, or parked out of state on occasion. Minnesota is the state that the vehicle normally returns to as a permanent place of residence or storage. This would include that if a person takes their vehicle to and from work in North Dakota, but returns the vehicle to their place in Minnesota.

The Minnesota State Patrol has a “Vehicle Crimes Task Force” that investigates numerous of these types of cases. Several reports and tips are made from concerned citizens all over the state. Some people found in violation of registration issues can be charged with a gross misdemeanor “Intent to Escape Motor Vehicle Tax.”

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. (Or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us)