The people that owned this machinery were combining in the adjoining field. There was no reason to use the road to park their equipment other than easy convenience. Isn’t this illegal? I had to wait until the farmer was done unloading the grain, and only then did they move their machinery so I could get by. What if an emergency vehicle needed to get through? And this happened to me again at the same place, same farmer, and I had to turn around and take an alternate route. What should I do if this happens again, contact the authorities?

Question 2: Another time, a semi-tractor and trailer were parked alongside the road. Just as I passed the owner of the semi-tractor suddenly walked around the back end, partially into the road. It started me; I nearly lost control of my vehicle because I, not only had to avoid this person and his truck, I had to avoid the large dirt clumps on the road from their machinery (beet farmers). Don’t they have to clean up their dirt?

Answer(s) 1: Yes, what you described would be illegal. Yes this would be a huge issue if an emergency vehicle had to get through. If this happened again, I would contact the authorities about the ongoing hazard with detailed information. I’d like to note this is also a good reason to always start out earlier for one of those “what if” situations. The violation applies to Minnesota State Statute 169.32 (a) “Upon any highway outside of a business or residence district no person shall stop, park, or leave standing any vehicle, whether attended or unattended, upon the paved or improved or main-traveled part of the highway when it is practical to stop, park, or so leave such vehicle off such part of said highway, but in every event a clear and unobstructed width of at least 20 feet of such part of the highway opposite such standing vehicle shall be left for the free passage of other vehicles and a clear view of such stopped vehicle be available from a distance of 200 feet in each direction upon such highway.”

Answer 2: Yes, they do have to clean up their dirt. This falls under the M.S.S. 169.42 Sub1. “No person shall throw, deposit, place, or dump, or cause to be thrown, deposited, placed, or dumped upon any street or highway … any other substance likely to injure any person, animal, or vehicle upon any such street or highway.” As you mentioned “large dirt clumps” on the road is a “substance that could likely injure any person” (car crash, motorcyclist, etc.). Farmers are required to clean it up themselves or contact the overseeing highway department and have it removed as soon as possible. With northwest Minnesota being an agricultural area, we see a lot of this activity in the spring and fall. This is a great reminder for everyone to pay attention to ever changing hazards and situations while driving. And to all motorists, please have some patience. These farmers are providing a wonderful service that we all enjoy (feeding us). I am fortunate to travel many miles in the course of my duties and I see most of the farmers doing things right. Please give those farmers some respect and be careful when approaching or passing any vehicle, bicyclist or pedestrian along the roadway.

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)