Ask a Trooper:

[Lee Borgersen]

  Why do we need 2 license plates?

By Sgt. Neil Dickenson, Minnesota State Patrol on Feb 22/17

Question: We live in Minnesota but travel south for several winter months. Many other states only have a rear license plate. Why does Minnesota have two? Thanks!

Answer: Minnesota state law required two license plates on your vehicle with some exceptions.
Some vehicles are allowed to display only one license plate: motorcycles; a dealer's vehicle or vehicle in-transit; a collector's vehicle with a pioneer, classic car, collector, or street rod license; a vehicle that is of model year 1972 or earlier (not registered as a collector vehicle), and is used for general transportation purpose.

                                          tut_tut-3315.gif
License plates cannot be displayed in the front windshield or the rear window; they must be displayed on the front and rear of the vehicle.

All plates must be securely fastened to prevent them from swinging, displayed horizontally with the identifying numbers and letters facing outward from the vehicle, and mounted in the upright position.

The person driving the motor vehicle shall keep the plate legible, unobstructed, and free from grease, dust, or other blurring material (dirt, mud, snow, etc.) so that the lettering is plainly visible at all times.

It is unlawful to cover any assigned letters and numbers or the name of the state of origin of a license plate with any material whatever, including any clear or colorless material that affects the plate's visibility or reflectivity. This also includes obstructing license plate brackets that block the state of issuance, and tabs.

License plates issued to vehicles must display the month of expiration in the lower left corner of each plate and the year of expiration in the lower right corner of each plate.

Why do we need to have two license plates? It is the law in Minnesota and from a law enforcement perspective it is safer to have two plates as it helps law enforcement a great deal in properly identifying vehicles for many different reasons. Properly identifying vehicles will help in locating possible impaired drivers, suspects in many different criminal activity events, hit and run and gas drive off vehicles, to name a few.

If you happen to lose or damage any of your license plates, order duplicates through the Minnesota Department of Vehicle Services. When you obtain your new plate(s), secure them to front and/or rear of the vehicle, typically to the bumper, as soon as possible.

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 Sgt. Neil Dickenson, Minnesota State Patrol, 1131 Mesaba Ave., Duluth, MN, 55811; on Twitter @MSPPIO_NE; or by email at neil.dickenson@state.mn.us.

[delcecchi]

It makes it easier for the plate reading cameras that track folk's location to read your plate so they know where you are.   

I bet you guys had no idea that the government was doing this.   And has been for years.   

http://www.twincities.com/2015/03/23/deal-on-minnesota-license-plate-readers-reached/

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=13.824&format=pdf

They allegedly can only keep the last 60 days of data....

[Rebel SS]

It makes it easier for the plate reading cameras that track folk's location to read your plate so they know where you are.   

I bet you guys had no idea that the government was doing this.   And has been for years.   

http://www.twincities.com/2015/03/23/deal-on-minnesota-license-plate-readers-reached/

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=13.824&format=pdf

They allegedly can only keep the last 60 days of data....

They didn't have these twenty years ago. But it was still a two-plate law.  The "for years" is piffle.  Lotsa internet hype.

[delcecchi]

Sometime before 2012, they started.   

http://www.startribune.com/aug-10-police-cameras-quietly-capture-license-plates-collect-data/165680946/

"St. Paul has used the cameras since 2008 and now has 10, all of which are mobile, said police spokesman Howie Padilla."

"Use of license plate readers has expanded dramatically in recent years. Agencies using them in the metro area include Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Lakeville, Maplewood, Washington County and the State Patrol. In March, the state Department of Commerce issued grants for even more departments to purchase readers, including four for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office."

Does 10 years count as "for years"?  St Paul started in 2008, Minneapolis probably sooner.   St Paul is never first....