“ASK A TROOPER” by Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol

Question: I know we are supposed to have our driver’s license with us whenever driving.  My wife uses two purses, in one she has the original driver’s license and in the other one she has a copy.  Is the copy accepted or should she have the original license?

Answer: Minnesota law requires that every licensee shall have the license (driver’s license, instruction permit or provisional license) in immediate possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle. The license is the document issued under the laws of the state.

A copy of the license would not be a sufficient document and the driver must have the current valid document. I see a number of motorists who carry their expired driver’s license (sometimes multiple expired licenses) along with their current one. Not only are those documents invalid, if they fell into the wrong hands (i.e. lost, stolen, etc.) they could be used in criminal activity. I would recommend properly securing or destroying unneeded documents to help prevent this. Shredding would be the smartest and safest choice.

If a license is lost, destroyed, or becomes illegible, a person must obtain a new one. If it was stolen, it may be wise to report it to your local law enforcement agency (police department or sheriff’s office) to have it documented.

 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).