Travel Reference (MN)

This Wiki Article is designed to help those Visiting Minnesota From out of state better organize their scanning...

Minnesota Scanning Laws

Long and short, the only legal ways to have a scanner in your vehicle is to either be a licensed Peace Officer or have a Mobile Monitor Permit Issued by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or an amatuer radio license. Persons who have an amateur radio license do not need a permit from the Superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. If they have an amateur radio license they can monitor anything they want to monitor in their vehicle. They must carry the amateur radio license in their vehicle when they are monitoring the scanner.

Link to info on MN scanner laws at MN BCA site.Link Here

Minnesota State Statute 299C.37 Link Here

Important Notes

• Mn/DOT provides free highway maps at most rest stops along interstates, or else Explore Minnesota will send you a free map at the Link Here.
• Aviation Maps are available from Mn/DOT at the Link Here.

Interstates

I-90

• I-90 Enters Minnesota's Western side just East of the Sioux Falls, SD Metro area and travels primarily due east to Wisconsin. Primary Cities served directly by I-90 are Worthington, Fairmont, Albert Lea, Austin and Rochester.
• I-90 travels through the following counties, in West to East order:
  • Rock County
  • Nobles County
  • Jackson County
  • Martin County
  • Faribault County
  • Freeborn County
  • Mower County
  • Olmsted County
  • Winona County

Intersecting Roads

• I-94 in Albert Lea, which is in Freeborn County, providing service to Owatonna to the North and Worth County, IA.
• MN-60 in Worthington, which is in Nobles County
• US-71 in Jackson, which is in Jackson County
• US 169 in Blue Earth, which is in Faribault County
• US-52 and US-63 in Stewartville/Rochester, both are in Olmsted County
• US-14 and US-61 in La Crescent, which is in Winona County

I-94

• Enters Minnesota From North Dakota in Fargo/Moorhead, Travels South East through Minnesota through Fergus Falls, Alexandria, St. Cloud and the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area and exit Minnesota directly East of the MSP area at Hudson, WI. As I-94 enters the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Area, 2 Spurs of I-94 are created (I-494 and I-694).
• I-94 Travels through the following counties in West to East order starting in Moorhead.
  • Clay County
  • Wilkin County
  • Otter Tail County
  • Grant County
  • Douglas County
  • Todd County
  • Stearns County
  • Wright County
  • Hennepin County
  • Ramsey County
  • Washington County

Interesting Roads

• US-75 in Moorhead, located in Clay County, SB service to Breckenridge and Wheaton. NB service to Cookston and Hallock.
• US-59 in Ferus Falls, located in Otter Tail County, NB service to Detroit Lakes and Thief River Falls.
• MN-29 in Alexandria, Located in Douglas County, NB service to Wadena. SB service to Glenwood and Benson.
• MN-23 in Rockville, Located in Stearns County, NB service to Sauk Rapids, Milaca, Mora and Hinckley. SB service to Cold Spring, Paynesville, Willmar and Granite Falls.
• MN-15 in St. Cloud, Located in Stearns County, NB service to US-10 and SB service to Hutchinson, New Ulm and Fairmont.

I-394

• I-394 is a central service spur that starts where State Hwy 12 meets I-494 and travels with State Hwy 12 East Bound to Downtown Minneapolis where it meets I-94 just north of the Lowry Hill tunnel.
• I-394 is wholly located in Hennepin County and travels through Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley and Minneapolis.

I-494

• I-494 is the Southern Spur and effectively creates the Western and Southern Interstate Service loop around the MSP area. It begins in Maple Grove where it heads south, turns east in Eden Prairie and joins back up with I-94 East of St. Paul.
• I-494 is located in Hennepin County, Ramsey County, and Washington County.

I-694

• I-694 is the Northern Spur creating the Northern and Eastern interstate Service loop around the MSP area.
• I-694 is located in Hennepin County, Anoka County, Ramsey County and Washington County.

I-35

• I-35 Begins in Duluth and heads south, exiting Minnesota south of Albert Lea. When I-35 enters the MSP Metro area, it splits into I-35W and I-35E south of Forest lake and meets back up in Burnsville.
• I-35 is in the following counties (I-35W and I-35E Counties not included), listed North to South
  • St. Louis County
  • Carlton County
  • Pine County
  • Chisago County
  • Washington County
  • Anoka County
• I-35W and I-35E
  • Dakota County
  • Scott County
  • Rice County
  • Steele County
  • Freeborn County

I-35W

• I-35W travels through Anoka County, Hennepin County and Dakota County.

I-35E

• I-35E travels through Anoka County, Ramsey County and Dakota County.

Metropolitan Areas

Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro

• The Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro area is commonly felt to be a 7 County Metro Area - Anoka County, Hennepin County, Carver County, Dakota County, Scott County, Ramsey County and Washington County.
• All Public Safety communications in the MSP area occur on ARMER, as do most other government oriented entities. Some HF and VHF frequencies exist for the purpose of paging most fire departments (Minneapolis, St. Paul and MSP Int'l Airport Fire Departments are 100% Full Time and have no conventional assets).

Fargo, ND/Moorhead

• The Fargo/Moorhead metro area are in Cass County, ND and Clay County.
• Public Safety communications are primarily VHF, but a mixed bag of P25 and Analog. ARMER is being installed to eventually provide service as the State Patrol continues its migration, but Clay County is not planning on migrating to ARMER.

Duluth/Superior, WI

• The Duluth/Superior Metro area are in St. Louis County and Douglas County, WI
• Public Safety communications are Analog VHF. ARMER is active as State Patrol is beginning their migration while St. Louis county is still evaluating their narrowbanding solution.

Rochester

• Rochester is in Olmsted County.
• Public Safety communications have migrated to ARMER with the exception of Gold Cross Ambulance in Rochester, which continues to remain on analog VHF.

St. Cloud

• St. Cloud and its Metro area are in Stearns County, Benton County and Sherburne County.
• Public Safety communications have migrated to ARMER with the exception of Gold Cross Ambulance in St. Cloud, which continues to remain on analog VHF.

Mankato

• Mankato is in Blue Earth County and Nicollet County.
• Public Safety communications are Analog VHF. ARMER is active with the plan to migrate Public Safety the this system.

Brainerd/Baxter

• Brainerd and Baxter are located in Crow Wing County.
  • Public Safety communications are Analog VHF. ARMER is active with the plan to migrate Public Safety the this system.

La Crosse, WI/La Crescent

• La Crescent and La Crosse are in Winona County, Houston County and La Crosse County
• Public Safety communications are Analog VHF with the exception of La Crosse, WI, which has its own free standing 800 Moto Type II system.

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