Test your knowledge: Age restrictions in Minnesota law

The law is the law, right? And it applies to everyone equally, right?

Except that both federal and state laws can vary depending upon one’s age.

Minnesota law prohibits minors (those under age 18) from doing certain things, such as playing the Minnesota Lottery. For other activities, the cutoff age is 21 years, such as possessing and consuming alcohol and tobacco.

But what about the minimum legal age to operate a motorized foot scooter? Or how old must you be to get your, ahem, genitals pierced?

We hope you enjoy taking this 15-question quiz, which focuses on the minimum age for uncommon, unusual, or offbeat activities, or on recent changes to long-standing statutes, such as the age of consent for getting married.

Body art (tattoos, piercings)

1. State statute on Body Art covers both tattooing and body piercings. Minors can get a tattoo under which of the following conditions:

1. a parent or legal guardian is present and gives consent
2. you have a signed consent document from a parent or legal guardian
3. A or B
4. a minor cannot get a tattoo, regardless of parental or guardian consent

Answer: D; tattooing a minor is a gross misdemeanor, regardless of parental or guardian consent (Minn. Stat. § 146B.07, subd. 2, 5(b)).

2. With the consent of a parent or legal guardian, minors can get body piercings or body modifications, with the exception of:

1. nipple or genital piercing
2. tongue bifurcation
3. branding or subdermal implants
4. none of the above are permitted, regardless of parental or guardian consent

Answer: D; none of the above. Other body modifications a minor is prohibited from receiving are scarification, suspension, and microdermal implants (Minn. Stat. § 146B.07, subd. 2, 5(c)).

Age of consent to marry

3. The minimum age of consent to marry is:

1. 18
2. 16
3. 16, with legal custodial parental consent
4. 17

Answer: A; 18. Before the law changed in 2020, the legal age of consent to marry was 16 years with the consent of legal custodial parents, a guardian, or the courts. (Minn. Session Laws, Chapter 76, 2020, Regular Session)

Motorized foot scooter operation

4. To operate a motorized foot scooter, you must be at least what age:

1. 11
2. 12
3. 16
4. 18

Answer: B; 12. (Minn. Stat. § 169.225, subd. 3) Motorized foot scooter operators under the age of 18 must wear certified protective headgear. (subd. 4).

Farm work license

5. With certain restrictions, a minor who is at least 15 years old may get a driver’s license for farm work and can operate a motor vehicle unaccompanied. Which one of the following is NOT a restriction?

1. must be performing farm-related work
2. must drive within a 40-mile radius of the farmhouse
3. can drive only during daylight hours
4. cannot operate a vehicle with more than 250 horsepower.

Answer: D; there are no horsepower restrictions. If any conditions in A, B, and C are not met, the driver must be accompanied by a licensed driver at least age 21. (Minn. Stat. § 171.041)

Tanning

6. With parental consent, a minor can use ultraviolet tanning equipment beginning at what age?

1. 15
2. 16
3. 17
4. a minor is never allowed to use UV tanning equipment

Answer: D; regardless of parental permission, a minor cannot tan using UV lamps. However, a minor is permitted to use non-UV radiation tanning methods. (Minn. Stat. §§ 325H.01 to 325H.10)

Child labor

7. The Minnesota Child Labor Standards Act prohibits employing minors under the age of 14, with a few exceptions. Which of the following has the lowest minimum age for getting a job in Minnesota?

1. working in agricultural operations with the permission of parents or guardian
2. being a newspaper carrier
3. working as a youth athletic program referee, umpire, or official, under certain conditions
4. working as an actor, performer, or model

Answer: D; working as an actor, performer, or model has no age-based restrictions. The minimum ages for A, B, and C are 12, 11, 11, respectively.

Operating lawn care equipment

8. The minimum age to collect a paycheck for operating powered lawn care equipment such as lawnmowers, weed cutters, and lawn trimmers is:

1. 15
2. 16
3. 17
4. 18

Answer B; 16 years, provided the minor is trained in the safe operation of each type of lawn care equipment, wears personal protective equipment, and is directly employed by a golf course, resort, or municipality to perform lawn care on golf courses, resort grounds, and municipal grounds, among other conditions. Prior to 2020, only adults could be employed to operate powered lawn care equipment. (Minn. Session Laws, Chapter 98, Sec. 2, 2020, Regular Session)

Operating amusement rides

9. The minimum age for operating amusement rides or loading and unloading of passengers from amusement rides is:

1. 15
2. 16
3. 17
4. 18

Answer: B; 16, provided the minor is supervised by a trained adult, operates only one ride at a time, and works at “a fixed site amusement park.” Prior to 2020, only adults could operate amusement rides. (Minn. Session Laws, Chapter 98, Sec. 1, 2020, Regular Session)

Blood donation

10. The minimum age to legally donate blood is:

1. 18
2. 17
3. 17, with parent or guardian written permission
4. 16, with parent or guardian written permission

Answer: D; 16, with parent or guardian written permission. (Minn. Stat. § 145.41)

Big game hunting

11. What is the youngest age a person can be to hunt big game (deer, moose, elk, bear, antelope, and caribou) in Minnesota?

1. 10
2. 12
3. 14
4. 16

Answer: A; 10, provided the minor is a resident, gets a license, and is under the direct supervision of a parent or guardian where the parent or guardian is within immediate reach during the hunt. (Minn. Stat. § 97A.451, subd. 4(b),(c))

Firearm possession

12. What is the youngest age a person can legally possess a firearm?

1. 12, if the person is on family-owned farm property and has parental permission
2. 14
3. 14, if the person has obtained a firearms safety certificate from the Department of Natural Resources
4. 16

Answer: C; 14 years, if a firearms safety certificate is obtained from the DNR. (Minn. Stat. § 97B.021)

Fishing licenses

13. State residents under what age are not required to get a fishing license?

1. 12
2. 14
3. 16
4. 18

Answer: C; 16 years. (Minn. Stat. § 97A.451, subd. 2) By the way, a state resident age 90 years or older may take fish without a license.

Tear gas possession

14. With written permission of a parent or guardian, a minor may possess tear gas or tear gas compounds beginning at what age?

1. 15
2. 16
3. 17
4. must be an adult to possess tear gas

Answer, B; 16. (Minn. Stat. § 624.731 subd. 3) The same statute provides that no person under the age of 18 may possess or use an electronic incapacitation device (i.e., taser, or “stun gun”).

Hold elective office

And finally, if you want to change any laws setting minimum legal ages, run for office!

If you’re old enough, that is.

There are two different minimum ages: one for governor and lieutenant governor, and another for the Legislature and all other elected offices.

15. The minimum age to hold the offices of governor/lieutenant governor; and all other elected offices are:

1. 35 and 21
2. 25 and 21
3. 35 and 25
4. 30 and 25

Answer: B; 25 and 21. Minimum ages for elective offices are set by the state constitution: Article V for the executive branch; Article VII for the Legislature and all other elective offices.

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Learn more on this topic from the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library guide on Legal age in Minnesota, and Youth and the Law: A Guide for Legislators, from the nonpartisan House Research Department.