Detroit Lakes (trfnews.i234.me) — A Perham man faces a gross misdemeanor charge in Becker County after a court complaint said he did not have valid proof of insurance during a traffic stop in Detroit Lakes.
According to the complaint, Jeffry Wayne Lehman, 58, was stopped on November 16, 2025, after a report of a vehicle swerving near U.S. Highway 10 and Jackson Avenue. The complaint said the vehicle was a truck with a red topper.
What the Complaint Says
Prosecutors said Lehman gave an expired insurance card during the stop. The complaint said he told authorities he had a current policy with Progressive. He was later asked to provide his policy number.
Court records said Lehman called the police department on November 23, 2025, and left two messages. Investigators later checked the policy information with Progressive.
That review found the policy was started on November 22, 2025. That was six days after the traffic stop, according to the complaint. Prosecutors said the policy was not active on the date of the stop.
The complaint also said a written request for insurance information was mailed to Lehman. The filing said that form was not returned.
Prior Cases Cited
The charge was filed as a gross misdemeanor. The complaint said Lehman had prior insurance-related convictions in 2023 and 2024. Those earlier cases raised the level of the current charge.
The case was filed in Becker County District Court. The charge cites Minnesota Statute 169.791, which covers proof of insurance rules for vehicle owners.
Possible Penalty
The complaint lists a maximum penalty of one year in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both. A charge is only an accusation. Lehman has not been convicted in this case.
The filing says the alleged offense happened in Detroit Lakes on or about November 16, 2025. The court file number is 03-CR-26-170.
This case now moves through the court process in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District. Future hearings will decide how the case proceeds.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
