Purpose

• The bill aims to prevent confusion or misrepresentation by requiring the removal of identifying equipment and insignia from emergency vehicles before they are sold or transferred to the public. This helps ensure that a vehicle cannot be easily mistaken for a public safety vehicle after it changes ownership.

Key Provisions

• Public safety vehicle definition

  • A public safety vehicle has the same meaning as an authorized emergency vehicle in Minnesota law (as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 3).

• Prohibition on sale or transfer

  • A person may not sell or transfer a public safety vehicle to the public unless all equipment and insignia that could lead a reasonable person to think the vehicle is a public safety vehicle are removed. This includes emergency lights, sirens, amber warning lights, spotlights, grill lights, antennas, emblems, outlines of emblems, or any emergency vehicle equipment.

• Certificate of compliance

  • Before sale or transfer, public safety agencies must provide a certificate of compliance to the transferee confirming removal of the public safety markings.
  • Sellers and auction houses must also provide a certificate of compliance to the transferee confirming removal.
  • The commissioner of public safety must create a standard certificate of compliance form and make it publicly available on the agency’s website at no cost, using existing funds.

• Violations and penalties

  • If the sale or transfer occurs in violation of the rule, the seller or transferee can be liable for damages caused by the vehicle’s use during a crime, and a civil penalty of $2,500.
  • Civil penalties collected go to the Minnesota Victims of Crime account.

• Enforcement

  • The attorney general may bring an action to recover the civil penalty.

• Exemption for collectors’ items

  • Sales or transfers to the public for collection or display (not for general transportation) are exempt if the vehicle is owned and operated solely as a collector’s item and is registered under specific registration provisions (listed in the bill).

• Section and coding note

  • The measure proposes adding a new provision to Minnesota Statutes, effectively coding a new section (169.981) related to sale or transfer of public safety vehicles.

Impact and Summary of Changes

• Creates a clear requirement to remove identifying public safety markings before vehicles are sold to the public.
• Establishes a formal process (certificates of compliance) to verify removal.
• Establishes penalties and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.
• Caps penalties at $2,500 per violation and directs penalties to a victims’ fund.
• Includes a defined exemption for true collector items, provided they are used only as collectors and properly registered.

Practical Considerations

• Public safety agencies and sellers/auctions must coordinate to obtain and issue certificates of compliance prior to any transfer.
• Potential buyers of former public safety vehicles may need to verify compliance documentation.
• The measure could affect the resale market for former emergency vehicles, particularly for those intended for non-transport use.

Significant Changes to Law

• Adds a new statutory requirement (169.981) governing the sale/transfer of public safety vehicles.
• Establishes a standardized certification process and formal penalties for non-compliance.
• Redirects civil penalties to a victims’ crime account, reinforcing victim-focused funding.

Relevant Terms - public safety vehicle - authorized emergency vehicle - sale or transfer - remove equipment - insignia - emergency light - siren - amber warning light - spotlight - grill light - antenna - emblem - outline of an emblem - public safety markings - certificate of compliance - transferee - seller - auction house - commissioner of public safety - standard certificate of compliance form - civil penalty - damages - crime - attorney general - Minnesota Victims of Crime account - collector’s item / collectors item - registration (168.10 subdivisions)