New Requirements When Selling Law Enforcement Vehicles

New legislation will require that before a law enforcement vehicle can be sold or transferred to the public, state and local law enforcement agencies must remove equipment and insignias that could mislead a reasonable person to believe the vehicle is a law enforcement vehicle (see Minn. Sess. Laws ch. 97, art. 12, sec. 1). The law takes effect Oct. 1.

The law applies to vehicles owned or leased by a state or local law enforcement agency; and requires the removal of emergency lights, sirens, amber warning lights, grill lights, emblems and outlines of emblems.

Certificate of Compliance

The vehicle owner must also provide a certificate of compliance to the buyer or transferee confirming that the vehicle has had the law enforcement equipment and insignia removed. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety will design and have a standard certificate available on its website.

Exemptions

The requirement to remove any equipment or insignia does not apply to the sale or transfer of a vehicle to the federal government, state or other political subdivisions.

Vehicles sold or transferred to the public for the purpose of collection or display are exempt from these requirements if certain conditions are met.

Consequences of Noncompliance

A person who sells or transfers a law enforcement vehicle in violation of this law may be liable for damages proximately caused by the use of the vehicle during the commission of a crime and a civil penalty of $2,500.