color law in Minnesota for warning Lights

[SGTJosh]

I know you can have amber and clear in front and red and amber in rear.
but is there a law in Minnesota where you can have green ?

I have heard green can be spotted at further distances,
by other security personal from different states.

I am not a big light fan.
as the police in MN do not want anyone even having amber lights.
just trying to get a question answered.
I tried looking up that statue but does not say if green is illegal or not.

[n0esc]

I think the closest you are going to get is state statute 164.64 Subd 2

Colored light. Unless otherwise authorized by the commissioner of public safety, no vehicle shall be equipped, nor shall any person drive or move any vehicle or equipment upon any highway with any lamp or device displaying a red light or any colored light other than those required or permitted in this chapter.

Essentially the rest of 164.64 and all of 164.59 cover the basic lights on any vehicle, eg: headlights, taillights, flashers/turn signals, and backup lamps.

I have been told green is generally reserved for municipal vehicles.

It only makes exceptions for government / public service, not Security specifically in terms of lighting exceptions, though color requirements for the vehicle itself is stated.

[mjw064]

as the police in MN do not want anyone even having amber lights.

Who cares what the police want? Your state legislature creates the laws of your state, not that police.

[HotelSecurity]

Who cares what the police want? Your state legislature creates the laws of your state, not that police.

Yea but often pressure from groups like the police force the legislators to make changes. Eg Ontario recently joined the rest of Canada when the government took the advice of the police & now allow blue lights with the red lights on police vehicles.

[mjw064]

Eg Ontario recently joined the rest of Canada when the government took the advice of the police & now allow blue lights with the red lights on police vehicles.

Oh wow, I thought Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, was still making up the laws in Canada.

I guess you learn something new everyday.

[HotelSecurity]

Oh wow, I thought Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom, Canada and Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, was still making up the laws in Canada.

I guess you learn something new everyday.

No the Governor General appointed by the Prime Minister now signs our federal laws. Ontario laws are signed by the Lt Governor of the province.

It is still Her Magistry (sp?) vs. Jpe Blow when you receive a supeona.

[SGTJosh]

so I guess green is out,
is that my state statue ?
I just dont like the color choices we have now.
if we had green no way would anyone mistaken security for police on are cars.

red and blues are for LEOs in MN any other color is for whatever.
a person seeing green and amber instead of red and amber.
is way better at distinguishing security.
it screams, that's a security car.

here is the security lights law

169.59 WARNING LIGHTS.
Subdivision 1. Fender lights. Any vehicle may be equipped with not more than two side
cowl or fender lamps, one on each side which shall emit a white light without glare.
Subd. 2. Running board light. Any vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running
board courtesy lamp on each side thereof, which shall emit a white or yellow light without glare.
Subd. 3. Backup light. Any vehicle may be equipped with not more than two backup lamps,
either separately or in combination with another lamp, and not more than two rear cornering
lamps, except that the lamps must not be continuously lighted when the vehicle is in forward
motion, nor shall it project a glaring light.
Subd. 4. Flashing warning light. Any vehicle may be equipped with lamps which may be
used for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular
traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing, and
when so equipped may display such warning in addition to any other warning signals required
by this section or section 169.50, subdivision 1 or 3; 169.56, subdivision 1, 2, 3, or 4; 169.57,
subdivision 1 ; or 169.64, subdivision 3. The lamps used to display such warnings to the front
shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall display
simultaneous flashing white or amber lights, or any shade of color between white and amber. The
lamps used to display such warnings to the rear shall be mounted at the same level and as widely
spaced laterally as practicable, and shall show simultaneously flashing amber or red lights, or any
shade of color between amber and red. Instead of a pair of lamps that flash simultaneously, either
one or two strobe lights or rotating beacon lights with an amber or yellow lens may be used both
to the front and rear of the vehicle.

never saw a Law about green.
being for police or anyone that is part of the government.

[sgtnewby]

Usually, green lights in MN signify "Triage" or "Incident Command." We used to have a single green stobe on the roof of our ambulances, but none of the new rigs have them.

[sgtnewby]

so I guess green is out,
is that my state statue ?
I just dont like the color choices we have now.
if we had green no way would anyone mistaken security for police on are cars.

red and blues are for LEOs in MN any other color is for whatever.
a person seeing green and amber instead of red and amber.
is way better at distinguishing security.
it screams, that's a security car.

here is the security lights law

169.59 WARNING LIGHTS.
Subdivision 1. Fender lights. Any vehicle may be equipped with not more than two side
cowl or fender lamps, one on each side which shall emit a white light without glare.
Subd. 2. Running board light. Any vehicle may be equipped with not more than one running
board courtesy lamp on each side thereof, which shall emit a white or yellow light without glare.
Subd. 3. Backup light. Any vehicle may be equipped with not more than two backup lamps,
either separately or in combination with another lamp, and not more than two rear cornering
lamps, except that the lamps must not be continuously lighted when the vehicle is in forward
motion, nor shall it project a glaring light.
Subd. 4. Flashing warning light. Any vehicle may be equipped with lamps which may be
used for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular
traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing, and
when so equipped may display such warning in addition to any other warning signals required
by this section or section 169.50, subdivision 1 or 3; 169.56, subdivision 1, 2, 3, or 4; 169.57,
subdivision 1 ; or 169.64, subdivision 3. The lamps used to display such warnings to the front
shall be mounted at the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable, and shall display
simultaneous flashing white or amber lights, or any shade of color between white and amber. The
lamps used to display such warnings to the rear shall be mounted at the same level and as widely
spaced laterally as practicable, and shall show simultaneously flashing amber or red lights, or any
shade of color between amber and red. Instead of a pair of lamps that flash simultaneously, either
one or two strobe lights or rotating beacon lights with an amber or yellow lens may be used both
to the front and rear of the vehicle.

never saw a Law about green.
being for police or anyone that is part of the government.

Private security can have red to the rear, but they have to flash together, just as "hazard flashers" do.

Here's a good document that details everything that is legal and illegal for private security in MN.

http://www.dps.state.mn.us/pdb/Resources/PDPA_Minnesota_Statutes.pdf

I guess I should ask, are you working for a private company or proprietary? Because there are differances in the laws.

[SGTJosh]

well I worked private security.
I was thinking of opening a security company up.
with a friend who was a tribal officer.

I know the light laws fine just never saw anything about green.
as close to as I can get, its incident management unit lighting.

did some hardcore searching.
to bad green would be a nice mix for front with amber.

[mjw064]

I posted bad advice here and have now erased it.

[Curtis Baillie]

Why don't you just do it and if anyone from the state hassles you about it, claim ignorance and fix it. It's usually much easier that way, especially when the law is vague.

Not a way for a true professional to conduct their business. In my opinion that's one of the things wrong with todays society - people do things on the shady side and wait to see if they can get away with it.

[mjw064]

Not a way for a true professional to conduct their business. In my opinion that's one of the things wrong with todays society - people do things on the shady side and wait to see if they can get away with it.

True Fact.

[Curtis Baillie]

Then why would you recommend to a forums member to take that course of action? Are you sure the DC Police dosen't have a light duty job for you?

[mjw064]

I guess that wasn't the best advice, although admittedly that way of handling things sometimes is part of my thought process. Which is perhaps an ethical dilemma I must come to terms with.

I have reconstructive surgery of my wrist joint scheduled for next Wednesday, so I am hoping I can get back to work on light duty very soon. I am quite bored now as we approach 8 weeks of being off.