SF 4235
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/27/2026 09:38 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to public safety; requiring removal of identifying equipment and insignia
from emergency vehicles sold to the public; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 169.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
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[169.981] SALE OR TRANSFER OF PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLE.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definition. new text end
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For purposes of this section, "Public safety vehicle" has the
same meaning as "authorized emergency vehicle" in section 169.011, subdivision 3.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Prohibition. new text end
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A person may not sell or transfer a public safety vehicle to the
public unless the person first removes any equipment or insignia that could mislead a
reasonable person to believe that the vehicle is a public safety vehicle, including any
emergency light, siren, amber warning light, spotlight, grill light, antenna, emblem, outline
of an emblem, or emergency vehicle equipment.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Certificate of compliance. new text end
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(a) Public safety agencies, before consummating
the sale or transfer of a public safety vehicle, must provide a certificate of compliance to
the transferee confirming that the vehicle has had the public safety markings removed.
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(b) Sellers and auction houses, before consummating the sale or transfer of a public
safety vehicle, must provide a certificate of compliance to the transferee confirming that
the vehicle has had the public safety markings removed.
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(c) The commissioner of public safety must design a standard certificate of compliance
form and make the form publicly available without fee on the agency's publicly accessible
website using existing appropriations.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Violations. new text end
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(a) A person who sells or transfers a public safety vehicle to the
public in violation of this section is liable for:
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(1) damages proximately caused by the use of that vehicle during the commission of a
crime; and
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(2) a civil penalty of $2,500.
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(b) Civil penalties collected under this subdivision must be deposited in the Minnesota
victims of crime account created in section 299A.708.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Enforcement. new text end
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The attorney general may bring an action to recover the civil
penalty established under subdivision 4.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Exemption. new text end
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Sales or transfers of public safety vehicles to members of the public
for purpose of collection or display are exempt from the requirements of this section if the
vehicle is owned and operated solely as a collector's item and not for general transportation
purposes and is registered under section 168.10, subdivision 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1g, or 1h.
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