2007 Minnesota Statutes

169.64 PROHIBITED LIGHTS; EXCEPTIONS.
    Subdivision 1. Bright light. Any lighted lamp or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle,
other than a headlamp, a spot lamp, or an auxiliary driving lamp, which projects a beam of
light of an intensity greater than 300-candle power, shall be so directed that no part of the beam
will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than 75
feet from the vehicle.
    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.
    Subd. 3. Flashing lights. Flashing lights are prohibited, except on an authorized emergency
vehicle, school bus, bicycle as provided in section 169.222, subdivision 6, road maintenance
equipment, tow truck or towing vehicle, service vehicle, farm tractor, self-propelled farm
equipment, rural mail carrier vehicle, funeral home vehicle, or on any vehicle as a means of
indicating a right or left turn, or the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care
in approaching, overtaking, or passing. All flashing warning lights shall be of the type authorized
by section 169.59, subdivision 4, unless otherwise permitted or required in this chapter.
    Subd. 4. Blue light. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) to (d), blue lights are prohibited
on all vehicles except road maintenance equipment and snow removal equipment operated by or
under contract to the state or a political subdivision thereof.
(b) Authorized emergency vehicles may display flashing blue lights to the rear of the vehicle
as a warning signal in combination with other lights permitted or required by this chapter.
In addition, authorized emergency vehicles may display, mounted on the passenger side only,
flashing blue lights to the front of the vehicle as a warning signal in combination with other
lights permitted or required by this chapter.
(c) A motorcycle may display a blue light of up to one-inch diameter as part of the
motorcycle's rear brake light.
(d) A motor vehicle may display a blue light of up to one-inch diameter as part of the
vehicle's rear brake light if:
(1) the vehicle is a collector vehicle, as described in section 168.10; or
(2) the vehicle is eligible to display a collector plate under section 168.10.
    Subd. 5. Flashing light on tow truck. A tow truck or towing vehicle must be equipped with
flashing or intermittent red and amber lights of a type approved by the commissioner of public
safety. The lights must be placed on the dome of the vehicle at the highest practicable point
visible from a distance of 500 feet. The flashing red light must be displayed only when the tow
truck or towing vehicle is engaged in emergency service on or near the traveled portion of a
highway. The flashing amber light may be displayed when the tow truck or towing vehicle is
moving a disabled vehicle.
    Subd. 6. Flashing amber light. (a) Any service vehicle may be equipped with a flashing
amber lamp of a type approved by the commissioner of public safety.
(b) A service vehicle shall not display the lighted lamp authorized under paragraph (a) when
traveling upon the highway or at any other time except at the scene of a disabled vehicle or while
engaged in snow removal or road maintenance.
(c) A self-propelled implement of husbandry may display the lighted lamp authorized under
paragraph (a) at any time.
    Subd. 7.[Repealed, 1991 c 277 s 18]
    Subd. 8. Strobe lamp. (a) Notwithstanding sections 169.55, subdivision 1; 169.57,
subdivision 3 , paragraph (b); or any other law to the contrary, a vehicle may be equipped with a
360-degree flashing strobe lamp that emits a white light with a flash rate of 60 to 120 flashes a
minute, and the lamp may be used as provided in this subdivision, if the vehicle is:
(1) a school bus that is subject to and complies with the equipment requirements of sections
169.441, subdivision 1, and 169.442, subdivision 1, or a Head Start bus that is not a type III bus
as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 6. The lamp shall be permanently mounted on the
longitudinal centerline of the bus roof not less than two feet nor more than seven feet forward
of the rear roof edge. It shall operate from a separate switch containing an indicator lamp to
show when the strobe lamp is in use. The strobe lamp may be lighted only when atmospheric
conditions or terrain restrict the visibility of school bus lamps and signals or Head Start bus lamps
and signals so as to require use of the bright strobe lamp to alert motorists to the presence of the
school bus or Head Start bus. A strobe lamp may not be lighted unless the school bus or Head
Start bus is actually being used as a school bus or Head Start bus; or
(2) a road maintenance vehicle owned or under contract to the Department of Transportation
or a road authority of a county, home rule or statutory city, or town, but the strobe lamp may only
be operated while the vehicle is actually engaged in snow removal during daylight hours.
(b) Notwithstanding sections 169.55, subdivision 1; 169.57, subdivision 3, paragraph (b); or
any other law to the contrary, a vehicle may be equipped with a 360-degree flashing strobe lamp
that emits an amber light with a flash rate of 60 to 120 flashes a minute, and the lamp may be
used as provided in this subdivision, if the vehicle is a rural mail carrier vehicle, provided that the
strobe lamp is mounted at the highest practicable point on the vehicle. The strobe lamp may only
be operated while the vehicle is actually engaged during daylight hours in the delivery of mail
to residents on a rural mail route.
(c) A strobe lamp authorized by this section shall be of a double flash type certified to the
commissioner of public safety by the manufacturer as being weatherproof and having a minimum
effective light output of 200 candelas as measured by the Blondel-Rey formula.
    Subd. 9. Warning lamp on vehicles collecting solid waste. A vehicle used to collect solid
waste may be equipped with a single amber gaseous discharge warning lamp that meets the
Society of Automotive Engineers standard J 1318, Class 2. The lamp may be operated only when
the collection vehicle is in the process of collecting solid waste and is either:
(1) stopped at an establishment where solid waste is to be collected; or
(2) traveling at a speed that is at least ten miles per hour below the posted speed limit and
moving between establishments where solid waste is to be collected.
    Subd. 10. Cover for lamp or reflector. (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), it is
prohibited for any person to:
(1) equip a motor vehicle with any equipment or material that covers a headlamp, taillamp,
or reflector; or
(2) operate a motor vehicle fitted with or otherwise having equipment or material that covers
a headlamp, taillamp, or reflector.
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to:
(1) any manufacturer's original equipment or material;
(2) any equipment or material that is clear and colorless; or
(3) the covering for auxiliary lights required under section 169.56.
History: (2720-250) 1937 c 464 s 100; 1947 c 428 s 29; 1949 c 90 s 3; 1953 c 103 s 1; 1959
c 521 s 10; 1971 c 53 s 1; 1971 c 491 s 19,20; 1976 c 104 s 2,3; 1981 c 191 s 5; 1991 c 112 s
3,5; 1991 c 339 s 7; 1992 c 464 art 2 s 1; 1993 c 187 s 9; 1993 c 281 s 6; 1993 c 326 art 4 s 3;
1994 c 478 s 2,3; 1994 c 603 s 13; 1994 c 635 art 1 s 13; 1994 c 647 art 12 s 28; 1995 c 120 s 1;
1999 c 35 s 1; 2000 c 293 s 1; 2002 c 316 s 2; 2003 c 49 s 1