Police can coat car windows

Placing glazing material on the window of a motor vehicle is against the law in Minnesota, with a few exceptions, such as vehicles transporting a body to a funeral, and those vehicles where the driver has a prescription or physician’s note. A new law adds police vehicles to the list.

Sponsored by Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls) and Sen. Dan Skogen (DFL-Hewitt), the law permits police departments to put glazing material over side and rear windows of police vehicles.

Nornes said the initial bill was in response to a K-9 police officer concerned about conditions for police dogs that ride in the back of police cars. An amendment was added to remove a “used to transport a police dog” exemption, and allow police departments to determine when vehicle window glazing is appropriate.

Signed into law by Gov. Tim Pawlenty April 10, the law is effective April 11.

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