Is It Legal To Drive With Christmas Lights Lit In North Dakota?

I was minding my own business getting some groceries last Christmas in south Bismarck when there arose such a clatter.

A white truck rolled into the parking lot with a lit Christmas tree in the pickup bed.  Now, that's the Christmas spirit.

I was leaving at the time and the driver was already inside the store, so I couldn't find out more.  I have yet to run into this "Holly Jolly" family truckster this year, so I'm not sure if he or she is still "lighting up Bismarck Mandan."

Anyway, it got me thinking...is it even legal to drive around with a lit Christmas tree in your vehicle?

Not to be a Grinch, but it seems like anything fun these days, somebody wants to ruin it.  I reached out to my friend with the Bismarck Police Department to ask him if this act of spreading Christmas joy is indeed illegal (if that is what the owner of the truck was trying to do).

Unfortunately, it is indeed ILLEGAL in the state of North Dakota. 

Bah humbug!  First off, only red lights are permitted to the rear of vehicles (with the exception of reverse lights, license plate lights that can only be white, and turn signals).

Additionally, any flashing light aside from turn signals is prohibited (yes, the tree lights were blinking).  The only exception would be for class A/B/C emergency vehicles.  These laws all fall under the North Dakota Century Code 39-21.

So, much for spreading holiday joy in North Dakota.

This particular police officer told me he would probably let it slide, but you can bet others wouldn't be so kind.

Yep, Christmas lights of any kind displayed on your vehicle in North Dakota are indeed ILLEGAL. Don't shoot the messenger.