# Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Motor Carrier Services — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 02-0211  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2002-09-30

02-0211 response to Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Motor Carrier Services concerning 172.502.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

J.S. Department
of Transportatior
Washington, D.C.
petal rogram
dministratio
SEP 3 0 2002
Mr. Michael Ritchie
Ref. No. 02-0211
Minnesota Department of Transportation
office of Motor Carrier Services
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Mail Stop 420
Dear Mr. Ritchie:
This is in response to your letter dated August 19, 2002,
Specifically, you ask if white or orange placard holders, when
requesting clarification of the prohibited placarding provisions.
placed on a contrasting background, would be prohibited under
§ 172.502 (a) (2) of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49
CFR Parts 171-180).
You enclosed several photographs of white
and orange placard
holders.
on a transport vehicle or freight container that, by its color,
Displaying or affixing a sign, advertisement, slogan, or device
design, shape, or content, could be confused with, or mistaken
$ 172.502 (a) (2).
warning placard is prohibited under
potential for dilution of the hazard warning communication that
This prohibition is intended to limit the
would be provided by an appropriate hazardous materials placard.
Based on our review of the photographs that you provided, it is
our opinion that the orange placard holders that are affixed to a
confused by color, design and shape with an explosive placard.
contrasting background, as depicted in your enclosures, could be
background are prohibited under $ 172.502 (a) (2).
Therefore, the orange placard holders
shown on a contrasting
The white
placard holders that are affixed to a contrasting background, as
$ 172.502 (a) (2).
depicted in
your enclosures, are not prohibited under
172,508
020211

<<<PAGE 2>>>

It is our opinion that neither the white placard holders nor the
orange holders displayed on an orange background would be
confused with, or mistaken for, a hazard warning placard and,
therefore, neither is prohibited under $ 172.502 (b) (2).
I hope this satisfies your inquiry. If we can be of further
assistance, please contact us.
Sincerely,
Director,
Materials
Office of Hazardous
Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

INFOCNTR
From:
To:
Sent:
Mike Ritchie [Michael.Ritchie@dot.state.mn.us]
Monday, August 19, 2002 3:12 PM
Subject:
Request for clarification of 49 CFR 172.502 & 172.516
Infocntr, Infocntr <RSPA-
"BAHt
$172.502
§172.516
ustholland4.JPG
tholland08132002.JP
Mike Ritchie.vcf
Edward Mazzullo
Placarding
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
USDOT/ RSPA
02-0211
Dear Mr. Mazzuilo,
ransportation Program Specialists from out office have issued warning
CFR Subpart F.
nd tickets on apparent violations of the placarding requirements of 4
172.516 (c) (7) requires placards to be affixed to a background o1
line that contrasts with the background color.
ontrasting color, or be surrounded by a border of a dotted or solic
The photo titled ustholland4,
placard display requirements?
The photo titled 1 holland081 shows a side view of a trailer. A hinged
holder are displayed on an orange background.
Mal or i displayed on an orange peckgron anage lad of Ninet
background on an empty placard holder or the
Jould display of a class 6 placard on a white background with no borde
lacard a violation because it may resemble a class 6 poison placard
please contact me.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you have any questions
Yours truly,
Hazardous Materials Specialist
Michael Ritchie
Office of Motor Carrier Services
Minnesota Department
of Transportation
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
1110 Centre Pointe Curve, MS420
michael.ritchie@dot.state.mn.us
(651) 405-6120

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2002/020211.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `3446ceb14092bb999d2287be0cac7e970d24f5cc573f1eff130e042b107e7188`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T08:58:25.048Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-02-0211`

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