# Nebraska State Patrol — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **operation:** document - **citation:** 12-0139 - **title:** Nebraska State Patrol — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation - **source type:** guidance - **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - **status:** guidance - **official:** true - **published on:** 2012-07-25 - **effective on:** Not available - **summary:** 12-0139 response to Nebraska State Patrol concerning 172.502. - **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0139.json - **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0139.md - **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0139 - **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120139.pdf **body:** <<>> U.S. Department ·.)f Transportation ."ipeline and Hazardous ;,1aterials Safety "'.dministration Sergeant Brad Wagner Carrier Enforcement Division Nebraska State Patrol P.O. Box 94907 Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4907 Ref. No. 12-0139 :Jo ~J•"'N JP.rsev 1\ven11e SE 'i:.1sh1nqton. DC 20590 ,iJl 2 5 2012 Dear Sergeant Wagner: This responds to your June 19, 2012 request for clarification on prohibited placarding under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you asked if a red "N" on a white square on point background shown in your attached photographs constitutes a prohibited sign under§ 172.502(a)(2). Section 172.502(a)(2) provides that: [N]o person may affix or display on a packaging, freight container, unit load device, motor vehicle or rail car. .. any sign, advertisement, slogan (such as ""Drive Safely"), or device that, by its color, design, shape, or content, could be confused with any placard prescribed in this subpart. This prohibition is intended to limit the potential dilution of hazard communication provided-by the appropriate hazardous materials placards. The display in the photographs you provided is similar in "shape" (square on point configuration) to that of hazardous materials placards, and could be confused with prescribed placards in the HMR. Therefore, the red "N" on a white square on point background is prohibited under § 172.502(a)(2). I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, contact this office at (202) 366-8553. Sincerely, Robert Benedict Chief, Standards Development Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Dave Heineman Governor STATE OF NEBRASKA NEBRASKA STATE PATROL Colonel David A. Sankey Superintendent P.O. Box 94907 Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4907 Phone: (402) 471-4545 June 19,2012 13ocJffie ~ l 12... ~o~(a){?.) Pla.carc11f1j lh-'013'1 Charles E. Betts Director, Standards and Rulemaking Division U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor Washington, DC 20590 Dear Mr. Betts: Please provide a determination on whether a red "N" on a white square on point background in the attached photos constitute a prohibited sign under § 172.502(a)(2). Thank you for your time and attention in this matter. Respectfully, Brad Wagner, Sergeant Carrier Enforcement Division Enclosures: (2) Cc: Captain Krolikowski File AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Printed with soy ink on recycled paper - **truncated:** false - **body characters:** 2524