Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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It took a few minutes for me to get the joke, when Minneapolis City Council Member Gary Schiff posted this photo to his Facebook wall with the caption "the most chilled out squad on the force."

For the uninitiated, "420" is a slang term long associated with marijuana. Ceremonial smoke-ups have been held for decades across the country at 4:20 p.m. on April 20 (4/20)... or any other day of the year for that matter. Enterprising journalists have 

"With the awareness the Police Department has of drug culture, I thought they would have skipped that number," Schiff said in a phone interview. "I was happy to find out this was not part of the narcotics unit."

Schiff urged the department to consider renumbering the vehicle, saying, "It makes them look naive at best."

Thinking Schiff can't be the first person to spot the ironic string of numerals on a cruiser, I performed a quick Google search. It turns out the 

National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws

NORML's Dallas-Fort Worth chapter put green lights on the roof, emblazoned it with the slogan "Legislate, Educate and Medicate" and called it a "Truth Enforcement Vehicle." Its number, of course, was 420.

Minnesota News

The Cities Blog

Curtis Gilbert

Author

City Council Member Gary Schiff spotted Minneapolis squad car 420, a number which has a second meaning for marijuana users.

Councilor suggests Minneapolis cops re-number car 420

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