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N.D. (KFGO) – You’ll start to see something new on North Dakota highways soon.

The State Patrol is transitioning from white to black patrol cars and SUVs. Capt. Bryan Niewind says trooper-safety was one consideration. He says it’ll be a four-year process.

“The biggest reason was just for safety out there if you think about it, during North Dakota, about six months of the year we can have those snow events out there, we have some miserable weather out there and those white patrol cars match that white snow that’s falling and blowing out there so we think that darker patrol car is going to make us a little more visible while we’re driving up and down the roadways but also more visible if we’re out there parked, sitting on a crash scene or something like that,” Niewind added.

The first black patrol vehicle is on the road around Jamestown. The tomahawk logo will remain on the doors. That goes back to 1951 and is the likeness of Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Officer Red Tomahawk. His family gave approval for its use.