Beware: When Road Paint Becomes a Legal Battle with Crooked Officials in Minnesota

In July, while traveling through northern Minnesota in my RV (with my Jeep Wrangler in tow and my dog by my side), I had an unexpected encounter with state road crews that turned into a frustrating ordeal.

The Incident on US-2

After leaving Grand Marais and heading west toward Bemidji, I came upon a state road-painting vehicle around midday. The sprayer had stopped in the middle of the lane, with no flaggers, cones, or warning signs in place. The only marker was a sign affixed to the back of the truck—visible only once you were nearly upon it.

With two vehicles ahead of me and no workers directing traffic, my only option was to cross over the freshly painted double yellow line. As my RV rolled across, I could hear the wet splatter beneath me. By the time I reached my campground in Bemidji, the damage was obvious: thick streaks of yellow road paint covered the wheel wells, splattered across the sides of both my RV and Jeep, and marked up the trim.

The Cleanup Attempts

I immediately turned to online research and local auto stores for solutions. I spent over $200 on cleaning products and supplies, made multiple trips to AutoZone and O’Reilly’s, and consulted with their staff. Despite my efforts, nothing worked. The state’s industrial-grade road paint was unyielding.

Filing a Claim

I reached out to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to report the incident. The process required filling out extensive paperwork, submitting photos, and detailing every aspect of what had occurred. After about a week, I heard back—only to be told I needed to file a second claim with a different department.

I complied, completed more forms, and waited. Weeks passed with no word. When I followed up, I was told the case would be “pinged” to the right office. More silence. When I finally received an answer, it was a denial. MnDOT claimed there was no negligence on their part.

I appealed, believing the facts spoke for themselves: I had no choice in the matter, no warnings were given, and the damage was caused by state paint. The result? Another denial.

A Pattern of Denial

From my perspective, the negligence was clear. I didn’t choose to paint my vehicles. I was forced into a situation created by the state’s lack of traffic control. For them to deny responsibility is not only unjust—it feels like a calculated policy to “deny, deny, deny” when citizens file claims.

This experience wasn’t just about road paint. It was about accountability. Minnesota’s refusal to acknowledge their role left me bearing the costs and frustration of their mistake. For travelers like me, it’s a stark reminder: sometimes the biggest hazards on the road aren’t potholes or weather—they’re bureaucracies unwilling to own up to their errors.