SF 2484

1st Engrossment - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; requiring vehicles to 
  1.3             be driven in the right-hand lane unless overtaking 
  1.4             slower vehicles; modifying school zone speed limit 
  1.5             provisions; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 
  1.6             169.14, subdivisions 4 and 5a; and 169.18, subdivision 
  1.7             7.  
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.14, 
  1.10  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 4.  [ESTABLISHMENT OF ZONES BY COMMISSIONER.] On 
  1.12  determining upon the basis of an engineering and traffic 
  1.13  investigation that any speed set forth in this section is 
  1.14  greater or less than is reasonable or safe under the conditions 
  1.15  found to exist on any trunk highway or upon any part thereof, 
  1.16  the commissioner may erect appropriate signs designating a 
  1.17  reasonable and safe speed limit thereat, which speed limit shall 
  1.18  be effective when such signs are erected.  Any speeds in excess 
  1.19  of such limits shall be prima facie evidence that the speed is 
  1.20  not reasonable or prudent and that it is unlawful; except that 
  1.21  any speed limit within any municipality shall be a maximum limit 
  1.22  and any speed in excess thereof shall be unlawful.  On 
  1.23  determining upon that basis that a part of the trunk highway 
  1.24  system outside a municipality should be a zone of maximum speed 
  1.25  limit, the commissioner may establish that part as such a zone 
  1.26  by erecting appropriate signs showing the beginning and end of 
  2.1   the zone, designating a reasonable and safe speed therefor, 
  2.2   which may be different than the speed set forth in this section, 
  2.3   and that it is a zone of maximum speed limit.  The speed so 
  2.4   designated by the commissioner within any such zone shall be a 
  2.5   maximum speed limit, and speed in excess of such limit shall be 
  2.6   unlawful.  The commissioner may in the same manner from time to 
  2.7   time alter the boundary of such a zone and the speed limit 
  2.8   therein or eliminate such zone.  
  2.9      The commissioner shall establish a maximum speed limit of 
  2.10  25 miles per hour in a school zone after a school board and 
  2.11  local authority jointly request this action for a school zone 
  2.12  within their jurisdictions. 
  2.13     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.14, 
  2.14  subdivision 5a, is amended to read: 
  2.15     Subd. 5a.  [SPEED ZONING IN SCHOOL ZONE; SURCHARGE.] Local 
  2.16  authorities may establish a school speed limit within a school 
  2.17  zone of a public or nonpublic school upon the basis of an 
  2.18  engineering and traffic investigation as prescribed by the 
  2.19  commissioner of transportation.  The establishment of a school 
  2.20  speed limit on any trunk highway shall be with the consent of 
  2.21  the commissioner of transportation, except where a 25 mile per 
  2.22  hour speed limit has been requested under section 169.14, 
  2.23  subdivision 4.  Such school speed limits shall be in effect when 
  2.24  children are present, going to or leaving school during opening 
  2.25  or closing hours or during school recess periods.  The school 
  2.26  speed limit shall not be lower than 15 miles per hour and shall 
  2.27  not be more than 20 miles per hour below the established speed 
  2.28  limit on an affected street or highway if the established speed 
  2.29  limit is 40 miles per hour or greater, except where a 25 mile 
  2.30  per hour speed limit has been requested under section 169.14, 
  2.31  subdivision 4. 
  2.32     The school speed limit shall be effective upon the erection 
  2.33  of appropriate signs designating the speed and indicating the 
  2.34  beginning and end of the reduced speed zone.  Any speed in 
  2.35  excess of such posted school speed limit is unlawful.  All such 
  2.36  signs shall be erected by the local authorities on those streets 
  3.1   and highways under their respective jurisdictions and by the 
  3.2   commissioner of transportation on trunk highways. 
  3.3      For the purpose of this subdivision, "school zone" means 
  3.4   that section of a street or highway which abuts the grounds of a 
  3.5   school where children have access to the street or highway from 
  3.6   the school property or where an established school crossing is 
  3.7   located provided the school advance sign prescribed by the 
  3.8   manual on uniform traffic control devices adopted by the 
  3.9   commissioner of transportation pursuant to section 169.06 is in 
  3.10  place.  All signs erected by local authorities to designate 
  3.11  speed limits in school zones shall conform to the manual on 
  3.12  uniform control devices. 
  3.13     Notwithstanding section 609.0331 or 609.101 or other law to 
  3.14  the contrary, a person who violates a speed limit established 
  3.15  under this subdivision is assessed an additional surcharge equal 
  3.16  to the amount of the fine imposed for the violation, but not 
  3.17  less than $25. 
  3.18     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.18, 
  3.19  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
  3.20     Subd. 7.  [LANED HIGHWAY.] When any roadway has been 
  3.21  divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for traffic, the 
  3.22  following rules, in addition to all others consistent herewith, 
  3.23  shall apply: 
  3.24     (a) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable 
  3.25  entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such 
  3.26  lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement 
  3.27  can be made with safety. 
  3.28     (b) Upon a roadway which is not a one-way roadway and which 
  3.29  is divided into three lanes, a vehicle shall not be driven in 
  3.30  the center lane except when overtaking and passing another 
  3.31  vehicle where the roadway is clearly visible and such center 
  3.32  lane is clear of traffic within a safe distance, or in 
  3.33  preparation for a left turn or where such center lane is at the 
  3.34  time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the direction 
  3.35  the vehicle is proceeding, and is signposted to give notice of 
  3.36  such allocation.  The left lane of a three-lane roadway which is 
  4.1   not a one-way roadway shall not be used for overtaking and 
  4.2   passing another vehicle. 
  4.3      (c) Official signs may be erected directing slow-moving 
  4.4   traffic to use a designated lane or allocating specified lanes 
  4.5   to traffic moving in the same direction, and drivers of vehicles 
  4.6   shall obey the directions of every such sign. 
  4.7      (d) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a 
  4.8   roadway, any person operating a motor vehicle on such roadway 
  4.9   shall not drive in the bicycle lane except to park where parking 
  4.10  is permitted, to enter or leave the highway, or to prepare for a 
  4.11  turn as provided in section 169.19, subdivision 1. 
  4.12     (e) To the extent it is practicable, a vehicle shall be 
  4.13  driven in the right-hand lane unless it is overtaking slower 
  4.14  vehicles.