HF 676

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/24/2011 10:20am

A bill for an act
relating to motor vehicles; providing for unmarked vehicle plates for conservation
officers; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 168.012, subdivision 1;
repealing Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 168.012, subdivision 1b.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 168.012, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Vehicles exempt from tax, fees, or plate display.

(a) The following
vehicles are exempt from the provisions of this chapter requiring payment of tax and
registration fees, except as provided in subdivision 1c:

(1) vehicles owned and used solely in the transaction of official business by the
federal government, the state, or any political subdivision;

(2) vehicles owned and used exclusively by educational institutions and used solely
in the transportation of pupils to and from those institutions;

(3) vehicles used solely in driver education programs at nonpublic high schools;

(4) vehicles owned by nonprofit charities and used exclusively to transport disabled
persons for charitable, religious, or educational purposes;

(5) vehicles owned by nonprofit charities and used exclusively for disaster response
and related activities;

(6) vehicles owned by ambulance services licensed under section 144E.10 that
are equipped and specifically intended for emergency response or providing ambulance
services; and

(7) vehicles owned by a commercial driving school licensed under section 171.34,
or an employee of a commercial driving school licensed under section 171.34, and the
vehicle is used exclusively for driver education and training.

(b) Provided the general appearance of the vehicle is unmistakable, the following
vehicles are not required to register or display number plates:

(1) vehicles owned by the federal government;

(2) fire apparatuses, including fire-suppression support vehicles, owned or leased by
the state or a political subdivision;

(3) police patrols owned or leased by the state or a political subdivision; and

(4) ambulances owned or leased by the state or a political subdivision.

(c) Unmarked vehicles used in general police work, liquor investigations, or arson
investigations, and passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, and buses owned or operated by
the Department of Corrections new text begin or by conservation officers of the Division of Enforcement
and Field Service of the Department of Natural Resources new text end , must be registered and must
display appropriate license number plates, furnished by the registrar at cost. Original and
renewal applications for these license plates authorized for use in general police work and
for use by the Department of Corrections new text begin or by conservation officers new text end must be accompanied
by a certification signed by the appropriate chief of police if issued to a police vehicle,
the appropriate sheriff if issued to a sheriff's vehicle, the commissioner of corrections if
issued to a Department of Corrections vehicle, or the appropriate officer in charge if
issued to a vehicle of any other law enforcement agency. The certification must be on a
form prescribed by the commissioner and state that the vehicle will be used exclusively
for a purpose authorized by this section.

(d) Unmarked vehicles used by the Departments of Revenue and Labor and Industry,
fraud unit, in conducting seizures or criminal investigations must be registered and must
display passenger vehicle classification license number plates, furnished at cost by the
registrar. Original and renewal applications for these passenger vehicle license plates
must be accompanied by a certification signed by the commissioner of revenue or the
commissioner of labor and industry. The certification must be on a form prescribed by
the commissioner and state that the vehicles will be used exclusively for the purposes
authorized by this section.

(e) Unmarked vehicles used by the Division of Disease Prevention and Control of the
Department of Health must be registered and must display passenger vehicle classification
license number plates. These plates must be furnished at cost by the registrar. Original
and renewal applications for these passenger vehicle license plates must be accompanied
by a certification signed by the commissioner of health. The certification must be on a
form prescribed by the commissioner and state that the vehicles will be used exclusively
for the official duties of the Division of Disease Prevention and Control.

(f) Unmarked vehicles used by staff of the Gambling Control Board in gambling
investigations and reviews must be registered and must display passenger vehicle
classification license number plates. These plates must be furnished at cost by the
registrar. Original and renewal applications for these passenger vehicle license plates must
be accompanied by a certification signed by the board chair. The certification must be on a
form prescribed by the commissioner and state that the vehicles will be used exclusively
for the official duties of the Gambling Control Board.

(g) Unmarked vehicles used in general investigation, surveillance, supervision,
and monitoring by the staff of the Department of Human Services Office of Special
Investigations and the executive director of the Minnesota sex offender program must
be registered and must display passenger vehicle classification license number plates,
furnished by the registrar at cost. Original and renewal applications for passenger vehicle
license plates must be accompanied by a certification signed by the commissioner of
human services. The certification must be on a form prescribed by the commissioner and
state that the vehicles must be used exclusively for the official duties of the Office of
Special Investigations and the executive director of the Minnesota sex offender program.

(h) Each state hospital and institution for persons who are mentally ill and
developmentally disabled may have one vehicle without the required identification on
the sides of the vehicle. The vehicle must be registered and must display passenger
vehicle classification license number plates. These plates must be furnished at cost by the
registrar. Original and renewal applications for these passenger vehicle license plates must
be accompanied by a certification signed by the hospital administrator. The certification
must be on a form prescribed by the commissioner and state that the vehicles will be used
exclusively for the official duties of the state hospital or institution.

(i) Each county social service agency may have vehicles used for child and
vulnerable adult protective services without the required identification on the sides of the
vehicle. The vehicles must be registered and must display passenger vehicle classification
license number plates. These plates must be furnished at cost by the registrar. Original
and renewal applications for these passenger vehicle license plates must be accompanied
by a certification signed by the agency administrator. The certification must be on a form
prescribed by the commissioner and state that the vehicles will be used exclusively for the
official duties of the social service agency.

(j) All other motor vehicles must be registered and display tax-exempt number
plates, furnished by the registrar at cost, except as provided in subdivision 1c. All
vehicles required to display tax-exempt number plates must have the name of the state
department or political subdivision, nonpublic high school operating a driver education
program, licensed commercial driving school, or other qualifying organization or entity,
plainly displayed on both sides of the vehicle. This identification must be in a color
giving contrast with that of the part of the vehicle on which it is placed and must endure
throughout the term of the registration. The identification must not be on a removable
plate or placard and must be kept clean and visible at all times; except that a removable
plate or placard may be utilized on vehicles leased or loaned to a political subdivision or
to a nonpublic high school driver education program.

Sec. 2. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 168.012, subdivision 1b, new text end new text begin is repealed.
new text end