2nd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 08/27/2015 03:37pm
A bill for an act
relating to public safety; revising the definition of reckless driving and enhancing
penalties for reckless driving resulting in death or great bodily harm; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.13, subdivisions 1, 3.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
(a) deleted text begin Any person who drives any vehicle in such a
manner as to indicate either a willful or a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or
property is guilty of reckless driving and such reckless driving is a misdemeanordeleted text end new text begin A person
who drives a motor vehicle while aware of and consciously disregarding a substantial and
unjustifiable risk that the driving may result in harm to another or another's property is
guilty of reckless driving. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that disregard of it
constitutes a significant deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person
would observe in the situationnew text end .
(b) A person shall not race any vehicle upon any street or highway of this state.
Any person who willfully compares or contests relative speeds by operating one or more
vehicles is guilty of racing, which constitutes reckless driving, whether or not the speed
contested or compared is in excess of the maximum speed prescribed by law.
new text begin
(c) A person who violates paragraph (a) or (b) is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person
who violates paragraph (a) or (b) and causes great bodily harm or death to another is
guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
new text end
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(d) For purposes of this section, "great bodily harm" has the meaning given in
section 609.02, subdivision 8.
new text end
Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.13, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
(a) The provisions of this section apply, but are not limited in
application, to any person who drives any vehicle in the manner prohibited by this section:
(1) upon the ice of any lake, stream, or river, including but not limited to the ice of
any boundary water; or
(2) in a parking lot ordinarily used by or available to the public though not as a
matter of right, and a driveway connecting the parking lot with a street or highway.
(b) This section does not apply to:
(1) an authorized emergency vehicle, when responding to an emergency call or when
in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator;
(2) the emergency operation of any vehicle when avoiding imminent danger; or
(3) any raceway, racing facility, or other public event sanctioned by the appropriate
governmental authority.
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(c) Nothing in this section or section 609.035 or 609.04 shall limit the power of the
state to prosecute or punish a person for conduct that constitutes any other crime under
any other law of this state.
new text end
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Sections 1 and 2 are effective August 1, 2015, and apply to crimes committed on or
after that date.
new text end