HF 291

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:35am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; regulating titling, registration, and operation of mini
trucks; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 84.798, subdivision 2;
84.922, subdivision 1a; 168.002, subdivision 24, by adding a subdivision;
168.013, by adding a subdivision; 168A.03, subdivision 1; 169.011, subdivision
52, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 169.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 84.798, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Exemptions.

Registration is not required for an off-road vehicle that is:

(1) owned and used by the United States, the state, another state, or a political
subdivision; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(2) registered in another state or country and has not been in this state for more than
30 consecutive days deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (3) registered as a mini truck under chapter 168 and is operated solely on public
streets and highways.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 84.922, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Exemptions.

All-terrain vehicles exempt from registration are:

(1) vehicles owned and used by the United States, the state, another state, or a
political subdivision;

(2) vehicles registered in another state or country that have not been in this state for
more than 30 consecutive days;

(3) vehicles used exclusively in organized track racing events; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(4) vehicles that are 25 years old or older and were originally produced as a separate
identifiable make by a manufacturer deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (5) vehicles registered as a mini truck under chapter 168 and operated solely on
public streets and highways.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.002, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 16a. new text end

new text begin Mini truck. new text end

new text begin "Mini truck" has the meaning given in section 169.011,
subdivision 40a.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.002, subdivision 24, is amended to read:

Subd. 24.

Passenger automobile.

(a) "Passenger automobile" means any motor
vehicle designed and used for carrying not more than 15 individuals, including the driver.

(b) "Passenger automobile" does not include motorcycles, motor scooters, buses,
school buses, or commuter vans as defined in section 168.126. Except as provided in
paragraph (c), clause (1), a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 to 13,000
pounds that is a pickup truck or a van is not a passenger automobile.

(c) "Passenger automobile" includes, but is not limited to:

(1) a vehicle that is: (i) a pickup truck or a van; (ii) not used in furtherance of a
commercial enterprise; and (iii) not subject to state or federal regulation as a commercial
motor vehicle;

(2) neighborhood electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 47; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(3) medium-speed electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 39 deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ;
and
new text end

new text begin (4) mini trucks.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.013, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 1m. new text end

new text begin Mini truck registration. new text end

new text begin A mini truck may be dually registered under
(1) subdivision 1a for operation on public streets and highways, and (2) if the vehicle is
eligible, section 84.798 or 84.922 for operation on trails and private property. A mini
truck that is not operated on public streets and highways does not have to be registered
under this chapter.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168A.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

No certificate issued.

The registrar shall not issue a certificate of
title for:

(1) a vehicle owned by the United States;

(2) a vehicle owned by a nonresident and not required by law to be registered in
this state;

(3) a vehicle owned by a nonresident and regularly engaged in the interstate
transportation of persons or property for which a currently effective certificate of title
has been issued in another state;

(4) a vehicle moved solely by animal power;

(5) an implement of husbandry;

(6) special mobile equipment;

(7) a self-propelled wheelchair or invalid tricycle;

(8) a trailer (i) having a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or less unless a secured party
holds an interest in the trailer or a certificate of title was previously issued by this state or
any other state or (ii) designed primarily for agricultural purposes except a recreational
vehicle or a manufactured home, both as defined in section 168.002, subdivisions 16
and 27;

(9) a snowmobile; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(10) a spotter truck, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 77 deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (11) a mini truck, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 40a.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 40a. new text end

new text begin Mini truck. new text end

new text begin (a) "Mini truck" means a motor vehicle that has four
wheels; is propelled by an electric motor with a rated power of 7,500 watts or less or an
internal combustion engine with a piston displacement capacity of 660 cubic centimeters
or less, has a total dry weight of 900 to 2,200 pounds; contains an enclosed cabin and a
seat for the vehicle operator; commonly resembles a pickup truck or van, including a cargo
area or bed located at the rear of the vehicle; and was not originally manufactured to meet
federal motor vehicle safety standards required of motor vehicles in the Code of Federal
Regulations, title 49, sections 571.101 to 571.404, and successor requirements.
new text end

new text begin (b) A mini truck does not include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a neighborhood electric vehicle or a medium-speed electric vehicle; or
new text end

new text begin (2) a motor vehicle that meets or exceeds the regulations in the Code of Federal
Regulations, title 49, section 571.500, and successor requirements.
new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, subdivision 52, is amended to read:

Subd. 52.

Passenger vehicle.

new text begin (a) new text end "Passenger vehicle" means a passenger automobile
defined in section 168.002, subdivision 24; a pickup truck defined in section 168.002,
subdivision 26; a van defined in section 168.002, subdivision 40; and a self-propelled,
recreational vehicle new text begin or mini truck new text end licensed under chapter 168 to use the public streets
or highways.

new text begin (b) new text end "Passenger vehicle" does not include a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, bus,
school bus, a vehicle designed to operate exclusively on railroad tracks, a farm truck
defined in section 168.002, subdivision 8, or special mobile equipment defined in section
168.002, subdivision 31.

Sec. 9.

new text begin [169.2245] MINI TRUCK.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin "Road authority" means the commissioner, as to trunk
highways; the county board, as to county state-aid highways and county highways; the
town board, as to town roads; and the governing body of a city, as to city streets.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Required equipment. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding sections 169.48 to 169.68, or any
other law, a mini truck may be operated on public streets and highways if it is equipped
with:
new text end

new text begin (1) at least two headlamps;
new text end

new text begin (2) at least two taillamps;
new text end

new text begin (3) front and rear turn-signal lamps;
new text end

new text begin (4) an exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle and either (i) an
exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or (ii) an interior mirror;
new text end

new text begin (5) a windshield;
new text end

new text begin (6) a seat belt for the driver and front passenger; and
new text end

new text begin (7) a parking brake.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Operation. new text end

new text begin (a) A person may not operate a mini truck on a highway with a
posted speed limit that is greater than 55 miles per hour, except to make a direct crossing.
new text end

new text begin (b) A person operating a mini truck on a highway having two or more lanes in
the same direction must drive in the lane farthest to the right, except to make a left
turn. A person may make a left turn from an appropriate lane if it is safe to do so under
the prevailing conditions.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Restrictions and prohibitions. new text end

new text begin (a) A road authority, including the
commissioner of transportation by order, may prohibit or further restrict the operation of a
mini truck on any street or highway under the road authority's jurisdiction.
new text end

new text begin (b) A mini truck may not be used to take any examination to demonstrate ability to
exercise control in the operation of a motor vehicle as required under section 171.13.
new text end