HF 2931

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/11/2023 12:25pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; specifying the warning lights that volunteer first
responders are authorized to use in their personal vehicles when responding to a
call; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 169.58, subdivisions 2, 3; 169.64,
subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.58, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Red lamp; permit for volunteer emergency responders.

Upon obtaining a
permit from the commissioner of public safety, any motor vehicles operated by an active
member of a volunteer fire department authorized by or contracting with any city, town, or
township in this state, an emergency medical first responder, or an ambulance crew member
may be equipped with a lamp emitting a new text begin flashing or steady-burning new text end red new text begin or red and white
combination warning new text end light new text begin unit of types approved by the commissioner new text end to the front of such
vehicle. The lens of such lamp shall be not more than three inches in diameter. Such lamp
shall be lighted only when the member of the volunteer fire department, ambulance crew
member, or emergency medical first responder is responding to an emergency call in
connection with duties as a volunteer firefighter, ambulance crew member, or responder.
The commissioner of public safety is hereby authorized to issue permits on applications of
a member of a volunteer fire department properly certified to by the chief of said volunteer
fire department, and on applications for emergency medical first responders or ambulance
crew members. The commissioner of public safety must be notified immediately upon the
termination of membership in a volunteer fire department or when an ambulance or permitted
emergency medical first responder ceases operations.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.58, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Volunteer ambulance driver.

The commissioner of public safety, upon
application therefor, may issue a permit to any certificated volunteer ambulance driver
authorizing the driver to equip any privately owned motor vehicle operated by the driver
with a lamp emitting a new text begin flashing or steady-burning new text end red new text begin or red and white combination warning
new text end light new text begin unit new text end to the front of the vehicle. The lamps shall conform to specifications adopted by
the commissioner. The lamp shall be lighted only when the driver is proceeding to the
location of an ambulance in response to an emergency call. The application shall be in the
form prescribed by the commissioner and shall contain verification satisfactory to the
commissioner of the applicant's status as a certificated volunteer ambulance driver. Any
permit issued shall expire immediately upon termination of the permittee's employment as
a volunteer ambulance driver.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.64, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Flashing lights; glaring lights.

(a) Flashing lights are prohibited, except:

(1) on an authorized emergency vehicle, school bus, bicycle as provided in section
169.222, subdivision 6, road maintenance equipment, tow truck or towing vehicle as provided
in section 168B.16, service vehicle, farm tractor, self-propelled farm equipment, rural mail
carrier vehicle, or funeral home vehicle;

(2) on any vehicle as a means of indicating a right or left turn, or the presence of a
vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking, or passing; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(3) new text begin on a vehicle operated by a volunteer emergency responder pursuant to section 169.58,
subdivision 2, or a volunteer ambulance driver pursuant to section 169.58, subdivision 3;
or
new text end

new text begin (4) new text end as otherwise provided in this section.

(b) All flashing warning lights must be of the type authorized by section 169.59,
subdivision 4, unless otherwise permitted or required in this chapter.

(c) A stop lamp or signal lamp is prohibited from projecting a glaring or dazzling light,
except for:

(1) strobe lamps as provided under subdivision 8 or section 169.59, subdivision 4; or

(2) a school bus equipped with a supplemental warning system under section 169.4503,
subdivision 31.