HF 2957

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/15/2010 09:44am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; exempting watercraft, off-highway vehicles, and
snowmobiles that are owned by Indian tribal governments from registration or
licensing; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 84.788, subdivision 2;
84.798, subdivision 2; 84.82, subdivision 6; 84.8205, subdivision 1; 86B.301,
subdivision 2; Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 84.922, subdivision
1a.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 84.788, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Exemptions.

Registration is not required for off-highway motorcycles:

(1) owned and used by the United States, new text begin an Indian tribal government, new text end the state,
another state, or a political subdivision;

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

(3) registered under chapter 168, when operated on forest roads to gain access to a
state forest campground.

Sec. 2.

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, new text begin an Indian tribal government, new text end the state,
another state, or a political subdivision; or

(2) registered in another state or country and has not been in this state for more
than 30 consecutive days.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 84.82, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Exemptions.

Registration is not required under this section for:

(1) a snowmobile owned and used by the United States, new text begin an Indian tribal government,
new text end another state, or a political subdivision thereof;

(2) a snowmobile registered in a country other than the United States temporarily
used within this state;

(3) a snowmobile that is covered by a valid license of another state and has not been
within this state for more than 30 consecutive days;

(4) a snowmobile used exclusively in organized track racing events;

(5) a snowmobile in transit by a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer;

(6) a snowmobile at least 15 years old in transit by an individual for use only on
land owned or leased by the individual; or

(7) a snowmobile while being used to groom a state or grant-in-aid trail.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 84.8205, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Sticker required; fee.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), a
person may not operate a snowmobile on a state or grant-in-aid snowmobile trail unless a
snowmobile state trail sticker is affixed to the snowmobile. The commissioner of natural
resources shall issue a sticker upon application and payment of a $15 fee. The fee for a
three-year snowmobile state trail sticker that is purchased at the time of snowmobile
registration is $30. In addition to other penalties prescribed by law, a person in violation
of this subdivision must purchase an annual state trail sticker for a fee of $30. The sticker
is valid from November 1 through June 30. Fees collected under this section, except for
the issuing fee for licensing agents, shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited
to the snowmobile trails and enforcement account in the natural resources fund and,
except for the electronic licensing system commission established by the commissioner
under section 84.027, subdivision 15, must be used for grants-in-aid, trail maintenance,
grooming, and easement acquisition.

(b) A state trail sticker is not required under this section for:

(1) a snowmobile owned by the state or a political subdivision of the state that is
registered under section 84.82, subdivision 5;

(2) a snowmobile that is owned and used by the United States, new text begin an Indian tribal
government, new text end another state, or a political subdivision thereof that is exempt from
registration under section 84.82, subdivision 6;

(3) a collector snowmobile that is operated as provided in a special permit issued for
the collector snowmobile under section 84.82, subdivision 7a;

(4) a person operating a snowmobile only on the portion of a trail that is owned by
the person or the person's spouse, child, or parent; or

(5) a snowmobile while being used to groom a state or grant-in-aid trail.

(c) A temporary registration permit issued by a dealer under section 84.82,
subdivision 2, may include a snowmobile state trail sticker if the trail sticker fee is
included with the registration application fee.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, 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, new text begin an Indian tribal government, new text end 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 that:

(i) are owned by a resident of another state or country that does not require
registration of all-terrain vehicles;

(ii) have not been in this state for more than 30 consecutive days; and

(iii) are operated on state and grant-in-aid trails by a nonresident possessing a
nonresident all-terrain vehicle state trail pass;

(4) vehicles used exclusively in organized track racing events; and

(5) vehicles that are 25 years old or older and were originally produced as a separate
identifiable make by a manufacturer.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 86B.301, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Exemptions.

A watercraft license is not required for:

(1) a watercraft that is covered by a license or number in full force and effect under
federal law or a federally approved licensing or numbering system of another state, and
has not been within this state for more than 90 consecutive days, which does not include
days that a watercraft is laid up at dock over winter or for repairs at a Lake Superior
port or another port in the state;

(2) a watercraft from a country other than the United States that has not been
within this state for more than 90 consecutive days, which does not include days that a
watercraft is laid up at dock over winter or for repairs at a Lake Superior port or another
port in the state;

(3) a watercraft owned by the United States, new text begin an Indian tribal government, new text end a state, or
a political subdivision of a state, except watercraft used for recreational purposes;

(4) a ship's lifeboat;

(5) a watercraft that has been issued a valid marine document by the United States
government;

(6) a duck boat during duck hunting season;

(7) a rice boat during the harvest season;

(8) a seaplane; and

(9) a nonmotorized watercraft nine feet in length or less.