Minnesota Legislature
HF 2966
as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to traffic regulations; allowing certain state hospitals and institutions
and county social service agencies to operate vehicles exempt from payment of
registration tax and fees; regulating display of vehicle license plates; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 168.012, subdivision 1; 169.79.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2006, 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) ambulances owned by ambulance services licensed under section 144E.10, the
general appearance of which is unmistakable; and
(6) 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) Vehicles owned by the federal government, municipal fire apparatuses including
fire-suppression support vehicles, police patrols, and ambulances, the general appearance
of which is unmistakable, are not required to register or display number plates.
(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, 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 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.
new text begin
(g) 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.
new text end
new text begin
(h) 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.
new text end
deleted text begin (g)deleted text end new text begin (i)new text end 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, deleted text begin ordeleted text end
licensed commercial driving school,new text begin or other qualifying organization or entity,new text end plainly
displayed on both sides of the vehicledeleted text begin ; except that 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, and county social service agencies
may have vehicles used for child and vulnerable adult protective services without the
required identification on the sides of the vehicledeleted text end . 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.
Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.79, is amended to read:
169.79 VEHICLE REGISTRATION; DISPLAYING LICENSE PLATES.
Subdivision 1.
Registration required.
No person shall operate, drive, or park a
motor vehicle on any highway unless the vehicle is registered in accordance with the laws
of this state and has the number plates or permit confirming that valid registration or
operating authority has been obtained, except as provided in sections 168.10 and 168.12,
subdivision 2f, as assigned to it by the commissioner of public safety, conspicuously
displayed thereon in a manner that the view of any plate or permit is not obstructed. A
plate issued under section 168.27 or a permit issued under chapter 168 may be displayed
on a vehicle in conjunction with expired registration whether or not it displays the license
plate to which the last registration was issued.
Subd. 2.
Semitrailer.
If the vehicle is a semitrailer, the number plate displayed must
be assigned to the registered owner and correlate to the deleted text begin certificate of title deleted text end documentation
on file with the departmentdeleted text begin and shall not display a year indicatordeleted text end .
Subd. 3.
Rear display of single plate.
If the vehicle is a motorcycle, motor scooter,
motorized bicycle, motorcycle sidecar, trailer registered at greater than 3,000 pounds
gross vehicle weight (GVW), semitrailer, or vehicle displaying a dealer plate, then one
license plate must be displayed new text begin horizontally with the identifying numbers and letters
facing outward from the vehicle and must be mounted in the upright position new text end on the
rear of the vehicle.
Subd. 3a.
Small trailer.
If the vehicle is a trailer with 3,000 pounds or less GVW
with lifetime registration, the numbered plate or sticker must be adhered to the side of the
trailer frame tongue near the hitch.
Subd. 4.
Collector's vehicle.
If the vehicle is (1) a collector's vehicle with a pioneer,
classic car, collector, or street rod license; (2) a vehicle that meets the requirements
of a pioneer, classic, or street rod vehicle except that the vehicle is used for general
transportation purposes; or (3) a vehicle that is of model year 1972 or earlier, not registered
under section 168.10, subdivision 1c, and is used for general transportation purposes, new text begin then
new text end one plate must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle, or one plate on the front and one
on the rear, at the discretion of the owner.
Subd. 5.
Truck-tractor, road-tractor, or farm truck.
If the vehicle is a
truck-tractor, road-tractor, or farm truck, as defined in section 168.011, subdivision 17, but
excluding from that definition semitrailers and trailers, new text begin then new text end one plate must be displayed
on the front of the vehicle.
Subd. 6.
Other motor vehicles.
If the motor vehicle is any kind of motor vehicle
other than those provided for in subdivisions 2 to 4, one plate must be displayed on the
front and one on the rear of the vehicle.
Subd. 7.
Plate fastened and visible.
All plates must be new text begin (1) new text end securely fastened so as
to prevent them from swingingnew text begin , (2) displayed horizontally with the identifying numbers
and letters facing outward from the vehicle, and (3) mounted in the upright positionnew text end . The
person driving the motor vehicle shall keep the plate legible and unobstructed and free
from grease, dust, or other blurring material so that the lettering is plainly visible at all
times. It is unlawful to cover any assigned letters and numbers or the name of the state
of origin of a license plate with any material whatever, including any clear or colorless
material that affects the plate's visibility or reflectivity.
Subd. 8.
Plate registration stickers.
new text begin
As viewed facing the plates:
new text end
new text begin (a) new text end License plates issued to vehicles registered under section 168.017 must display
the month of expiration in the lower left corner deleted text begin as viewed facing thedeleted text end new text begin of eachnew text end plate and the
year of expiration in the lower right corner deleted text begin as viewed facing thedeleted text end new text begin of each new text end plate.
new text begin (b) new text end License plates issued to vehicles registered under section 168.127 must display
either fleet registration validation stickers in the lower right corner deleted text begin as viewed facing the
platesdeleted text end new text begin of each platenew text end or distinctive license plates, issued by the registrar, with "FLEET
REG" displayed on the bottom center portion of deleted text begin thedeleted text end new text begin each new text end plate.
new text begin
(c)
new text end
new text begin
License plates issued after July 1, 2008, requiring validation must display the
month of expiration in the lower left corner of each plate and the year of expiration in the
lower right corner of the plate.
new text end
new text begin Subd. 9. new text end
new text begin Tax-exempt vehicle marking. new text end
new text begin
Vehicles displaying tax-exempt plates
issued under section 16B.581 or 168.012 must have vehicle markings that comply with
section 168.012, subdivision 1.
new text end