HF 3680

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; regulating registration and operation of mini trucks;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 168.011, subdivision 7; 168A.03,
subdivision 1; 169.01, subdivision 3a, 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 2006, section 168.011, subdivision 7, is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

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.

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

(1) pickup trucks and vans, including those vans designed to carry passengers, with
a manufacturer's nominal rated carrying capacity of one ton; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(2) neighborhood electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 91 deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (3) mini trucks, as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 93.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, 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 168.011, subdivisions 8 and 25;

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

new text begin (10) a mini truck, as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 93.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.01, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:

Subd. 3a.

Passenger vehicle.

"Passenger vehicle" means a passenger automobile
defined in section 168.011, subdivision 7; a pickup truck defined in section 168.011,
subdivision 29; a van defined in section 168.011, subdivision 28; 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. "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 168.011, subdivision 17, or special mobile equipment defined in section
168.011, subdivision 22.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 169.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 93. new text end

new text begin Mini truck. new text end

new text begin "Mini truck" means a motor vehicle that is imported into
the United States, is propelled by a motor with a piston displacement capacity of 660
cubic centimeters or less, has a gross vehicle weight less than or equal to 2,000 pounds,
contains an enclosed space for the vehicle operator, and commonly resembles a pickup
truck, including a cargo area or bed located at the rear of the vehicle. A mini truck does
not include a neighborhood electric vehicle or an all-terrain vehicle, as defined in section
84.92, subdivision 8.
new text end

Sec. 5.

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

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "road authority" has the
meaning given in section 169.224, subdivision 1.
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 an
exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or 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 mini truck may not be operated on a street or highway with
a speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour, except to make a direct crossing of that
street or highway.
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
mini trucks 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