HF 3226

1st Engrossment - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; establishing an 
  1.3             affirmative defense for motorcyclists who run red 
  1.4             lights under certain circumstances; amending Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes 2000, section 169.06, by adding a subdivision.
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.06, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 9.  [AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE RELATING TO UNCHANGING 
  1.10  TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL.] (a) A person operating a motorcycle who 
  1.11  violates subdivision 4 by entering or crossing an intersection 
  1.12  controlled by a traffic-control signal against a red light has 
  1.13  an affirmative defense to that charge if the person establishes 
  1.14  all of the following conditions: 
  1.15     (1) the motorcycle has been brought to a complete stop; 
  1.16     (2) the traffic control signal continues to show a red 
  1.17  light for an unreasonable time; 
  1.18     (3) the traffic control signal is apparently malfunctioning 
  1.19  or, if programmed or engineered to change to a green light only 
  1.20  after detecting the approach of a motor vehicle, the signal has 
  1.21  apparently failed to detect the arrival of the motorcycle; and 
  1.22     (4) no motor vehicle or person is approaching on the street 
  1.23  or highway to be crossed or entered or is so far away from the 
  1.24  intersection that it does not constitute an immediate hazard. 
  1.25     (b) The affirmative defense in this subdivision applies 
  2.1   only to a violation for entering or crossing an intersection 
  2.2   controlled by a traffic-control signal against a red light and 
  2.3   does not provide a defense to any other civil or criminal action.