1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to motor vehicles; permitting display of
1.3 	certain slow-moving vehicle signs that are visible at
1.4 	night; removing obsolete language; making clarifying
1.5 	changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section
1.6 	169.522.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.522, is
1.9 	amended to read:
1.10 	169.522 SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE, SIGN REQUIRED.
1.11 		Subdivision 1.Displaying emblem; rules. ~~(a)~~ All
1.12 	animal-drawn vehicles, motorized golf carts when operated on
1.13 	designated roadways pursuant to section 169.045, implements of
1.14 	husbandry, and other machinery, including all road construction
1.15 	machinery, which are designed for operation at a speed of 30
1.16 	miles per hour or less ~~shall~~ , must display a triangular
1.17 	slow-moving vehicle emblem, except (1) when being used in actual
1.18 	construction and maintenance work and traveling within the
1.19 	limits of a construction area ~~which is~~ marked in accordance with
1.20 	~~requirements of~~ the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices,
1.21 	as set forth in section 169.06, or (2) for a towed implement of
1.22 	husbandry that is empty and that is not self-propelled, in which
1.23 	case it may be towed at lawful speeds greater than 30 miles per
1.24 	hour without removing the slow-moving vehicle emblem.
1.25 		Subd. 1a.Design and mounting. (a) The emblem ~~shall~~ must 
1.26 	consist of a fluorescent yellow-orange triangle with a dark red
2.1 	reflective border and be mounted so as to be visible from a
2.2 	distance of not less than 600 feet to the rear.
2.3 	(b) The slow-moving vehicle sign may be visible at night as
2.4 	a red-orange equilateral triangle with a red border from (1) 100
2.5 	to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of a vehicle with
2.6 	lawful low-beam headlights, and (2) 1,000 feet in ambient
2.7 	lighting that is less than two lux when viewed from 1,000 feet
2.8 	directly behind the vehicle and at any angle equal to or less
2.9 	than 70 degrees from that point.  The luminous intensity of the
2.10 	red-orange triangle must be a minimum of 40 candelas/m2 and a
2.11 	maximum of 80 candelas/m2.  The luminous intensity may not vary
2.12 	by more than ten percent, as measured by comparing the luminous
2.13 	intensity of any two points on the triangle, viewed at any angle.
2.14 	(c) When a primary power unit towing an implement of
2.15 	husbandry or other machinery displays a slow-moving vehicle
2.16 	emblem visible from a distance of 600 feet to the rear, it ~~shall~~ 
2.17 	is not ~~be~~ necessary to display a similar emblem on the secondary
2.18 	unit. ~~After January 1, 1975,~~
2.19 	(d) All slow-moving vehicle emblems sold in this
2.20 	state ~~shall~~ must be so designed that when properly mounted they
2.21 	are visible from a distance of not less than 600 feet to the
2.22 	rear when directly in front of lawful lower beam of headlamps on
2.23 	a motor vehicle.
2.24 	(e) The commissioner of public safety shall adopt standards
2.25 	and specifications for the design and position of mounting the
2.26 	slow-moving vehicle emblem.  Such standards and
2.27 	specifications ~~shall~~ must be adopted by rule in accordance with
2.28 	the Administrative Procedure Act. ~~A violation of this section~~
2.29 	~~shall not be admissible evidence in any civil cause of action~~
2.30 	~~arising prior to January 1, 1970.~~
2.31 	~~(b)~~ Subd. 1b.[ALTERNATIVE EMBLEM.] An alternate
2.32 	slow-moving vehicle emblem consisting of a dull black triangle
2.33 	with a white reflective border may be used after obtaining a
2.34 	permit from the commissioner under rules of the commissioner.  A
2.35 	person with a permit to use an alternate slow-moving vehicle
2.36 	emblem must:
3.1 	(1) carry in the vehicle a regular slow-moving vehicle
3.2 	emblem and display the emblem when operating a vehicle between
3.3 	sunset and sunrise, and at any other time when visibility is
3.4 	impaired by weather, smoke, fog, or other conditions; and
3.5 	(2) permanently affix to the rear of the slow-moving
3.6 	vehicle at least 72 square inches of reflective tape that
3.7 	reflects the color red.
3.8 		Subd. 2.Prohibition on use. The use of this emblem
3.9 	~~shall be~~ is restricted to the slow-moving vehicles specified in
3.10 	subdivision 1 and its use on any other type of vehicle or
3.11 	stationary object on the highway is prohibited.
3.12 		Subd. 3.Display required. No person shall sell, lease,
3.13 	rent, or operate any slow-moving vehicle, as defined in
3.14 	subdivision 1, except motorized golf carts and except those
3.15 	units designed to be completely mounted on a primary power unit,
3.16 	which is manufactured or assembled on or after July 1, 1967,
3.17 	unless ~~such~~ the vehicle is equipped with a slow-moving vehicle
3.18 	emblem-mounting device as specified in subdivision 1.  Provided
3.19 	however, ~~no~~ a slow-moving vehicle ~~shall~~ must not be operated
3.20 	without such slow-moving vehicle emblem ~~after January 1, 1968~~.