1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to recreational vehicles; requiring strobe 
  1.3             lights on snowmobiles; amending Minnesota Statutes 
  1.4             1996, sections 84.821, by adding a subdivision; and 
  1.5             169.64, subdivision 8. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 84.821, is 
  1.8   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 3.  [STROBE LAMPS.] All snowmobiles made after June 
  1.10  30, 1998, and sold in Minnesota must be equipped with strobe 
  1.11  lamps according to section 169.64, subdivision 8.  The lamps 
  1.12  must be capable of operation when the snowmobile is stopped, 
  1.13  when operation of the snowmobile's engine has ceased, or during 
  1.14  an emergency.  No person may operate the strobe lamps while the 
  1.15  snowmobile is traveling at a speed greater than 20 miles per 
  1.16  hour, except during an emergency.  
  1.17     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.64, 
  1.18  subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  1.19     Subd. 8.  [STROBE LAMPS.] (a) Notwithstanding sections 
  1.20  169.55, subdivision 1, 169.57, subdivision 3, clause 
  1.21  paragraph (b), or any other law to the contrary, a vehicle may 
  1.22  be equipped with a 360-degree flashing strobe lamp that emits a 
  1.23  white light with a flash rate of 60 to 120 flashes a minute, and 
  1.24  the lamp may be used as provided in this subdivision, if the 
  1.25  vehicle is: 
  2.1      (1) a school bus that is subject to and complies with the 
  2.2   equipment requirements of sections 169.441, subdivision 1, and 
  2.3   169.442, subdivision 1, or a Head Start bus that is not a type 
  2.4   III bus as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 6.  The lamp 
  2.5   shall be permanently mounted on the longitudinal center line of 
  2.6   the bus roof not less than two feet nor more than seven feet 
  2.7   forward of the rear roof edge.  It shall operate from a separate 
  2.8   switch containing an indicator lamp to show when the strobe lamp 
  2.9   is in use.  The strobe lamp may be lighted only when atmospheric 
  2.10  conditions or terrain restrict the visibility of school bus 
  2.11  lamps and signals or Head Start bus lamps and signals so as to 
  2.12  require use of the bright strobe lamp to alert motorists to the 
  2.13  presence of the school bus or Head Start bus.  A strobe lamp may 
  2.14  not be lighted unless the school bus or Head Start bus is 
  2.15  actually being used as a school bus or Head Start bus; or 
  2.16     (2) a road maintenance vehicle owned or under contract to 
  2.17  the department of transportation or a road authority of a 
  2.18  county, home rule or statutory city, or town, but the strobe 
  2.19  lamp may only be operated while the vehicle is actually engaged 
  2.20  in snow removal during daylight hours.  
  2.21     (b) Notwithstanding sections 169.55, subdivision 1; 169.57, 
  2.22  subdivision 3, clause paragraph (b), or any other law to the 
  2.23  contrary, a vehicle may be equipped with a 360-degree flashing 
  2.24  strobe lamp that emits an amber light with a flash rate of 60 to 
  2.25  120 flashes a minute, and the lamp may be used as provided in 
  2.26  this subdivision, if the vehicle is a rural mail carrier 
  2.27  vehicle, provided that the strobe lamp is mounted at the highest 
  2.28  practicable point on the vehicle.  The strobe lamp may only be 
  2.29  operated while the vehicle is actually engaged during daylight 
  2.30  hours in the delivery of mail to residents on a rural mail route.
  2.31     (c) Notwithstanding sections 169.55, subdivision 1, and 
  2.32  169.57, subdivision 3, paragraph (b), a snowmobile manufactured 
  2.33  and sold in Minnesota after June 30, 1998, must be equipped with 
  2.34  two flashing strobe lamps, one at the front and one at the rear 
  2.35  of the snowmobile.  The lamps must emit a white light forward of 
  2.36  the snowmobile and a red light to the rear, with a flash rate of 
  3.1   60 to 120 flashes a minute.  The lamps must be designed to 
  3.2   prevent the flashing light from shining directly on the seated 
  3.3   operator's eyes.  The lamps must be capable of being turned on 
  3.4   and off by the operator, and of operating independently of the 
  3.5   functioning of the snowmobile's ignition, engine, or other 
  3.6   lights.  The strobe lamps must not cease operating solely 
  3.7   because the snowmobile's ignition or engine is shut off.  
  3.8      (d) A strobe lamp authorized by this section shall be of a 
  3.9   double flash type certified to the commissioner of public safety 
  3.10  by the manufacturer as being weatherproof and having a minimum 
  3.11  effective light output of 200 candelas as measured by the 
  3.12  Blondel-Rey formula.