1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to recreational vehicles; prohibiting the use 
  1.3             of metal traction devices on paved public trails; 
  1.4             requiring a metal traction device sticker; defining 
  1.5             terms; providing for duplicate state trail and metal 
  1.6             traction device stickers; appropriating money; 
  1.7             amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 84.81, by 
  1.8             adding a subdivision; and 84.8205, by adding a 
  1.9             subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.10            Statutes, chapter 84; repealing Minnesota Statutes 
  1.11            1998, section 84.871, subdivision 2; Laws 1998, 
  1.12            chapter 401, section 23; and Laws 1999, chapter 4, 
  1.13            section 2, subdivision 1. 
  1.14  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.15     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84.81, is 
  1.16  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.17     Subd. 13.  [METAL TRACTION DEVICE.] "Metal traction device" 
  1.18  means any metal device or array of metal devices attached to a 
  1.19  snowmobile track to enhance traction, that is composed of one of 
  1.20  the following: 
  1.21     (a) is made of metal, except that metal cleats affixed 
  1.22  perpendicular to the direction of travel of a snowmobile track 
  1.23  which was manufactured in 1981 or earlier shall not be 
  1.24  considered a metal traction device; or 
  1.25     (b) is affixed to a snowmobile track with metal components 
  1.26  that extend more than one-fourth inch from the bottom of the 
  1.27  track. 
  1.28     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84.8205, is 
  1.29  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.1      Subd. 6.  [DUPLICATE STATE TRAIL STICKERS.] The 
  2.2   commissioner shall issue a duplicate sticker to persons whose 
  2.3   sticker is lost or destroyed using the process established under 
  2.4   section 97A.405, subdivision 3, and rules promulgated 
  2.5   thereunder.  The fee for a duplicate state trail sticker is $2, 
  2.6   with an issuing fee of 50 cents. 
  2.7      Sec. 3.  [84.8712] [METAL TRACTION DEVICES; PROHIBITION ON 
  2.8   PAVED TRAILS.] 
  2.9      A person may not use a snowmobile with metal traction 
  2.10  devices on a paved public trail, except as otherwise provided by 
  2.11  a local government with jurisdiction over a trail or any portion 
  2.12  of a paved state trail designated by the commissioner. 
  2.13     Sec. 4.  [84.8713] [METAL TRACTION DEVICE STICKER.] 
  2.14     Subdivision 1.  [STICKER REQUIRED; FEE.] (a) An owner of a 
  2.15  snowmobile registered in the state may not operate the 
  2.16  snowmobile with a track equipped with metal traction devices 
  2.17  unless a metal traction device sticker is affixed to the 
  2.18  snowmobile.  The commissioner shall issue a metal traction 
  2.19  device sticker upon application and payment of a $10 fee.  The 
  2.20  sticker is valid for one year following June 30 in the year it 
  2.21  is issued.  
  2.22     (b) The requirements in paragraph (a) do not apply to 
  2.23  snowmobiles owned, leased, or operated by the state or a 
  2.24  political subdivision, or to snowmobiles used in an organized 
  2.25  race, so long as they do not utilize a paved public trail, 
  2.26  except as otherwise provided in this chapter. 
  2.27     (c) Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in 
  2.28  the state treasury and credited to the snowmobile trails and 
  2.29  enforcement account in the natural resources fund.  Money 
  2.30  deposited under this section is appropriated to the commissioner 
  2.31  of natural resources, and must be used for repair of paved 
  2.32  public trails, unless a trail is exempted by local authorities 
  2.33  under section 84.8712, except that any money not necessary for 
  2.34  this purpose may be used for the grant-in-aid snowmobile trail 
  2.35  system. 
  2.36     Subd. 2.  [PLACEMENT OF STICKER.] The metal traction device 
  3.1   sticker must be permanently affixed to the forward half of the 
  3.2   snowmobile and clearly visible to law enforcement authorities. 
  3.3      Subd. 3.  [LICENSE AGENTS.] The commissioner shall sell 
  3.4   metal traction device stickers for a $1 issuance fee through the 
  3.5   process established under section 84.82, subdivision 2. 
  3.6      Subd. 4.  [DUPLICATE METAL TRACTION DEVICE STICKERS.] The 
  3.7   commissioner or an authorized deputy registrar of motor vehicles 
  3.8   shall issue a duplicate metal traction device sticker to a 
  3.9   person whose sticker is lost or destroyed.  A duplicate sticker 
  3.10  may not be issued unless the applicant takes an oath covering 
  3.11  the facts of loss or destruction of the sticker and signs an 
  3.12  affidavit.  The fee for a duplicate metal traction device 
  3.13  sticker is $2, with an issuing fee of 50 cents. 
  3.14     Subd. 5.  [REPEALER.] This section is repealed on July 1, 
  3.15  2004. 
  3.16     Sec. 5.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
  3.17     The amount raised from the sale of metal traction device 
  3.18  stickers under Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84.8715, prior 
  3.19  to June 30, 1999 is appropriated from the natural resource fund 
  3.20  to the commissioner of natural resources for the repair of paved 
  3.21  state trails damaged by snowmobiles. 
  3.22     Sec. 6.  [REPEALER.] 
  3.23     Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 84.871, subdivision 2; 
  3.24  Laws 1998, chapter 401, section 23; and Laws 1999, chapter 4, 
  3.25  section 2, subdivision 1, are repealed.