SF 704

Introduction - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004)

Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00 a.m.

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to drivers' licenses; requiring driver 
  1.3             examinations to be written in English; making 
  1.4             clarifying changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, 
  1.5             section 171.13, subdivision 1. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 171.13, 
  1.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [SUBJECTS TESTED IN ENGLISH; LOCATION.] (a) 
  1.10  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the commissioner 
  1.11  shall examine each applicant for a driver's license by such 
  1.12  agency as the commissioner directs.  The examination must be 
  1.13  written only in English, and an applicant shall complete the 
  1.14  examination without the assistance of an interpreter to 
  1.15  translate the examination into a language other than English.  
  1.16  This examination must include (1) a test of applicant's 
  1.17  eyesight; ability to read and understand highway signs 
  1.18  regulating, warning, and directing traffic; knowledge of traffic 
  1.19  laws; knowledge of the effects of alcohol and drugs on a 
  1.20  driver's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely and legally, 
  1.21  and of the legal penalties and financial consequences resulting 
  1.22  from violations of laws prohibiting the operation of a motor 
  1.23  vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; knowledge 
  1.24  of railroad grade crossing safety; knowledge of slow-moving 
  1.25  vehicle safety; knowledge of traffic laws related to 
  2.1   bicycles; (2) an actual demonstration of ability to exercise 
  2.2   ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor 
  2.3   vehicle; and (3) other physical and mental examinations as the 
  2.4   commissioner finds necessary to determine the applicant's 
  2.5   fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways,; 
  2.6   provided, further however, no that a driver's license shall 
  2.7   must not be denied an applicant on the exclusive grounds that 
  2.8   the applicant's eyesight is deficient in color perception.; and 
  2.9   provided further, however, that war veterans operating motor 
  2.10  vehicles especially equipped for handicapped persons, shall, if 
  2.11  otherwise entitled to a license, must be granted such the 
  2.12  license. 
  2.13     (b) The commissioner shall make provision for giving these 
  2.14  examinations either in the county where the applicant resides or 
  2.15  at a place adjacent thereto to that county and reasonably 
  2.16  convenient to the applicant.