1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to traffic regulations; exempting motorized
1.3 	foot scooters from tax and registration fees; changing
1.4 	eligibility criteria for certain business panels;
1.5 	defining motorized foot scooters and regulating their
1.6 	use and operation; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004,
1.7 	sections 160.80, subdivision 1a; 168.011, subdivision
1.8 	27; 168.012, subdivision 1; 169.01, subdivision 4a, by
1.9 	adding a subdivision; 171.01, subdivision 41;
1.10 	proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
1.11 	chapter 169.
1.12 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.13 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 160.80,
1.14 	subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
1.15 		Subd. 1a.Eligibility criteria for business panels.  (a)
1.16 	To be eligible for a business panel on a logo sign panel, a
1.17 	business establishment must:
1.18 	(1) be open for business;
1.19 	(2) have a sign on site that both identifies the business
1.20 	and is visible to motorists;
1.21 	(3) be open to everyone, regardless of race, religion,
1.22 	color, age, sex, national origin, creed, marital status, sexual
1.23 	orientation, or disability;
1.24 	(4) not impose a cover charge or otherwise require
1.25 	customers to purchase additional products or services; and
1.26 	(5) meet the appropriate criteria in paragraphs (b) to (e).
1.27 	(b) Gas businesses must provide vehicle services including
1.28 	fuel and oil; restroom facilities and drinking water;
2.1 	continuous, staffed operation at least 12 hours a day, seven
2.2 	days a week; and public access to a telephone.
2.3 	(c) Food businesses must serve at least two meals a day
2.4 	during normal mealtimes of breakfast, lunch, and dinner; provide
2.5 	a continuous, staffed food service operation at least ten hours
2.6 	a day, seven days a week except holidays as defined in section
2.7 	645.44, subdivision 5, and except as provided for seasonal food
2.8 	service businesses; provide seating capacity for at least 20
2.9 	people; serve meals prepared on the premises;and possess any
2.10 	required state or local licensing or approval. Reheated,
2.11 	prepackaged, ready-to-eat food is not "food prepared on the
2.12 	premises." Seasonal food service businesses must provide a
2.13 	continuous, staffed food service operation at least ten hours a
2.14 	day, seven days a week, during their months of operation.
2.15 	(d) Lodging businesses must include sleeping
2.16 	accommodations, provide public access to a telephone, and
2.17 	possess any required state or local licensing or approval.
2.18 	(e) Camping businesses must include sites for camping,
2.19 	include parking accommodations for each campsite, provide
2.20 	sanitary facilities and drinking water, and possess any required
2.21 	state or local licensing or approval.
2.22 	(f) Businesses that do not meet the appropriate criteria in
2.23 	paragraphs (b) to (e) but that have a signed lease as of January
2.24 	1, 1998, may retain the business panel until December 31, 2005,
2.25 	or until they withdraw from the program, whichever occurs first,
2.26 	provided they continue to meet the criteria in effect in the
2.27 	department's contract with the logo sign vendor on August 1,
2.28 	1995.  After December 31, 2005, or after withdrawing from the
2.29 	program, a business must meet the appropriate criteria in
2.30 	paragraphs (a) to (e) to qualify for a business panel.
2.31 	(g) Seasonal businesses must indicate to motorists when
2.32 	they are open for business by either putting the full months of
2.33 	operation directly on the business panel or by having a "closed"
2.34 	plaque applied to the business panel when the business is closed
2.35 	for the season.
2.36 	(h) The maximum distance that an eligible business in
3.1 	Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington
3.2 	county can be located from the interchange is:  for gas
3.3 	businesses, one mile; for food businesses, two miles; for
3.4 	lodging businesses, three miles; and for camping businesses, ten
3.5 	miles.
3.6 	(i) The maximum distance that an eligible business in any
3.7 	other county can be located from the interchange shall not
3.8 	exceed 15 miles in either direction.
3.9 	(j) Logo sign panels must be erected so that motorists
3.10 	approaching an interchange view the panels in the following
3.11 	order:  camping, lodging, food, gas.
3.12 	(k) If there is insufficient space on a logo sign panel to
3.13 	display all eligible businesses for a specific type of service,
3.14 	the businesses closest to the interchange have priority over
3.15 	businesses farther away from the interchange.
3.16 	
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day
3.17 	following final enactment.

3.18 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.011,
3.19 	subdivision 27, is amended to read:
3.20 		Subd. 27.Motorized bicycle.  "Motorized bicycle" means a
3.21 	bicycle that is propelled by a an electric or a liquid fuel 
3.22 	motor of a piston displacement capacity of 50 cubic centimeters
3.23 	or less, and a maximum of two brake horsepower, which is capable
3.24 	of a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on a flat
3.25 	surface with not more than one percent grade in any direction
3.26 	when the motor is engaged.  "Motorized bicycle" includes an
3.27 	electric-assisted bicycle as defined in section 169.01,
3.28 	subdivision 4b.

3.29 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.012,
3.30 	subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.31 		Subdivision 1.Vehicles exempt from tax, fees, or plate
3.32 	display.  (a) The following vehicles are exempt from the
3.33 	provisions of this chapter requiring payment of tax and
3.34 	registration fees, except as provided in subdivision 1c:
3.35 	(1) vehicles owned and used solely in the transaction of
3.36 	official business by the federal government, the state, or any
4.1 	political subdivision;
4.2 	(2) vehicles owned and used exclusively by educational
4.3 	institutions and used solely in the transportation of pupils to
4.4 	and from those institutions;
4.5 	(3) vehicles used solely in driver education programs at
4.6 	nonpublic high schools;
4.7 	(4) vehicles owned by nonprofit charities and used
4.8 	exclusively to transport disabled persons for educational
4.9 	purposes;
4.10 	(5) ambulances owned by ambulance services licensed under
4.11 	section 144E.10, the general appearance of which is
4.12 	unmistakable; and 
4.13 	(6) motorized foot scooters as defined in section 169.01,
4.14 	subdivision 4c; and 
4.15 	(7) vehicles owned by a commercial driving school licensed
4.16 	under section 171.34, or an employee of a commercial driving
4.17 	school licensed under section 171.34, and the vehicle is used
4.18 	exclusively for driver education and training.
4.19 	(b) Vehicles owned by the federal government, municipal
4.20 	fire apparatuses including fire-suppression support vehicles,
4.21 	police patrols, and ambulances, the general appearance of which
4.22 	is unmistakable, are not required to register or display number
4.23 	plates.
4.24 	(c) Unmarked vehicles used in general police work, liquor
4.25 	investigations, or arson investigations, and passenger
4.26 	automobiles, pickup trucks, and buses owned or operated by the
4.27 	Department of Corrections, must be registered and must display
4.28 	appropriate license number plates, furnished by the registrar at
4.29 	cost.  Original and renewal applications for these license
4.30 	plates authorized for use in general police work and for use by
4.31 	the Department of Corrections must be accompanied by a
4.32 	certification signed by the appropriate chief of police if
4.33 	issued to a police vehicle, the appropriate sheriff if issued to
4.34 	a sheriff's vehicle, the commissioner of corrections if issued
4.35 	to a Department of Corrections vehicle, or the appropriate
4.36 	officer in charge if issued to a vehicle of any other law
5.1 	enforcement agency.  The certification must be on a form
5.2 	prescribed by the commissioner and state that the vehicle will
5.3 	be used exclusively for a purpose authorized by this section.
5.4 	(d) Unmarked vehicles used by the Departments of Revenue
5.5 	and Labor and Industry, fraud unit, in conducting seizures or
5.6 	criminal investigations must be registered and must display
5.7 	passenger vehicle classification license number plates,
5.8 	furnished at cost by the registrar.  Original and renewal
5.9 	applications for these passenger vehicle license plates must be
5.10 	accompanied by a certification signed by the commissioner of
5.11 	revenue or the commissioner of labor and industry.  The
5.12 	certification must be on a form prescribed by the commissioner
5.13 	and state that the vehicles will be used exclusively for the
5.14 	purposes authorized by this section.
5.15 	(e) Unmarked vehicles used by the Division of Disease
5.16 	Prevention and Control of the Department of Health must be
5.17 	registered and must display passenger vehicle classification
5.18 	license number plates.  These plates must be furnished at cost
5.19 	by the registrar.  Original and renewal applications for these
5.20 	passenger vehicle license plates must be accompanied by a
5.21 	certification signed by the commissioner of health.  The
5.22 	certification must be on a form prescribed by the commissioner
5.23 	and state that the vehicles will be used exclusively for the
5.24 	official duties of the Division of Disease Prevention and
5.25 	Control.
5.26 	(f) Unmarked vehicles used by staff of the Gambling Control
5.27 	Board in gambling investigations and reviews must be registered
5.28 	and must display passenger vehicle classification license number
5.29 	plates.  These plates must be furnished at cost by the
5.30 	registrar.  Original and renewal applications for these
5.31 	passenger vehicle license plates must be accompanied by a
5.32 	certification signed by the board chair.  The certification must
5.33 	be on a form prescribed by the commissioner and state that the
5.34 	vehicles will be used exclusively for the official duties of the
5.35 	Gambling Control Board.
5.36 	(g) All other motor vehicles must be registered and display
6.1 	tax-exempt number plates, furnished by the registrar at cost,
6.2 	except as provided in subdivision 1c.  All vehicles required to
6.3 	display tax-exempt number plates must have the name of the state
6.4 	department or political subdivision, nonpublic high school
6.5 	operating a driver education program, or licensed commercial
6.6 	driving school, plainly displayed on both sides of the vehicle;
6.7 	except that each state hospital and institution for the mentally
6.8 	ill and mentally retarded may have one vehicle without the
6.9 	required identification on the sides of the vehicle, and county
6.10 	social service agencies may have vehicles used for child and
6.11 	vulnerable adult protective services without the required
6.12 	identification on the sides of the vehicle.  This identification
6.13 	must be in a color giving contrast with that of the part of the
6.14 	vehicle on which it is placed and must endure throughout the
6.15 	term of the registration.  The identification must not be on a
6.16 	removable plate or placard and must be kept clean and visible at
6.17 	all times; except that a removable plate or placard may be
6.18 	utilized on vehicles leased or loaned to a political subdivision
6.19 	or to a nonpublic high school driver education program.

6.20 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.01,
6.21 	subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
6.22 		Subd. 4a.Motorized bicycle.  "Motorized bicycle" means a
6.23 	bicycle that is propelled by a an electric or a liquid fuel 
6.24 	motor of a piston displacement capacity of 50 cubic centimeters
6.25 	or less, and a maximum of two brake horsepower, which is capable
6.26 	of a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on a flat
6.27 	surface with not more than one percent grade in any direction
6.28 	when the motor is engaged.  "Motorized bicycle" includes an
6.29 	electric-assisted bicycle as defined in subdivision 4b.

6.30 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.01, is
6.31 	amended by adding a subdivision to read:
6.32 		Subd. 4c.Motorized foot scooter. "Motorized foot
6.33 	scooter" means a device with handlebars designed to be stood or
6.34 	sat upon by the operator, and powered by an internal combustion
6.35 	engine or electric motor that is capable of propelling the
6.36 	device with or without human propulsion, and that has either (1)
7.1 	no more than two ten-inch or smaller diameter wheels or (2) an
7.2 	engine or motor that is capable of a maximum speed of 15 miles
7.3 	per hour on a flat surface with not more than one percent grade
7.4 	in any direction when the motor is engaged.  An electric
7.5 	personal assistive mobility device, a motorized bicycle, an
7.6 	electric-assisted bicycle, or a motorcycle is not a motorized
7.7 	foot scooter.

7.8 	Sec. 6. [169.225] MOTORIZED FOOT SCOOTER.
7.9 		Subdivision 1.Application of traffic laws. Every person
7.10 	operating a motorized foot scooter shall have all rights and
7.11 	duties applicable to the operator of a bicycle, except in
7.12 	respect to those provisions relating expressly to motorized foot
7.13 	scooters and in respect to those provisions of law that by their
7.14 	nature cannot reasonably be applied to motorized foot scooters.
7.15 		Subd. 2.Sidewalk and passenger prohibition. No person
7.16 	may operate a motorized foot scooter upon a sidewalk, except
7.17 	when necessary to enter or leave adjacent property.  No person
7.18 	may operate a motorized foot scooter that is carrying any person
7.19 	other than the operator.
7.20 		Subd. 3.Minimum age for operator. No person under the
7.21 	age of 12 years may operate a motorized foot scooter.
7.22 		Subd. 4.Protective headgear. No person under the age of
7.23 	18 years may operate a motorized foot scooter without wearing
7.24 	properly fitted and fastened protective headgear that complies
7.25 	with standards established by the commissioner of public safety.
7.26 		Subd. 5.Required lighting equipment. A motorized foot
7.27 	scooter must be equipped with a headlight and a taillight that
7.28 	comply with standards established by the commissioner of public
7.29 	safety if the vehicle is operated under conditions when vehicle
7.30 	lights are required by law.
7.31 		Subd. 6.Operation requirements and prohibitions. (a) A
7.32 	person operating a motorized foot scooter on a roadway shall
7.33 	ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of
7.34 	the roadway, except in the following situations:
7.35 	(1) when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding
7.36 	in the same direction;
8.1 	(2) when preparing for a left turn, in which case the
8.2 	operator shall stop and dismount at the right-hand curb or right
8.3 	edge of the roadway, and shall complete the turn by crossing the
8.4 	roadway on foot, subject to restrictions placed by law on
8.5 	pedestrians; or 
8.6 	(3) when reasonably necessary to avoid impediments or
8.7 	conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand
8.8 	curb or edge, including, but not limited to, fixed or moving
8.9 	objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface
8.10 	hazards, or narrow lanes.
8.11 	(b) A person may operate a motorized foot scooter on a
8.12 	bicycle path, bicycle lane, bicycle trail, or bikeway that is
8.13 	not reserved for the exclusive use of nonmotorized traffic,
8.14 	unless the local authority or governing body having jurisdiction
8.15 	over that path, lane, trail, or bikeway prohibits operation by
8.16 	law.

8.17 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 171.01,
8.18 	subdivision 41, is amended to read:
8.19 		Subd. 41.Motorized bicycle.  "Motorized bicycle" means a
8.20 	bicycle that is propelled by a an electric or a liquid fuel 
8.21 	motor of a piston displacement capacity of 50 cubic centimeters
8.22 	or less, and a maximum of two brake horsepower, which is capable
8.23 	of a maximum speed of not more than 30 miles per hour on a flat
8.24 	surface with not more than one percent grade in any direction
8.25 	when the motor is engaged.  "Motorized bicycle" includes an
8.26 	electric-assisted bicycle as defined in section 169.01,
8.27 	subdivision 4b.