1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; regulating titling, registration, and operation of mini 
1.3 	trucks;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 168.002, subdivision 24, 
1.4 	by adding a subdivision; 168A.03, subdivision 1; 169.011, subdivision 52, by 
1.5 	adding a subdivision; 169.224.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.002, is amended by adding a 
1.8 	subdivision to read:
1.9 		Subd. 16a.Mini truck. "Mini truck" has the meaning given in section 169.011, 
1.10 	subdivision 40a.

1.11 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.002, subdivision 24, is amended to read:
1.12 		Subd. 24.Passenger automobile. (a) "Passenger automobile" means any motor 
1.13 	vehicle designed and used for carrying not more than 15 individuals, including the driver.
1.14 	(b) "Passenger automobile" does not include motorcycles, motor scooters, buses, 
1.15 	school buses, or commuter vans as defined in section 168.126. Except as provided in 
1.16 	paragraph (c), clause (1), a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 to 13,000 
1.17 	pounds that is a pickup truck or a van is not a passenger automobile.
1.18 	(c) "Passenger automobile" includes, but is not limited to:
1.19 	(1) a vehicle that is: (i) a pickup truck or a van; (ii) not used in furtherance of a 
1.20 	commercial enterprise; and (iii) not subject to state or federal regulation as a commercial 
1.21 	motor vehicle;
1.22 	(2) neighborhood electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 47; and
1.23 	(3) medium-speed electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 39.; 
1.24 	and
2.1 	(4) mini trucks.

2.2 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168A.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
2.3 		Subdivision 1.No certificate issued. The registrar shall not issue a certificate of 
2.4 	title for:
2.5 	(1) a vehicle owned by the United States;
2.6 	(2) a vehicle owned by a nonresident and not required by law to be registered in 
2.7 	this state;
2.8 	(3) a vehicle owned by a nonresident and regularly engaged in the interstate 
2.9 	transportation of persons or property for which a currently effective certificate of title 
2.10 	has been issued in another state;
2.11 	(4) a vehicle moved solely by animal power;
2.12 	(5) an implement of husbandry;
2.13 	(6) special mobile equipment;
2.14 	(7) a self-propelled wheelchair or invalid tricycle;
2.15 	(8) a trailer (i) having a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or less unless a secured party 
2.16 	holds an interest in the trailer or a certificate of title was previously issued by this state or 
2.17 	any other state or (ii) designed primarily for agricultural purposes except a recreational 
2.18 	vehicle or a manufactured home, both as defined in section 168.002, subdivisions 16 
2.19 	and 27; 
2.20 	(9) a snowmobile; and
2.21 	(10) a spotter truck, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 77.; and
2.22 	(11) a mini truck, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 40a.

2.23 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.24 	to read:
2.25 		Subd. 40a.Mini truck. (a) "Mini truck" means a motor vehicle that has four 
2.26 	wheels; is propelled by an electric motor with a rated power of 7,500 watts or less or an 
2.27 	internal combustion engine with a piston displacement capacity of 660 cubic centimeters 
2.28 	or less; has a total dry weight of 900 to 2,200 pounds; contains an enclosed cabin and a 
2.29 	seat for the vehicle operator; commonly resembles a pickup truck or van, including a cargo 
2.30 	area or bed located at the rear of the vehicle; and was not originally manufactured to meet 
2.31 	federal motor vehicle safety standards required of motor vehicles in the Code of Federal 
2.32 	Regulations, title 49, sections 571.101 to 571.404, and successor requirements.
2.33 	(b) A mini truck does not include:
2.34 	(1) a neighborhood electric vehicle or a medium-speed electric vehicle; or
3.1 	(2) a motor vehicle that meets or exceeds the regulations in the Code of Federal 
3.2 	Regulations, title 49, section 571.500, and successor requirements.

3.3 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, subdivision 52, is amended to read:
3.4 		Subd. 52.Passenger vehicle. (a) "Passenger vehicle" means a passenger automobile 
3.5 	defined in section 168.002, subdivision 24; a pickup truck defined in section 168.002, 
3.6 	subdivision 26; a van defined in section 168.002, subdivision 40; and a self-propelled, 
3.7 	recreational vehicle or mini truck licensed under chapter 168 to use the public streets 
3.8 	or highways. 
3.9 	(b) "Passenger vehicle" does not include a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, bus, 
3.10 	school bus, a vehicle designed to operate exclusively on railroad tracks, a farm truck 
3.11 	defined in section 168.002, subdivision 8, or special mobile equipment defined in section 
3.12 	168.002, subdivision 31. 

3.13 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.224, is amended to read:
3.14 	169.224 NEIGHBORHOOD AND MEDIUM-SPEED ELECTRIC
3.15 	ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES.
3.16 		Subdivision 1.Definition Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following 
3.17 	terms have the meanings given them.
3.18 	(b) "Alternative vehicle" means a mini truck, neighborhood electric vehicle, or 
3.19 	medium-speed electric vehicle.
3.20 	(c) "Road authority" means the commissioner, as to trunk highways; the county 
3.21 	board, as to county state-aid highways and county highways; the town board, as to town 
3.22 	roads; and the governing body of a city, as to city streets.
3.23 		Subd. 2.Required equipment; electric vehicles. Notwithstanding any other law, 
3.24 	a neighborhood electric vehicle or a medium-speed electric vehicle may be operated on 
3.25 	public streets and highways if it meets all equipment and vehicle safety requirements in 
3.26 	Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, section 571.500, and successor requirements.
3.27 		Subd. 2a.Required equipment; mini trucks. Notwithstanding sections 169.48 to 
3.28 	169.68, or any other law, a mini truck may be operated on public streets and highways if 
3.29 	it is equipped with:
3.30 	(1) at least two headlamps;
3.31 	(2) at least two taillamps;
3.32 	(3) front and rear turn-signal lamps;
3.33 	(4) an exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle and either (i) an 
3.34 	exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or (ii) an interior mirror;
4.1 	(5) a windshield;
4.2 	(6) a seat belt for the driver and front passenger; and
4.3 	(7) a parking brake.
4.4 		Subd. 3.Operation. (a) A person operating an alternative vehicle on public streets 
4.5 	and highways under this section has all the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any 
4.6 	other vehicle under this chapter.
4.7 	(b) A neighborhood electric vehicle or a medium-speed electric vehicle may not be 
4.8 	operated on a street or highway with a speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour, except to 
4.9 	make a direct crossing of that street or highway. A person may not operate a mini truck on 
4.10 	an Interstate highway or on a highway with a posted speed limit:
4.11 	(1) that is greater than 60 miles per hour, except to make a direct crossing; and
4.12 	(2) that is more than 20 miles per hour above the maximum speed that the mini truck 
4.13 	is capable of maintaining on a paved level surface.
4.14 	(c) A person operating an alternative vehicle on a highway having two or more 
4.15 	lanes in the same direction must drive in the lane farthest to the right, except to make a 
4.16 	left turn. A person may make a left turn from an appropriate lane if it is safe to do so 
4.17 	under the prevailing conditions.
4.18 		Subd. 4.Restrictions and prohibitions. (a) A road authority, including the 
4.19 	commissioner of transportation by order, may prohibit or further restrict the operation of 
4.20 	neighborhood electric vehicles and medium-speed electric alternative vehicles on any 
4.21 	street or highway under the road authority's jurisdiction.
4.22 	(b) Neither a neighborhood electric vehicle nor a medium-speed electric An 
4.23 	alternative vehicle may not be used to take any examination to demonstrate ability to 
4.24 	exercise control in the operation of a motor vehicle as required under section 171.13.