1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to traffic regulation; prohibiting the use of wireless communications 
1.3 	devices in Metropolitan Council public transit vehicles;proposing coding for 
1.4 	new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 169.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [169.476] PROHIBITING USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS 
1.7 	DEVICES IN METROPOLITAN COUNCIL PUBLIC TRANSIT VEHICLES; 
1.8 	EXCEPTIONS.
1.9 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following 
1.10 	definitions apply.
1.11 	(b) "Metropolitan Council" means the council established by section 473.123.
1.12 	(c) "Metropolitan Council public transit vehicle" means a vehicle providing public 
1.13 	transit as defined in section 174.22, subdivision 7, either directly by employees of the 
1.14 	Metropolitan Council or by employees of another person providing public transit under a 
1.15 	contract with the Metropolitan Council. A public transit vehicle includes a light rail 
1.16 	transit vehicle or a commuter rail vehicle.
1.17 	(d) "Employer-provided wireless communications device" means a wireless 
1.18 	communications device supplied to the operator of a public transit vehicle by the 
1.19 	Metropolitan Council, or by a person providing public transit under a contract with the 
1.20 	Metropolitan Council, for the purpose of dispatch and other work-related communications.
1.21 	(e) "Wireless communications device" has the meaning given in section 169.011, 
1.22 	subdivision 94.
1.23 		Subd. 2.Prohibition on use. A person must not operate a Metropolitan Council 
1.24 	public transit vehicle while using a wireless communications device when the vehicle is in 
2.1 	motion, stopped, or parked, whether or not there are any passengers on board the vehicle. 
2.2 	Using a wireless communications device includes talking on, listening to, or dialing the 
2.3 	device. This prohibition also applies to a wireless communications device that is voice 
2.4 	activated or used in a hands-free mode.
2.5 		Subd. 3.Exceptions. The prohibition in this section does not apply:
2.6 	(1) to the use of a wireless communications device when a public transit vehicle is 
2.7 	stopped and out of service either at the end of a route or during an employer-prescribed 
2.8 	driver break occurring during a route;
2.9 	(2) to the use of an employer-provided wireless communications device when used 
2.10 	for work-related purposes; or
2.11 	(3) if an employer-provided wireless communications device is not available or 
2.12 	readily available, is inoperable, or is otherwise unusable and one or more of the following 
2.13 	circumstances exist:
2.14 	(i) the wireless communications device is used for obtaining emergency assistance to:
2.15 	(A) report a traffic accident or serious traffic hazard including the reporting of a 
2.16 	vehicle being operated in a reckless, careless, or otherwise unsafe manner;
2.17 	(B) report a medical, fire, or hazardous materials emergency; or
2.18 	(C) prevent a crime about to be committed; 
2.19 	(ii) the wireless communications device is used in the reasonable belief that a 
2.20 	person's life or safety is in immediate danger; or
2.21 	(iii) the wireless communications device is used to call for assistance if there is a 
2.22 	mechanical breakdown or other mechanical problem impairing operation of the vehicle.

2.23 	Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.24 	Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.