HF 132

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:34am

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; allowing all-terrain vehicle operation on county
roads; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 84.928, subdivision 1.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 84.928, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Operation on roads and rights-of-way.

(a) Unless otherwise
allowed in sections 84.92 to 84.929, a person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle in
this state along or on the roadway, shoulder, or inside bank or slope of a public road
right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway.

(b) A person may operate a class 1 all-terrain vehicle in the ditch or the outside
bank or slope of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway unless prohibited under
paragraph (d) or (f).

(c) A person may operate deleted text begin a class 2 deleted text end new text begin an new text end all-terrain vehicle within the public road
right-of-way of a county state-aid or county highway on the extreme right-hand side of
the road and left turns may be made from any part of the road if it is safe to do so under
the prevailing conditions, unless prohibited under paragraph (d) or (f). A person may
operate a class 2 all-terrain vehicle on the bank or ditch of a public road right-of-way on a
designated class 2 all-terrain vehicle trail.

(d) A road authority as defined under section 160.02, subdivision 25, may after a
public hearing restrict the use of all-terrain vehicles in the public road right-of-way under
its jurisdiction.

(e) The restrictions in paragraphs (a), (d), (h), (i), and (j) do not apply to the
operation of an all-terrain vehicle on the shoulder, inside bank or slope, ditch, or outside
bank or slope of a trunk, interstate, county state-aid, or county highway when the
all-terrain vehicle is:

(1) owned by or operated under contract with a publicly or privately owned utility
or pipeline company; and

(2) used for work on utilities or pipelines.

(f) The commissioner may limit the use of a right-of-way for a period of time if the
commissioner determines that use of the right-of-way causes:

(1) degradation of vegetation on adjacent public property;

(2) siltation of waters of the state;

(3) impairment or enhancement to the act of taking game; or

(4) a threat to safety of the right-of-way users or to individuals on adjacent public
property.

The commissioner must notify the road authority as soon as it is known that a closure
will be ordered. The notice must state the reasons and duration of the closure.

(g) A person may operate an all-terrain vehicle registered for private use and used
for agricultural purposes on a public road right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or
county highway in this state if the all-terrain vehicle is operated on the extreme right-hand
side of the road, and left turns may be made from any part of the road if it is safe to do so
under the prevailing conditions.

(h) A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle within the public road
right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway from April 1 to August 1 in
the agricultural zone unless the vehicle is being used exclusively as transportation to and
from work on agricultural lands. This paragraph does not apply to an agent or employee
of a road authority, as defined in section 160.02, subdivision 25, or the Department of
Natural Resources when performing or exercising official duties or powers.

(i) A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle within the public road
right-of-way of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway between the hours of one-half
hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, except on the right-hand side of the
right-of-way and in the same direction as the highway traffic on the nearest lane of the
adjacent roadway.

(j) A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle at any time within the
right-of-way of an interstate highway or freeway within this state.