HF 1165

as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; regulating low-speed 
  1.3             vehicles; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 
  1.4             169.045. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.045, is 
  1.7   amended to read: 
  1.8      169.045 [SPECIAL VEHICLE USE ON ROADWAY.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [DESIGNATION OF ROADWAY, PERMIT.] (a) The 
  1.10  governing body of any county, home rule charter or statutory 
  1.11  city, or town may by ordinance authorize the operation of 
  1.12  motorized golf carts, low-speed vehicles, or four-wheel 
  1.13  all-terrain vehicles, on designated roadways or portions thereof 
  1.14  under its jurisdiction.  Authorization to operate a motorized 
  1.15  golf cart, low-speed vehicle, or four-wheel all-terrain vehicle 
  1.16  is by permit only.  
  1.17     (b) For purposes of this section,: 
  1.18     (1) a "four-wheel all-terrain vehicle" is a motorized, 
  1.19  flotation-tired vehicle with four low-pressure tires that, is 
  1.20  limited in engine displacement of less than 800 cubic 
  1.21  centimeters, and has a total dry weight less than 600 pounds.; 
  1.22  and 
  1.23     (2) a "low-speed vehicle" is a self-propelled motor vehicle 
  1.24  that: 
  1.25     (i) is designed to carry four or fewer persons; 
  2.1      (ii) is designed for and operated at speeds greater than 20 
  2.2   miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour; 
  2.3      (iii) has at least four wheels in contact with the ground; 
  2.4      (iv) has an unladen weight of less than 1,800 pounds; and 
  2.5      (v) meets all safety standards for low-speed vehicles 
  2.6   contained in federal motor vehicle safety standard number 500, 
  2.7   Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, section 571.500. 
  2.8      Subd. 2.  [ORDINANCE.] The ordinance shall designate the 
  2.9   roadways, prescribe the form of the application for the permit, 
  2.10  require evidence of insurance complying with the provisions of 
  2.11  section 65B.48, subdivision 5 and may prescribe conditions, not 
  2.12  inconsistent with the provisions of this section, under which a 
  2.13  permit may be granted.  Permits may be granted for a period of 
  2.14  not to exceed one year, and may be annually renewed.  A permit 
  2.15  may be revoked at any time if there is evidence that the 
  2.16  permittee cannot safely operate the motorized golf cart, 
  2.17  low-speed vehicle, or four-wheel all-terrain vehicle on the 
  2.18  designated roadways.  The ordinance may require, as a condition 
  2.19  to obtaining a permit, that the applicant submit a certificate 
  2.20  signed by a physician that the applicant is able to safely 
  2.21  operate a motorized golf cart, low-speed vehicle, or four-wheel 
  2.22  all-terrain vehicle on the roadways designated. 
  2.23     Subd. 3.  [TIMES OF OPERATION.] Motorized golf carts, 
  2.24  low-speed vehicles, and four-wheel all-terrain vehicles may only 
  2.25  be operated on designated roadways from sunrise to sunset.  They 
  2.26  shall not be operated in inclement weather or when visibility is 
  2.27  impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions, or at any 
  2.28  time when there is insufficient light to clearly see persons and 
  2.29  vehicles on the roadway at a distance of 500 feet.  
  2.30     Subd. 4.  [SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE EMBLEM.] Motorized golf 
  2.31  carts and low-speed vehicles shall display the slow-moving 
  2.32  vehicle emblem provided for in section 169.522, when operated on 
  2.33  designated roadways.  
  2.34     Subd. 5.  [CROSSING INTERSECTING HIGHWAYS.] The operator, 
  2.35  under permit, of a motorized golf cart, low-speed vehicle, or 
  2.36  four-wheel all-terrain vehicle may cross any street or highway 
  3.1   intersecting a designated roadway.  
  3.2      Subd. 6.  [APPLICATION OF TRAFFIC LAWS.] Every person 
  3.3   operating a motorized golf cart, low-speed vehicle, or 
  3.4   four-wheel all-terrain vehicle under permit on designated 
  3.5   roadways has all the rights and duties applicable to the driver 
  3.6   of any other vehicle under the provisions of this chapter, 
  3.7   except when those provisions cannot reasonably be applied to 
  3.8   motorized golf carts, low-speed vehicles, or four-wheel 
  3.9   all-terrain vehicles and except as otherwise specifically 
  3.10  provided in subdivision 7.  
  3.11     Subd. 7.  [NONAPPLICATION OF CERTAIN LAWS.] The provisions 
  3.12  of chapter 171, are not applicable to persons operating 
  3.13  motorized golf carts or four-wheel all-terrain vehicles under 
  3.14  permit on designated roadways pursuant to this section.  Except 
  3.15  for the requirements of section 169.70, the provisions of this 
  3.16  chapter relating to equipment on vehicles is not applicable to 
  3.17  motorized golf carts or four-wheel all-terrain vehicles 
  3.18  operating, under permit, on designated roadways.  
  3.19     Subd. 8.  [INSURANCE.] In the event persons operating a 
  3.20  motorized golf cart, low-speed vehicle, or four-wheel, 
  3.21  all-terrain vehicle under this section cannot obtain liability 
  3.22  insurance in the private market, that person may purchase 
  3.23  automobile insurance, including no-fault coverage, from the 
  3.24  Minnesota Automobile Assigned Risk Plan at a rate to be 
  3.25  determined by the commissioner of commerce.