HF 1755

as introduced - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; reducing speed limits 
  1.3             for vehicles within 1,000 feet of stopped emergency 
  1.4             vehicles; directing the commissioner of public safety 
  1.5             to develop public awareness plan; amending Minnesota 
  1.6             Statutes 2000, section 169.14, subdivision 3. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.14, 
  1.9   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 3.  [REDUCED SPEED REQUIRED.] (a) The driver of any 
  1.11  vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements, drive at an 
  1.12  appropriate reduced speed when approaching or passing an 
  1.13  authorized emergency vehicle stopped with emergency lights 
  1.14  flashing on any street or highway, when approaching and crossing 
  1.15  an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and 
  1.16  going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when 
  1.17  traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, and when special 
  1.18  hazards exist with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by 
  1.19  reason of weather or highway conditions.  
  1.20     (b) The driver of a vehicle shall drive at an appropriate 
  1.21  reduced speed when approaching within 1,000 feet of or passing 
  1.22  an authorized emergency vehicle stopped with emergency lights 
  1.23  flashing on any street or highway.  A speed in excess of the 
  1.24  limits in this paragraph is prima facie evidence that the speed 
  1.25  is unlawful: 
  1.26     (1) 40 miles per hour in a location with a speed limit 
  2.1   under subdivision 2 of 65 or 70 miles per hour or a posted speed 
  2.2   limit of 60 miles per hour; 
  2.3      (2) 30 miles per hour in a location with a speed limit 
  2.4   under subdivision 2 of 55 miles per hour or a posted speed limit 
  2.5   of 40, 45, or 50 miles per hour; and 
  2.6      (3) 15 miles per hour in a location with a speed limit 
  2.7   under subdivision 2 of 30 miles per hour or a posted speed limit 
  2.8   of 20, 25, or 35 miles per hour. 
  2.9      (b) (c) A person who fails to reduce speed appropriately 
  2.10  when approaching or passing an authorized emergency vehicle 
  2.11  stopped with emergency lights flashing on a street or highway 
  2.12  shall be assessed an additional surcharge equal to the amount of 
  2.13  the fine imposed for the speed violation, but not less than $25. 
  2.14     Sec. 2.  [SPEED REDUCTION AWARENESS.] 
  2.15     The commissioner of public safety shall develop and 
  2.16  implement a long-range plan to promote awareness among drivers 
  2.17  of the need for reduced speed in proximity to stopped emergency 
  2.18  vehicles.