HF 1853

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to traffic regulations; regulating mud flaps;
making clarifying changes; amending Minnesota Statutes
2004, section 169.733.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.733, is
amended to read:

169.733 WHEEL FLAPS ON TRUCK AND TRAILER.

Subdivision 1.

Vehicles generally.

Every truck,
truck-tractor, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, and rear-end
dump truck deleted text begin , excepting rear-end dump farm trucks and military
vehicles of the United States, shall deleted text end new text begin must new text end be provided with wheel
flaps or other suitable protection above and behind the rearmost
wheels of the vehicle or combination of vehicles to prevent, as
far as practicable, such wheels from throwing dirt, water, or
other materials on the windshields of new text begin following new text end vehicles deleted text begin which
follow deleted text end . deleted text begin Such deleted text end new text begin The new text end flaps or protectors deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin must new text end be at least
as wide as the tires they are protecting and deleted text begin shall deleted text end have a ground
clearance of not more than deleted text begin one-fifth of the horizontal distance
from the center of the rearmost axle to the flap under any
conditions of loading or operation of the motor deleted text end new text begin nine inches from
the ground when the new text end vehicle new text begin is empty new text end .

Subd. 2.

Vehicle with conveyor belt.

For a dump truck or
truck with a rigid box fastened to its frame and having a
conveyor belt or chain in the bottom of the vehicle deleted text begin which deleted text end new text begin that
new text end moves the cargo to the rear end of the vehicle, the flaps deleted text begin shall
deleted text end new text begin must new text end be mounted as far to the rear of the vehicle as practicable
and deleted text begin shall deleted text end have a ground clearance of not more than 18 inches
when the vehicle is loaded.

Subd. 3.

Bottom-dump vehicle.

new text begin In addition to meeting the
requirements of subdivision 1, new text end a bottom-dump cargo vehicle
transporting sand, gravel, aggregate, dirt, lime rock, silica,
or similar material must be equipped with deleted text begin flaps that are mounted
to the rear of the axles, cover the entire width of the vehicle,
and deleted text end new text begin a center flap between the wheel flaps, which must new text end have a
ground clearance of six inches or less when the vehicle is fully
loaded.

Subd. 4.

Alternative requirements.

If the motor vehicle
is so designed and constructed that the above requirements are
accomplished by means of body construction or other means of
enclosure, then no such protectors or flaps deleted text begin shall be deleted text end new text begin are
new text end required.

Subd. 5.

Extended flaps.

If the rear wheels are not
covered at the top by fenders, body or other parts of the
vehicle, the flap or other protective means deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin must new text end be
extended at least to a point directly above the center of the
rearmost axle.

deleted text begin Subd. 6. deleted text end

deleted text begin Lamps or wiring. deleted text end

deleted text begin Lamps or wiring shall not be
attached to fender flaps.
deleted text end