HF 1929

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/16/2015 03:07pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; modifying operating restrictions for all-terrain
vehicles; requiring rulemaking; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections
84.9256, subdivision 1; 84.928, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 84.9256, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Prohibitions on youthful operators.

(a) Except for operation on
public road rights-of-way that is permitted under section 84.928 and as provided under
paragraph (j), a driver's license issued by the state or another state is required to operate an
all-terrain vehicle along or on a public road right-of-way.

(b) A person under 12 years of age shall not:

(1) make a direct crossing of a public road right-of-way;

(2) operate an all-terrain vehicle on a public road right-of-way in the state; or

(3) operate an all-terrain vehicle on public lands or waters, except as provided in
paragraph (f).

(c) Except for public road rights-of-way of interstate highways, a person 12 years
of age but less than 16 years may make a direct crossing of a public road right-of-way
of a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway or operate on public lands and waters or
state or grant-in-aid trails, only if that person possesses a valid all-terrain vehicle safety
certificate issued by the commissioner and is accompanied by a person 18 years of age or
older who holds a valid driver's license.

(d) To be issued an all-terrain vehicle safety certificate, a person at least 12 years
old, but less than 16 years old, must:

(1) successfully complete the safety education and training program under section
84.925, subdivision 1, including a riding component; and

(2) be able to properly reach and control the handle bars and reach the foot pegs
while sitting upright on the seat of the all-terrain vehicle.

(e) A person at least 11 years of age may take the safety education and training
program and may receive an all-terrain vehicle safety certificate under paragraph (d), but
the certificate is not valid until the person reaches age 12.

(f) A person at least ten years of age but under 12 years of age may operate an
all-terrain vehicle with an engine capacity up to 90cc on public lands or waters if
accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

(g) A person under 15 years of age shall not operate a class 2 all-terrain vehicle.

(h) A person under the age of 16 may not operate an all-terrain vehicle on public
lands or waters or on state or grant-in-aid trails if the person cannot properly reach and
control the handle bars and reach the foot pegs while sitting upright on the seat of the
all-terrain vehicle.

(i) Notwithstanding paragraph (c), a nonresident at least 12 years old, but less than
16 years old, may make a direct crossing of a public road right-of-way of a trunk, county
state-aid, or county highway or operate an all-terrain vehicle on public lands and waters
or state or grant-in-aid trails if:

(1) the nonresident youth has in possession evidence of completing an all-terrain
safety course offered by the ATV Safety Institute or another state as provided in section
84.925, subdivision 3; and

(2) the nonresident youth is accompanied by a person 18 years of age or older who
holds a valid driver's license.

(j) A person 12 years of age but less than 16 years of age may operate an all-terrain
vehicle on the new text begin roadway, new text end bank, slope, or ditch of a public road right-of-way as permitted
under section 84.928 if the person:

(1) possesses a valid all-terrain vehicle safety certificate issued by the commissioner;
and

(2) is accompanied by a parent or legal guardian on a separate all-terrain vehicle.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, 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 84.928 new text begin or by local ordinance under paragraph (k) new text end , 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 a class 2 all-terrain vehicle:

(1) 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);

(2) on the bank, slope, or ditch of a public road right-of-way of a trunk, county
state-aid, or county highway but only to access businesses or make trail connections, 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); and

(3) 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:

(1) that is part of a funded grant-in-aid trail; or

(2) when the all-terrain vehicle is owned by or operated under contract with a publicly
or privately owned utility or pipeline company and 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.

new text begin (k) A county, city, or town, acting through its governing body, may by ordinance
allow a person to operate an all-terrain vehicle on a public road or street under its
jurisdiction to access businesses and residences and to make trail connections.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin MOTORIZED TRAIL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW; RULEMAKING.
new text end

new text begin (a) The Environmental Quality Board shall amend Minnesota Rules, chapter 4410, to
allow the following without preparing a mandatory environmental assessment worksheet:
new text end

new text begin (1) constructing a recreational trail less than 25 miles long on forested or other
naturally vegetated land for a recreational use;
new text end

new text begin (2) adding a new motorized recreational use or a seasonal motorized recreational
use to an existing motorized recreational trail if the treadway width is not expanded as a
result of the added use; and
new text end

new text begin (3) designating an existing, legally constructed route, such as a logging road, for
motorized recreational trail use.
new text end

new text begin (b) The board may use the good cause exemption rulemaking procedure under
Minnesota Statutes, section 14.388, subdivision 1, clause (3), to adopt rules under this
section, and Minnesota Statutes, section 14.386, does not apply except as provided under
Minnesota Statutes, section 14.388.
new text end