HF 2195

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

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring motor vehicle
headlamps and taillamps to be illuminated at all times
vehicle is operated on highway; amending Minnesota
Statutes 2004, section 169.48.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.48, is
amended to read:

169.48 VEHICLE LIGHTING.

deleted text begin Subdivision 1. deleted text end

deleted text begin Lights to be displayed. deleted text end

deleted text begin deleted text end (a) Every vehicle
upon a highway within this state deleted text begin : deleted text end

deleted text begin (1) at any time from sunset to sunrise; deleted text end

deleted text begin (2) at any time when it is raining, snowing, sleeting, or
hailing; and deleted text end

deleted text begin (3) at any other time when visibility is impaired by
weather, smoke, fog or other conditions or there is not
sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and
vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead; deleted text end

deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin must at all times new text end display lighted headlamps, lighted
taillamps, and illuminating devices, as deleted text begin hereinafter,
respectively, deleted text end required for different classes of vehicles,
subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles and law
enforcement vehicles, as deleted text begin hereinafter stated deleted text end new text begin specified in this
chapter new text end . deleted text begin In addition to the other requirements of this
paragraph, every school bus transporting children upon a highway
within this state, at any time from a half-hour before sunrise
to a half-hour after sunset, shall display lighted headlamps,
lighted taillamps, and illuminating devices as required by this
paragraph, except that the operator shall use the lowermost
distribution of light specified in section 169.60 unless
conditions warrant otherwise. deleted text end

(b) When deleted text begin requirement is hereinafter declared as to the deleted text end new text begin a new text end
distance new text begin is specified new text end from which certain lamps and devices deleted text begin shall deleted text end
new text begin must new text end render objects visible or within which deleted text begin such deleted text end lamps or
devices deleted text begin shall be deleted text end new text begin are new text end visible, these provisions deleted text begin shall deleted text end apply
deleted text begin during the time stated in this section deleted text end upon a straight level
unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a
different deleted text begin time or deleted text end condition is expressly stated and unless
otherwise specified the location of lamps and devices deleted text begin shall
refer deleted text end new text begin refers new text end to the center of deleted text begin such deleted text end new text begin the new text end lamps or devices.
Parking lamps deleted text begin shall deleted text end new text begin may new text end not be used in lieu of headlamps to
satisfy the requirements of this section.

deleted text begin Subd. 2. deleted text end

deleted text begin Certain violations; negligence. deleted text end

deleted text begin Notwithstanding
section 169.96, a violation of subdivision 1, paragraph (a),
clause (2), is not negligence per se or prima facie evidence of
negligence. deleted text end