HF 3719

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/30/2016 10:54am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; allowing towing of vehicle involved in a collision
where operator is cited for driving without a license or insurance; creating gross
misdemeanor for multiple violations of driving without a valid license; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2014, sections 168B.035, subdivision 3; 171.24, subdivision
5.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 168B.035, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:

Subd. 3.

Towing prohibited.

(a) A towing authority may not tow a motor vehicle
because:

(1) the vehicle has expired registration tabs that have been expired for less than
90 days; or

(2) the vehicle is at a parking meter on which the time has expired and the vehicle
has fewer than five unpaid parking tickets.

(b) A towing authority may tow a motor vehicle, notwithstanding paragraph (a), if:

(1) the vehicle is parked in violation of snow emergency regulations;

(2) the vehicle is parked in a rush-hour restricted parking area;

(3) the vehicle is blocking a driveway, alley, or fire hydrant;

(4) the vehicle is parked in a bus lane, or at a bus stop, during hours when parking
is prohibited;

(5) the vehicle is parked within 30 feet of a stop sign and visually blocking the
stop sign;

(6) the vehicle is parked in a disability transfer zone or disability parking space
without a disability parking certificate or disability license plates;

(7) the vehicle is parked in an area that has been posted for temporary restricted
parking (i) at least 12 hours in advance in a home rule charter or statutory city having a
population under 50,000, or (ii) at least 24 hours in advance in another political subdivision;

(8) the vehicle is parked within the right-of-way of a controlled-access highway or
within the traveled portion of a public street when travel is allowed there;

(9) the vehicle is unlawfully parked in a zone that is restricted by posted signs to
use by fire, police, public safety, or emergency vehicles;

(10) the vehicle is unlawfully parked on property at the Minneapolis-St. Paul
International Airport owned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission;

(11) a law enforcement official has probable cause to believe that the vehicle is
stolen, or that the vehicle constitutes or contains evidence of a crime and impoundment is
reasonably necessary to obtain or preserve the evidence;

(12) the driver, operator, or person in physical control of the vehicle is taken into
custody and the vehicle is impounded for safekeeping;

(13) a law enforcement official has probable cause to believe that the owner,
operator, or person in physical control of the vehicle has failed to respond to five or more
citations for parking or traffic offenses;

(14) the vehicle is unlawfully parked in a zone that is restricted by posted signs
to use by taxicabs;

(15) the vehicle is unlawfully parked and prevents egress by a lawfully parked vehicle;

(16) the vehicle is parked, on a school day during prohibited hours, in a school zone
on a public street where official signs prohibit parking; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

(17) the vehicle is a junk, abandoned, or unauthorized vehicle, as defined in section
168B.011, and subject to immediate removal under this chapter deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (18) the vehicle is involved in a traffic incident involving a collision or accident and
the operator is cited for a violation under section 169.791, 169.797, or 171.24.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective June 1, 2016.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 171.24, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Gross misdemeanor new text begin violations new text end .

new text begin (a) new text end A person is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor if:

(1) the person's driver's license or driving privilege has been canceled or denied
under section 171.04, subdivision 1, clause (10);

(2) the person has been given notice of or reasonably should know of the cancellation
or denial; and

(3) the person disobeys the order by operating in this state any motor vehicle, the
operation of which requires a driver's license, while the person's license or privilege is
canceled or denied.

new text begin (b) A person is guilty of a gross misdemeanor if the person violates this section
within ten years of the first of two prior convictions under this section.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2016, and applies to crimes
committed on or after that date.
new text end