1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to motor vehicles; authorizing issuance of disability plate to owner of 
1.3 	motorized bicycle under certain circumstances;amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, 
1.4 	sections 168.021, subdivisions 1, 2, 2a; 169.345, subdivisions 1, 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 168.021, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Disability plates; application. (a) When a motor vehicle registered under 
1.8 	section 168.017, a motorcycle, a motorized bicycle, a one-ton pickup truck, or a self-propelled 
1.9 	recreational vehicle is owned or primarily operated by a permanently physically disabled 
1.10 	person or a custodial parent or guardian of a permanently physically disabled minor, the 
1.11 	owner may apply for and secure from the commissioner (1) immediately, a temporary permit 
1.12 	valid for 30 days if the applicant is eligible for the disability plates issued under this section 
1.13 	and (2) two disability plates with attached emblems, one plate to be attached to the front, 
1.14 	and one to the rear of the motor vehicle, truck, or recreational vehicle, or, in the case of a 
1.15 	motorcycle or a motorized bicycle, one disability plate the same size as a regular motorcycle 
1.16 	plate.
1.17 	(b) The commissioner shall not issue more than one plate to the owner of a motorcycle 
1.18 	or a motorized bicycle and not more than one set of plates to any owner of another vehicle 
1.19 	described in paragraph (a) at the same time unless the state Council on Disability approves 
1.20 	the issuance of a second plate or set of plates to an owner.
1.21 	(c) When the owner first applies for the disability plate or plates, the owner must submit 
1.22 	a medical statement in a format approved by the commissioner under section 169.345, or 
1.23 	proof of physical disability provided for in that section.
2.1 	(d) No medical statement or proof of disability is required when an owner applies for a 
2.2 	plate or plates for one or more vehicles listed in paragraph (a) that are specially modified 
2.3 	for and used exclusively by permanently physically disabled persons.
2.4 	(e) The owner of a vehicle listed in paragraph (a) may apply for and secure (i) 
2.5 	immediately, a permit valid for 30 days, if the applicant is eligible to receive the disability 
2.6 	plate or plates issued under this section, and (ii) a disability plate or plates for the vehicle 
2.7 	if:
2.8 	(1) the owner employs a permanently physically disabled person who would qualify for 
2.9 	the disability plate or plates under this section; and
2.10 	(2) the owner furnishes the motor vehicle to the physically disabled person for the 
2.11 	exclusive use of that person in the course of employment.

2.12 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 168.021, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.13 		Subd. 2.Plate design; furnished by commissioner. The commissioner shall design 
2.14 	and furnish two disability plates, or one disability plate for a motorcycle or a motorized 
2.15 	bicycle that is the same size as a regular motorcycle plate, with attached emblem or emblems 
2.16 	to an eligible owner. The emblem must bear the internationally accepted wheelchair symbol, 
2.17 	as designated in section 326B.106, subdivision 9, approximately three inches square. The 
2.18 	emblem must be large enough to be visible plainly from a distance of 50 feet. An applicant 
2.19 	eligible for a disability plate or plates shall pay the motor vehicle registration fee authorized 
2.20 	by sections 168.013 and 168.09.

2.21 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 168.021, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
2.22 		Subd. 2a.Plate transfer. (a) When ownership of a vehicle described in subdivision 1, 
2.23 	is transferred, the owner of the vehicle shall remove the disability plate or plates. The buyer 
2.24 	of the motor vehicle is entitled to receive a regular plate or plates for the vehicle without 
2.25 	further cost for the remainder of the registration period.
2.26 	(b) Notwithstanding section 168.12, subdivision 1, the disability plate or plates may be 
2.27 	transferred to a replacement vehicle on notification to the commissioner. However, the 
2.28 	disability plate or plates may not be transferred unless the replacement vehicle (1) is listed 
2.29 	under section 168.012, subdivision 1, and, in case of a single plate for a motorcycle or a 
2.30 	motorized bicycle, the replacement vehicle is a motorcycle or a motorized bicycle, and (2) 
2.31 	is owned or primarily operated by the permanently physically disabled person.

3.1 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 169.345, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.2 		Subdivision 1.Scope of privilege. (a) A vehicle described in section 168.021, subdivision 
3.3 	1, paragraph (a), that prominently displays the certificate authorized by this section or that 
3.4 	bears the disability plate or plates issued under section 168.021 may be parked by or solely 
3.5 	for the benefit of a physically disabled person:
3.6 	(1) in a designated parking space for disabled persons, as provided in section 169.346;
3.7 	(2) in a metered parking space without obligation to pay the meter fee and without time 
3.8 	restrictions unless time restrictions are separately posted on official signs; and
3.9 	(3) without time restrictions in a nonmetered space where parking is otherwise allowed 
3.10 	for passenger vehicles but restricted to a maximum period of time and that does not 
3.11 	specifically prohibit the exercise of disabled parking privileges in that space.
3.12 	A person may park the vehicle for a physically disabled person in a parking space described 
3.13 	in clause (1) or (2) only when actually transporting the physically disabled person for the 
3.14 	sole benefit of that person and when the parking space is within a reasonable distance from 
3.15 	the drop-off point.
3.16 	(b) For purposes of this subdivision, a certificate is prominently displayed if it is displayed 
3.17 	so that it may be viewed from the front and rear of the motor vehicle by hanging it from the 
3.18 	rearview mirror attached to the front windshield of the motor vehicle or, in the case of a 
3.19 	motorcycle  or a motorized bicycle, is secured to the vehicle. If there is no rearview mirror 
3.20 	or if the certificate holder's disability precludes placing the certificate on the mirror, the 
3.21 	certificate must be displayed on the dashboard of the vehicle. No part of the certificate may 
3.22 	be obscured.
3.23 	(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), clauses (1), (2), and (3), this section does not permit 
3.24 	parking in areas prohibited by sections 169.32 and 169.34, in designated no parking spaces, 
3.25 	or in parking spaces reserved for specified purposes or vehicles. A local governmental unit 
3.26 	may, by ordinance, prohibit parking on any street or highway to create a fire lane, or to 
3.27 	accommodate heavy traffic during morning and afternoon rush hours and these ordinances 
3.28 	also apply to physically disabled persons.

3.29 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 169.345, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
3.30 		Subd. 3.Identifying certificate. (a) The commissioner shall issue (1) immediately, a 
3.31 	permit valid for 30 days if the person is eligible for the certificate issued under this section 
3.32 	and (2) an identifying certificate for a vehicle described in section 168.021, subdivision 1, 
3.33 	paragraph (a), when a physically disabled applicant submits proof of physical disability 
4.1 	under subdivision 2a. The commissioner shall design separate certificates for persons with 
4.2 	permanent and temporary disabilities that can be readily distinguished from each other from 
4.3 	outside a vehicle at a distance of 25 feet or, in the case of a motorcycle or a motorized 
4.4 	bicycle, can be readily secured to the motorcycle or motorized bicycle. An applicant may 
4.5 	be issued up to two certificates if the applicant has not been issued disability plates under 
4.6 	section 168.021.
4.7 	(b) The operator of a vehicle displaying a certificate has the parking privileges provided 
4.8 	in subdivision 1 only while the vehicle is actually parked while transporting a physically 
4.9 	disabled person.
4.10 	(c) The commissioner shall cancel all certificates issued to an applicant who fails to 
4.11 	comply with the requirements of this subdivision.

4.12 	Sec. 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 4.13 	Sections 1 to 5 are effective January 1, 2018.