SF 1490

as introduced - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; authorizing use of 
  1.3             low-speed vehicles on certain roads, under certain 
  1.4             conditions; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
  1.5             Statutes, chapter 169. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [169.046] [LOW-SPEED VEHICLE USE ON ROADWAY.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION OF LOW-SPEED 
  1.9   VEHICLE.] "Low-speed vehicle" means a four-wheel electric 
  1.10  vehicle that has a top speed greater than 20 miles per hour 
  1.11  (mph) but not greater than 25 mph, including neighborhood 
  1.12  electric vehicles, which must comply with Federal Motor Vehicle 
  1.13  Safety Standard No. 500 (FMVSS 500), published in Code of 
  1.14  Federal Regulations, title 49, section 571.500. 
  1.15     Subd. 2.  [OPERATION ON LOW-SPEED ROADWAY.] (a) At 
  1.16  locations posted for a maximum speed limit of 35 mph or less, a 
  1.17  low-speed vehicle may be operated on any alleyway, cartway 
  1.18  established under section 164.08 or 164.09, trail or portage 
  1.19  dedicated under section 160.06, or roadway of any type of road, 
  1.20  street, or highway. 
  1.21     (b) However, the operation of a low-speed vehicle is 
  1.22  prohibited, even where posted temporarily or permanently for a 
  1.23  speed limit of 35 mph or less, on a controlled-access highway or 
  1.24  freeway, as defined in section 160.02. 
  1.25     (c) Paragraph (a) does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle 
  2.1   from safely crossing at an uncontrolled intersection with any 
  2.2   other road, street, or highway that has a posted speed limit of 
  2.3   greater than 35 mph after the vehicle has yielded the 
  2.4   right-of-way to all oncoming traffic on the higher-speed road, 
  2.5   street, or highway. 
  2.6      Subd. 3.  [EQUIPMENT; INSPECTION.] (a) A low-speed vehicle 
  2.7   must have all equipment required by FMVSS 500, including 
  2.8   headlamps, front and rear turn-signal lamps, taillamps, stop 
  2.9   lamps, reflex reflectors, exterior mirror, and parking brake.  
  2.10  The equipment must be functional and otherwise conform to the 
  2.11  standards required by, or incorporated by reference into, FMVSS 
  2.12  500. 
  2.13     (b) Low-speed vehicles are not subject to regular or 
  2.14  scheduled inspections but are subject to citations under this 
  2.15  chapter for vehicle equipment violations for equipment required 
  2.16  under FMVSS 500. 
  2.17     Subd. 4.  [DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIRED.] A person must have 
  2.18  in possession a valid driver's license issued pursuant to 
  2.19  chapter 171 to operate a low-speed vehicle. 
  2.20     Subd. 5.  [APPLICABILITY OF LAWS FOR OTHER VEHICLES.] When 
  2.21  applicable, low-speed vehicles may be recognized and treated as 
  2.22  alternative-fuel vehicles, as defined in section 296A.01, as 
  2.23  "electric vehicles," or as "zero-emission vehicles." 
  2.24     [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 
  2.25  following final enactment.