1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
A bill for an act
relating to transportation; allowing hybrid vehicles
to be used in high-occupancy vehicle lanes; proposing
coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 160.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
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For the purposes of this
section, "hybrid vehicle" means a motor vehicle that:
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(1) has a hybrid propulsion system that operates both with
an internal combustion engine and on electric propulsion;
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(2) has a fuel efficiency of greater than 28 miles per
gallon in highway use and 33 miles per gallon in city use, as
certified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency;
and
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(3) conforms to any requirements for such a vehicle in
federal law or regulation.
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Unless
otherwise prohibited by federal law or regulation, and with the
approval of the Federal Highway Administration, the commissioner
shall:
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(1) allow an operator of a single-occupant, hybrid vehicle
to use any high-occupancy vehicle lane on the trunk highway
system, regardless of occupancy requirements established for
other types of vehicles; and
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(2) allow the operator of a hybrid vehicle to use a lane of
a trunk highway, other than a toll bridge, on which a toll is
imposed for certain vehicles, without payment of such a toll.
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The commissioner shall issue to the
owner of a hybrid vehicle upon request of the owner and upon
payment of a fee of $15, a distinctive decal or other identifier
to be affixed to the vehicle, clearly identifying the vehicle as
a hybrid vehicle. A person operating a vehicle lawfully
displaying such a decal has the privileges granted by the
commissioner under subdivision 2.
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A person may not operate a vehicle
that displays a decal or other identifier issued under this
section in a high-occupancy vehicle lane or toll lane if that
decal or identifier was not issued for that vehicle. A
violation of this subdivision is a misdemeanor.
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This section expires July 31, 2007.
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