SF 1536

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:

Section 1.

new text begin [160.94] USE OF HIGHWAY LANES BY HYBRID
VEHICLES.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Hybrid vehicle. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this
section, "hybrid vehicle" means a motor vehicle that:
new text end

new text begin (1) has a hybrid propulsion system that operates both with
an internal combustion engine and on electric propulsion;
new text end

new text begin (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
new text end

new text begin (3) conforms to any requirements for such a vehicle in
federal law or regulation.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Use of hov lanes by hybrid vehicles. new text end

new text begin Unless
otherwise prohibited by federal law or regulation, and with the
approval of the Federal Highway Administration, the commissioner
shall:
new text end

new text begin (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
new text end

new text begin (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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Decals. new text end

new text begin 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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Violation. new text end

new text begin 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.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin This section expires July 31, 2007.
new text end