SF 1548

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/26/2019 04:53pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring drivers to slow down when passing stopped
service vehicles; authorizing recycling trucks to be equipped with and to use amber
lights while collecting recycling; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, sections
169.18, subdivision 12; 169.64, subdivision 9.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 169.18, subdivision 12, is amended to read:

Subd. 12.

Passing certain parked vehicles.

(a) When approaching and before passing
a deleted text begin freeway service patrol vehicle, road maintenance vehicle, utility company vehicle, or
construction deleted text end new text begin service new text end vehicle with its warning lights activated that is parked or otherwise
stopped on or next to a street or highway having two lanes in the same direction, the driver
of a vehicle shall safely move the vehicle to the lane farthest away from the parked or
stopped vehicle, if it is possible to do so.

(b) When approaching and before passing a deleted text begin freeway service patrol vehicle, road
maintenance vehicle, utility company vehicle, or construction deleted text end new text begin service new text end vehicle with its warning
lights activated that is parked or otherwise stopped on or next to a street or highway having
more than two lanes in the same direction, the driver of a vehicle shall safely move the
vehicle so as to leave a full lane vacant between the driver and any lane in which the vehicle
is completely or partially parked or otherwise stopped, if it is possible to do so.

(c) If a lane change under paragraph (a) or (b) is impossible, or when approaching and
before passing a deleted text begin freeway service patrol vehicle, road maintenance vehicle, utility company
vehicle, or construction deleted text end new text begin service new text end vehicle with its warning lights activated that is parked or
otherwise stopped on or next to a street or highway having only one lane in the same
direction, the driver of a vehicle must reduce the speed of the motor vehicle to a speed that
is reasonable and prudent under the conditions until the motor vehicle has completely passed
the parked or stopped deleted text begin freeway service patrol vehicle, road maintenance vehicle, utility
company vehicle, or construction deleted text end new text begin service new text end vehicle, if it is possible to do so.

new text begin (d) For purposes of this subdivision, a "service vehicle" means a freeway service patrol
vehicle, road maintenance vehicle, utility company vehicle, construction vehicle, solid waste
truck, recycling truck, or other similar vehicle or truck that stops on a roadway as part of
providing service. A service vehicle must be equipped with warning lights.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 169.64, subdivision 9, is amended to read:

Subd. 9.

Warning lamp on vehicles collecting solid waste new text begin or recycling new text end .

A vehicle
used to collect solid waste new text begin or recycling new text end may be equipped with a single amber gaseous
discharge warning lamp that meets the Society of Automotive Engineers standard J 1318,
Class 2. The lamp may be operated only when the collection vehicle is in the process of
collecting solid waste new text begin or recycling new text end and is either:

(1) stopped at an establishment where solid waste new text begin or recycling new text end is to be collected; or

(2) traveling at a speed that is at least ten miles per hour below the posted speed limit
and moving between establishments where solid waste new text begin or recycling new text end is to be collected.