SF 1811

1st Engrossment - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to traffic regulations; authorizing local governments to permit low-speed
neighborhood electric vehicles to be operated on residential roadways; making
clarifying changes; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 168.011, by
adding a subdivision; 168A.05, by adding a subdivision; 169.01, by adding a
subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 168.011, subdivision
7; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 169.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2005 Supplement, section 168.011, subdivision 7,
is amended to read:

Subd. 7.

Passenger automobile.

(a) "Passenger automobile" means any motor
vehicle designed and used for carrying not more than 15 individuals including the driver.

(b) "Passenger automobile" does not include motorcycles, motor scooters, buses, deleted text begin or deleted text end
school buses new text begin , or commuter vans as defined in section 168.126 new text end .

(c) "Passenger automobile" includes new text begin , but is not limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) new text end pickup trucks and vans, including those vans designed to carry passengers, with a
manufacturer's nominal rated carrying capacity of one ton deleted text begin , but does not include commuter
vans as defined in section 168.126 deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (2) neighborhood electric vehicles as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 91 new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.011, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 41. new text end

new text begin Neighborhood electric vehicle. new text end

new text begin "Neighborhood electric vehicle" has the
meaning given in section 169.01, subdivision 91.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168A.05, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Neighborhood electric vehicle; certificate required. new text end

new text begin Neighborhood
electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 91, must be titled as specified in
section 168A.02. The department shall not issue a title for a neighborhood electric vehicle:
new text end

new text begin (1) that lacks a vehicle identification number; and
new text end

new text begin (2) for which a manufacturer's certificate of origin clearly labeling the vehicle
as a neighborhood electric vehicle or similar designation has not been issued. The
department shall not issue a vehicle identification number to a homemade neighborhood
electric or low-speed vehicle or retrofitted golf cart, and such vehicles do not qualify as
neighborhood electric vehicles.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.01, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 91. new text end

new text begin Neighborhood electric vehicle. new text end

new text begin "Neighborhood electric vehicle" means
an electrically powered motor vehicle that has four wheels, and has a speed attainable in
one mile of at least 20 miles per hour but not more than 25 miles per hour on a paved
level surface.
new text end

Sec. 5.

new text begin [169.224] NEIGHBORHOOD ELECTRIC VEHICLES.
new text end

new text begin new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "road authority" means the
commissioner, as to trunk highways; the county board, as to county state-aid highways
and county highways; the town board, as to town roads; and the governing body of
a city, as to city streets.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Required equipment. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding any other law, a neighborhood
electric vehicle may be operated on public streets and highways if it meets all equipment
and vehicle safety requirements in Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, section 571.500,
and successor requirements.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Operation. new text end

new text begin A neighborhood electric vehicle may not be operated on
a street or highway with a speed limit greater than 35 miles per hour, except to make a
direct crossing of that street or highway.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Restrictions and prohibitions. new text end

new text begin (a) A road authority, including the
commissioner of transportation by order, may prohibit or further restrict the operation
of neighborhood electric vehicles on any street or highway under the road authority's
jurisdiction.
new text end

new text begin (b) A neighborhood electric vehicle may not be used to take any examination to
demonstrate ability to exercise control in the operation of a motor vehicle as required
under section 171.13.
new text end