SF 2580

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to motor vehicles; exempting certain disaster response vehicles from
registration tax and fees; amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 168.012, subdivision 1.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 168.012, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Vehicles exempt from tax, fees, or plate display.

(a) The following
vehicles are exempt from the provisions of this chapter requiring payment of tax and
registration fees, except as provided in subdivision 1c:

(1) vehicles owned and used solely in the transaction of official business by the
federal government, the state, or any political subdivision;

(2) vehicles owned and used exclusively by educational institutions and used solely
in the transportation of pupils to and from those institutions;

(3) vehicles used solely in driver education programs at nonpublic high schools;

(4) vehicles owned by nonprofit charities and used exclusively to transport disabled
persons for charitable, religious, or educational purposes;

new text begin (5) vehicles owned by nonprofit charities and used exclusively for disaster response
and related activities;
new text end

deleted text begin (5) deleted text end new text begin (6) new text end ambulances owned by ambulance services licensed under section 144E.10,
the general appearance of which is unmistakable; and

deleted text begin (6) deleted text end new text begin (7) new text end vehicles owned by a commercial driving school licensed under section
171.34, or an employee of a commercial driving school licensed under section 171.34, and
the vehicle is used exclusively for driver education and training.

(b) Vehicles owned by the federal government, municipal fire apparatuses including
fire-suppression support vehicles, police patrols, and ambulances, the general appearance
of which is unmistakable, are not required to register or display number plates.

(c) Unmarked vehicles used in general police work, liquor investigations, or arson
investigations, and passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, and buses owned or operated by
the Department of Corrections, must be registered and must display appropriate license
number plates, furnished by the registrar at cost. Original and renewal applications for
these license plates authorized for use in general police work and for use by the Department
of Corrections must be accompanied by a certification signed by the appropriate chief of
police if issued to a police vehicle, the appropriate sheriff if issued to a sheriff's vehicle,
the commissioner of corrections if issued to a Department of Corrections vehicle, or the
appropriate officer in charge if issued to a vehicle of any other law enforcement agency.
The certification must be on a form prescribed by the commissioner and state that the
vehicle will be used exclusively for a purpose authorized by this section.

(d) Unmarked vehicles used by the Departments of Revenue and Labor and Industry,
fraud unit, in conducting seizures or criminal investigations must be registered and must
display passenger vehicle classification license number plates, furnished at cost by the
registrar. Original and renewal applications for these passenger vehicle license plates
must be accompanied by a certification signed by the commissioner of revenue or the
commissioner of labor and industry. The certification must be on a form prescribed by
the commissioner and state that the vehicles will be used exclusively for the purposes
authorized by this section.

(e) Unmarked vehicles used by the Division of Disease Prevention and Control of the
Department of Health must be registered and must display passenger vehicle classification
license number plates. These plates must be furnished at cost by the registrar. Original
and renewal applications for these passenger vehicle license plates must be accompanied
by a certification signed by the commissioner of health. The certification must be on a
form prescribed by the commissioner and state that the vehicles will be used exclusively
for the official duties of the Division of Disease Prevention and Control.

(f) Unmarked vehicles used by staff of the Gambling Control Board in gambling
investigations and reviews must be registered and must display passenger vehicle
classification license number plates. These plates must be furnished at cost by the
registrar. Original and renewal applications for these passenger vehicle license plates must
be accompanied by a certification signed by the board chair. The certification must be on a
form prescribed by the commissioner and state that the vehicles will be used exclusively
for the official duties of the Gambling Control Board.

(g) All other motor vehicles must be registered and display tax-exempt number
plates, furnished by the registrar at cost, except as provided in subdivision 1c. All
vehicles required to display tax-exempt number plates must have the name of the state
department or political subdivision, nonpublic high school operating a driver education
program, or licensed commercial driving school, plainly displayed on both sides of the
vehicle; except that each state hospital and institution for persons who are mentally ill
and developmentally disabled may have one vehicle without the required identification
on the sides of the vehicle, and county social service agencies may have vehicles used
for child and vulnerable adult protective services without the required identification on
the sides of the vehicle. This identification must be in a color giving contrast with that
of the part of the vehicle on which it is placed and must endure throughout the term of
the registration. The identification must not be on a removable plate or placard and must
be kept clean and visible at all times; except that a removable plate or placard may be
utilized on vehicles leased or loaned to a political subdivision or to a nonpublic high
school driver education program.