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SF 2997

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/11/2022 08:47am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to transportation; eliminating certain requirements to display validation
stickers that indicate motor vehicle registration; amending Minnesota Statutes
2020, sections 168.09, subdivision 4; 168.12, subdivisions 1, 2f; 169.79, subdivision
8.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 168.09, subdivision 4, is amended to read:


Subd. 4.

Display.

A vehicle registered under the monthly series system of registration
deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end display the plates deleted text begin and insigniadeleted text end issued within ten days of the first day of the month
which commences the registration period.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 168.12, subdivision 1, is amended to read:


Subdivision 1.

Plates; design, visibility, periods of issuance.

(a) The commissioner,
upon approval and payment, shall issue to the applicant the plates required by this chapter,
bearing the state name and an assigned vehicle registration number. The number assigned
by the commissioner may be a combination of a letter or sign with figures. The color of the
plates and the color of the abbreviation of the state name and the number assigned must be
in marked contrast. The plates must be lettered, spaced, or distinguished to suitably indicate
the registration of the vehicle according to the rules of the commissioner.

(b) When a vehicle is registered on the basis of total gross weight, the plates issued must
clearly indicate by letters or other suitable insignia the maximum gross weight for which
the tax has been paid.

(c) Plates issued to a noncommercial vehicle must bear the inscription "noncommercial"
unless the vehicle is displaying a special plate authorized and issued under this chapter.

(d) A one-ton pickup truck that is used for commercial purposes and is subject to section
168.185, is eligible to display special plates as authorized and issued under this chapter.

(e) The plates must be so treated as to be at least 100 times brighter than the conventional
painted number plates. When properly mounted on an unlighted vehicle, the plates, when
viewed from a vehicle equipped with standard headlights, must be visible for a distance of
not less than 1,500 feet and readable for a distance of not less than 110 feet.

(f) The commissioner shall issue plates for the following periods:

(1) New plates issued pursuant to section 168.012, subdivision 1, must be issued to a
vehicle for as long as the vehicle is owned by the exempt agency and the plate shall not be
transferable from one vehicle to another but the plate may be transferred with the vehicle
from one tax-exempt agency to another.

(2) Plates issued for passenger automobiles must be issued for a seven-year period. All
plates issued under this paragraph must be replaced if they are seven years old or older at
the time of registration renewal or will become so during the registration period.

(3) Plates issued under sections 168.053 and 168.27, subdivisions 16 and 17, must be
for a seven-year period.

(4) Plates issued under subdivisions 2c and 2d and section 168.123 must be issued for
the life of the veteran under section 169.79.

(5) Plates for any vehicle not specified in clauses (1) to (3) must be issued for the life
of the vehicle.

(g) In a year in which plates are not issued,new text begin upon request of the vehicle owner,new text end the
commissioner deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin maynew text end issue for each registration a sticker to designate the year of
registration. This sticker must show the year or years for which the sticker is issueddeleted text begin , and is
valid only for that period
deleted text end . The plates and stickers issued for a vehicle may not be transferred
to another vehicle during the period for which the sticker is issued, except when issued for
a vehicle registered under section 168.187.

(h) Despite any other provision of this subdivision, plates issued to a vehicle used for
behind-the-wheel instruction in a driver education course in a public school may be
transferred to another vehicle used for the same purpose without payment of any additional
fee. The public school shall notify the commissioner of each transfer of plates under this
paragraph. The commissioner may prescribe a format for notification.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 168.12, subdivision 2f, is amended to read:


Subd. 2f.

Original license plates.

(a) On application of the owner and in lieu of issuing
plates under subdivision 1 to a motor vehicle registered and taxed as a passenger automobile,
the commissioner may assign to the motor vehicle original Minnesota registration plates
issued in the same year as the model year of the motor vehicle, if (1) the original plates are
at least 20 years old, (2) the owner of the motor vehicle has the original plates in possession
at the time of the application, and (3) the owner provides the plate number to the
commissioner.

(b) Plates displayed under this subdivision, including stickers applied to the plates, must
be clearly legible and must be displayed on the motor vehicle.

(c) The commissioner shall not assign the registration number on the original plates to
the motor vehicle if the commissioner determines that the number on the original plate is
identical to the number on any plate in the current or reserved numbering system used by
the commissioner.

(d) Despite subdivision 1, an original plate whose number has been assigned under this
subdivision may be displayed for as long as the plates, including tabs and stickers on the
plates, are clearly legible and the number is not subsequently used by the commissioner as
a plate number in a registration numbering system.

deleted text begin (e) Despite subdivision 1, original plates assigned under this subdivision need not bear
a tab or sticker to indicate the month or year of registration if the motor vehicle carries the
registration certificate issued under section 168.11 at all times when the motor vehicle is
operated on the public highways.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (f)deleted text end new text begin (e)new text end The commissioner may charge a fee for receiving an application and assigning
original plate numbers.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.79, subdivision 8, is amended to read:


Subd. 8.

Plate registration stickers.

new text begin (a) new text end As viewed facing the platesdeleted text begin :deleted text end new text begin ,
new text end

deleted text begin (a) License plates issued to vehicles registered under section 168.017 must display the
month of expiration in the lower left corner of each plate and the year of expiration in the
lower right corner of each plate.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (b)deleted text end license plates issued to vehicles registered under section 168.127 must display eithernew text begin
(1)
new text end fleet registration validation stickers in the lower right corner of each platenew text begin ,new text end ornew text begin (2)new text end
distinctive license plates, issued by the registrar, with "FLEET REG" displayed on the
bottom center portion of each plate.

deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (b)new text end License plates deleted text begin issued after July 1, 2008, requiring validation mustdeleted text end new text begin are not required
to
new text end displaynew text begin validation stickers to indicate registration expiration. If validation stickers are
displayed,
new text end thenew text begin sticker bearing thenew text end month of expirationnew text begin must be placednew text end in the lower left corner
of deleted text begin eachdeleted text end new text begin thenew text end plate and thenew text begin sticker bearing thenew text end year of expirationnew text begin must be placednew text end in the lower
right corner of the plate.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end