Minnesota Session Laws - 1983, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1983 

                        CHAPTER 170--S.F.No. 812
           An act relating to highway traffic regulations; 
          clarifying certain bumper requirements; restricting 
          the height of bumpers on certain vehicles; amending 
          Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 169.73. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1982, section 169.73, is 
amended to read: 
    169.73 [BUMPERS, SAFEGUARDS.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITIONS.] As used in this section 
"private passenger vehicle" means a four wheeled passenger 
automobile as defined in section 168.011, but does not include a 
collector vehicle as defined in section 168.10, a station wagon 
or other multipurpose vehicle or a truck having a gross weight 
of 9,000 pounds with a manufacturer's rated capacity of 2,000 
pounds or less.  "Suspension system" includes both the front and 
rear wheels and tires of a vehicle as specified in subdivision 3.
    Subd. 2.  [BUMPER REQUIREMENT.] All private passenger 
vehicles shall be equipped with front and rear bumpers. 
    Subd. 3.  [BUMPER RESTRICTIONS.] No person shall operate a 
passenger automobile, station wagon, jeep type automobile, or 
truck of a gross weight of 9,000 pounds with a manufacturer's 
rated capacity of 2,000 pounds or less that:  (a) was originally 
equipped with bumpers as standard equipment, unless the vehicle 
is equipped with bumpers equal to the original equipment; or (b) 
has a suspension system or body so modified that the height of 
any bumper on the vehicle or any bumpers varies more than three 
six inches from the original manufactured bumper height for the 
vehicle.  
    Subd. 4.  [MAXIMUM BUMPER HEIGHT.] Notwithstanding the 
restrictions contained in subdivision 3, bumpers required under 
this section shall not exceed a height of 20 inches on any 
passenger automobile or station wagon or 25 inches on any 
four-wheel drive multipurpose type vehicle or truck having a 
manufacturer's rated capacity of 2,000 pounds or less.  The 
height of the bumper shall be determined by measuring from the 
bottom of the bumper, excluding any bumper attachments, to the 
ground.  
    Competent evidence that a vehicle was originally 
manufactured with bumpers higher than prescribed in this 
subdivision shall be an affirmative defense in any action under 
this section.  
    Subd. 4 5.  [PENALTY.] Any person who violates this section 
is guilty of a misdemeanor. 
    Approved May 19, 1983