Minnesota Session Laws - 1990, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1990 

                        CHAPTER 392-H.F.No. 1989 
           An act relating to motor vehicles; allowing tax-exempt 
          license plates for vehicles used for driver education 
          programs at nonpublic high schools; amending Minnesota 
          Statutes 1989 Supplement, section 168.012, subdivision 
          1. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1989 Supplement, section 
168.012, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  (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 representatives of foreign powers, 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 such institutions; 
    (3) vehicles used solely in driver education programs at 
nonpublic high schools; 
    (4) vehicles owned by nonprofit charities and used 
exclusively to transport handicapped persons for educational 
purposes; and 
    (4) (5) vehicles owned and used by honorary consul or 
consul general of foreign governments. 
    (b) Vehicles owned by the federal government, municipal 
fire apparatus, police patrols and ambulances, the general 
appearance of which is unmistakable, shall not be required to 
register or display number plates.  
     (c) Unmarked vehicles used in general police work and arson 
investigations, and passenger automobiles, pickup trucks, and 
buses owned or operated by the department of corrections shall 
be registered and shall display appropriate license number 
plates which shall be 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 department of revenue in 
conducting seizures or criminal investigations must be 
registered and must display passenger vehicle classification 
license number plates which shall 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 revenue.  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) All other motor vehicles shall be registered and 
display tax exempt number plates which shall be furnished by the 
registrar at cost, except as provided in subdivision 1c.  All 
vehicles required to display tax exempt number plates shall have 
the name of the state department or public political 
subdivision, or the nonpublic high school operating a driver 
education program, on the vehicle plainly displayed on both 
sides thereof in letters not less than 2-1/2 inches high and 
one-half inch wide; except that each state hospital and 
institution for the mentally ill and mentally retarded may have 
one vehicle without the required identification on the sides of 
the vehicle.  Such identification shall be in a color giving 
contrast with that of the part of the vehicle on which it is 
placed and shall endure throughout the term of the 
registration.  The identification must not be on a removable 
plate or placard and shall 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. 
    Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
    Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment. 
    Presented to the governor April 2, 1990 
    Signed by the governor April 5, 1990, 2:48 p.m.