Minnesota Session Laws - 1991, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1991 

                        CHAPTER 112-H.F.No. 466 
           An act relating to traffic regulations; defining "tow 
          truck or towing vehicle" to include new variations of 
          tower vehicles; requiring the use of amber lights on 
          tow trucks or towing vehicles after January 1, 1992; 
          allowing use of red lights on vehicles of certain 
          emergency response personnel; exempting tow trucks or 
          towing vehicles from weight requirements under certain 
          circumstances; amending Minnesota Statutes 1990, 
          sections 169.01, subdivision 52; 169.58, subdivision 
          2; 169.64, subdivision 5; and 169.825, by adding a 
          subdivision. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 169.01, 
subdivision 52, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 52.  [WRECKER TOW TRUCK OR TOWING VEHICLE.] "Wrecker" 
"Tow truck or towing vehicle" means a motor vehicle having 
a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating of 8,000 pounds or 
more, equipped with a crane and winch, or an attached device 
used exclusively to transport vehicles, and further equipped to 
control the movement of the towed vehicle. 
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 169.58, 
subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 2.  Upon obtaining a permit from the commissioner of 
public safety, any motor vehicles operated by an active member 
of a volunteer fire department authorized by or contracting with 
any city, town, or township in this state and upon obtaining a 
permit therefor from the commissioner of public safety, an 
emergency medical first responder, or an ambulance crew member 
may be equipped with a lamp emitting a red light to the front of 
such vehicle.  The lens of such lamp shall be not more than 
three inches in diameter.  Such lamp shall be lighted only when 
the member of the volunteer fire department, ambulance crew 
member, or emergency medical first responder is responding to an 
emergency call in connection with duties as a volunteer 
firefighter, ambulance crew member, or responder.  The 
commissioner of public safety is hereby authorized to issue 
permits on applications of a member of a volunteer fire 
department properly certified to by the chief of said volunteer 
fire department, and it shall be the duty of the chiefs of all 
volunteer fire departments to notify on applications for 
emergency medical first responders or ambulance crew members.  
The commissioner of public safety must be notified immediately 
upon the termination of such membership in a volunteer fire 
department or when an ambulance or permitted emergency medical 
first responder ceases operations. 
    Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 169.64, 
subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 5.  [FLASHING RED LIGHT LIGHTS ON WRECKER TOW TRUCK 
OR TOWING VEHICLE.] A device displaying a flashing or 
intermittent red light of a type approved by the commissioner of 
public safety for that purpose, and in accordance with this 
section, may be used on a wrecker while engaged in emergency 
service at the scene of an accident.  Such flashing red light 
shall not be displayed when traveling upon the highway or at any 
time other than at the scene of an accident. A tow truck or 
towing vehicle must be equipped with flashing or intermittent 
red and amber lights of a type approved by the commissioner of 
public safety.  The lights must be placed on the dome of the 
vehicle at the highest practicable point visible from a distance 
of 500 feet.  The flashing red light must be displayed only when 
the tow truck or towing vehicle is engaged in emergency service 
on or near the traveled portion of a highway.  The flashing 
amber light may be displayed when the tow truck or towing 
vehicle is moving a disabled vehicle.  
    Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1990, section 169.825, is 
amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
    Subd. 16.  [APPLICATION TO TOW TRUCKS OR TOWING 
VEHICLES.] This section does not apply to a tow truck or towing 
vehicle when towing a disabled vehicle damaged in such manner 
that the towed vehicle cannot be towed from the rear and when 
the movement is temporary for the purpose of taking the disabled 
vehicle to a place of repair. 
     Sec. 5.  [INSTRUCTION TO REVISOR.] 
    The revisor of statutes is directed to change the word 
"wrecker" wherever it appears in Minnesota Statutes to "tow 
truck or towing vehicle" in Minnesota Statutes 1992 and 
subsequent editions of the statutes. 
    Presented to the governor May 16, 1991 
    Signed by the governor May 19, 1991, 7:12 p.m.