Minnesota Session Laws - 1993, Regular Session

  
    Laws of Minnesota 1993 

                         CHAPTER 26-S.F.No. 434 
           An act relating to traffic regulations; making 
          technical changes and clarifications; prohibiting 
          buses from following too closely; providing exceptions 
          to restrictions on installing television screens in 
          motor vehicles; providing for auxiliary lights when 
          headlights are obstructed by snowplow blade; requiring 
          use of shoulder belt when motor vehicle is so 
          equipped; providing exception for law enforcement 
          vehicles to restriction on objects hanging between 
          driver and windshield; abolishing authority for 
          designating official stations for adjusting vehicle 
          lights and brakes; amending Minnesota Statutes 1992, 
          sections 169.14, subdivision 10; 169.18, subdivisions 
          5 and 8; 169.471, subdivision 1; 169.56, subdivisions 
          3, 4, and by adding a subdivision; 169.60; 169.686, 
          subdivision 1; and 169.71, subdivision 1; repealing 
          Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.77. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.14, 
subdivision 10, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 10.  [RADAR; SPEEDALYZER SPEED-MEASURING DEVICES; 
STANDARDS OF EVIDENCE.] In any prosecution in which the rate of 
speed of a motor vehicle is relevant, evidence of the speed as 
indicated on radar or other speedalyzer speed-measuring devices 
is admissible in evidence, subject to the following conditions: 
    (a) The officer operating the device has sufficient 
training to properly operate the equipment; 
    (b) The officer testifies as to the manner in which the 
device was set up and operated; 
    (c) The device was operated with minimal distortion or 
interference from outside sources; and 
    (d) The device was tested by an accurate and reliable 
external mechanism, method, or system at the time it was set up. 
    Records of tests made of such devices and kept in the 
regular course of operations of any law enforcement agency are 
admissible in evidence without further foundation as to the 
results of the tests.  The records shall be available to a 
defendant upon demand.  Nothing in this subdivision shall be 
construed to preclude or interfere with cross examination or 
impeachment of evidence of the rate of speed as indicated on the 
radar or speedalyzer speed-measuring device.  
    Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.18, 
subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 5.  [DRIVING LEFT OF ROADWAY CENTER.] (a) No vehicle 
shall be driven to the left side of the center of the roadway in 
overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same 
direction unless such left side is clearly visible and is free 
of oncoming traffic for a sufficient distance ahead to permit 
such overtaking and passing to be completely made without 
interfering with the safe operation of any vehicle approaching 
from the opposite direction or any vehicle overtaken.  In every 
event the overtaking vehicle must return to the right-hand side 
of the roadway before coming within 100 feet of any vehicle 
approaching from the opposite direction; 
    (b) Except on a one-way roadway, no vehicle shall, in 
overtaking and passing another vehicle or at any other time, be 
driven to the left half of the roadway under the following 
conditions: 
    (1) When approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve 
in the highway where the driver's view along the highway is 
obstructed within a distance of 700 feet; 
    (2) When approaching within 100 feet of any underpass or 
tunnel, or railroad grade crossing, or when approaching within 
100 feet of or traversing any intersection within a city, or 
without if so posted intersection outside of a city if the 
presence of the intersection is marked by warning signs; or 
    (3) Where official signs are in place prohibiting passing, 
or a distinctive center line is marked, which distinctive line 
also so prohibits passing, as declared in the manual of 
traffic-control devices adopted by the commissioner. 
    Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.18, 
subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 8.  [FOLLOWING VEHICLE TOO CLOSELY.] (a) The driver 
of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely 
than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed 
of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the conditions of the 
highway. 
    (b) The driver of any motor vehicle drawing another 
vehicle, or the driver of any motor truck or bus, when traveling 
upon a roadway outside of a business or residence district, 
shall not follow within 500 feet of another vehicle.  The 
provisions of this clause shall not be construed to prevent 
overtaking and passing nor shall the same apply upon any lane 
specially designated for use by motor trucks. 
    Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.471, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [TELEVISION SCREEN IN VEHICLE.] No 
television screen shall be installed or used in any motor 
vehicle at any point forward of the back of the driver's seat, 
or which is visible to the driver while operating the motor 
vehicle except:  
    (1) video screens installed in law enforcement vehicles; 
    (2) closed circuit video systems used exclusively to aid 
the driver's visibility to the rear or sides of the vehicle; and 
    (3) video screens installed as part of a vehicle control 
system or used in intelligent vehicle highway applications.  
    Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.56, 
subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 3.  [AUXILIARY PASSING LOW BEAM LIGHTS.] Except as 
provided in subdivision 5, any motor vehicle may be equipped 
with not to exceed two auxiliary passing low beam lamps mounted 
on the front at a height of not less than 24 inches nor more 
than 42 inches above the level surface upon which the vehicle 
stands.  The provisions of section 169.60 shall apply to any 
combination of headlamps and auxiliary passing low beam lamps.  
    Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.56, 
subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
    Subd. 4.  [AUXILIARY DRIVING LIGHTS.] Except as provided in 
subdivision 5, any motor vehicle may be equipped with not to 
exceed two auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front at a 
height not less than 16 inches nor more than 42 inches above the 
level surface upon which the vehicle stands.  The provisions of 
section 169.60 shall apply to any combination of headlamps and 
auxiliary driving lamps.  
    Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.56, is 
amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
    Subd. 5.  [OBSTRUCTED LIGHTS.] The auxiliary lamps 
permitted in subdivisions 3 and 4 may be mounted more than 42 
inches high on any truck equipped with a snowplow blade that 
obstructs the required headlights.  When a snowplow blade is not 
mounted so as to obstruct the required headlights, the auxiliary 
lamps permitted in subdivisions 3 and 4 and mounted above 42 
inches high must be removed or the lens must be covered with an 
opaque material.  No other vehicle may be operated on a public 
highway unless the auxiliary lamps permitted in subdivisions 3 
and 4 comply with the height requirements or are completely 
covered with an opaque material. 
    Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.60, is 
amended to read: 
    169.60 [DISTRIBUTION OF LIGHT.] 
    Except as hereinafter provided, the head lamps, the 
auxiliary low beam lamps, or the auxiliary driving lamps, or 
combinations thereof, on motor vehicles shall be so arranged 
that the driver may select at will between distributions of 
light projected to different elevations, subject to the 
following requirements and limitations: 
    (1) There shall be an uppermost distribution of light, or 
composite beam, so aimed and of such intensity as to reveal 
persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 350 feet ahead 
for all conditions of loading; 
    (2) There shall be a lowermost distribution of light, or 
composite beam, so aimed and of sufficient intensity to reveal 
persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead; 
and on a straight level road under any condition of loading none 
of the high intensity portion of the beam shall be directed to 
strike the eyes of an approaching driver; 
    (3) All road lighting equipment manufactured and installed 
on and after January 1, 1938, shall be so arranged that when any 
beam is used which is not in conformity with clause (2), means 
shall be provided for indicating to the driver when such beams 
are being used.  
    Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.686, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [SEAT BELT REQUIREMENT.] A properly 
adjusted and fastened seat belt, including both the shoulder and 
lap belt when the vehicle is so equipped, shall be worn by: 
    (1) the driver of a passenger vehicle; 
    (2) a passenger riding in the front seat of a passenger 
vehicle; and 
    (3) a passenger riding in any seat of a passenger vehicle 
who is older than three but younger than 11 years of age. 
    A person who is 15 years of age or older and who violates 
clause (1) or (2) is subject to a fine of $25.  The driver of 
the passenger vehicle in which the violation occurred is subject 
to a $25 fine for a violation of clause (2) or (3) by a child of 
the driver under the age of 15 or any child under the age of 
11.  A peace officer may not issue a citation for a violation of 
this section unless the officer lawfully stopped or detained the 
driver of the motor vehicle for a moving violation other than a 
violation involving motor vehicle equipment.  The department of 
public safety shall not record a violation of this subdivision 
on a person's driving record. 
    Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.71, 
subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
    Subdivision 1.  [PROHIBITIONS GENERALLY.] No person shall 
drive or operate any motor vehicle with a windshield cracked or 
discolored to an extent to limit or obstruct proper vision, or, 
except for law enforcement vehicles, with any objects suspended 
between the driver and the windshield, other than sun visors and 
rear vision mirrors, or with any sign, poster, or other 
nontransparent material upon the front windshield, sidewings, 
side or rear windows of such vehicle, other than a certificate 
or other paper required to be so displayed by law, or authorized 
by the state director of the division of emergency management, 
or the commissioner of public safety.  
    Sec. 11.  [REPEALER.] 
    Minnesota Statutes 1992, section 169.77, is repealed. 
    Presented to the governor April 13, 1993 
    Signed by the governor April 13, 1993, 5:10 p.m.