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                            CHAPTER 275-H.F.No. 2114 
                  An act relating to drivers' licenses; changing codes 
                  for two types of driver's license; amending Minnesota 
                  Statutes 1994, sections 171.02, subdivision 2; 171.04, 
                  subdivision 2; 171.05, subdivision 1; 171.06, 
                  subdivision 3; 171.07, subdivisions 1b, 2, and 3a; 
                  171.165, subdivision 5; and 171.321, subdivision 1; 
                  Minnesota Statutes 1995 Supplement, sections 171.02, 
                  subdivision 2a; 171.06, subdivision 2; and 171.30, 
                  subdivision 3. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.02, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [DRIVER'S LICENSE CLASSIFICATIONS, ENDORSEMENTS, 
        EXEMPTIONS.] Drivers' licenses shall be classified according to 
        the types of vehicles which may be driven by the holder of each 
        type or class of license.  The commissioner may, as appropriate, 
        subdivide the classes listed in this subdivision and issue 
        licenses classified accordingly.  No class of license shall be 
        valid to operate a motorcycle, school bus, tank vehicle, 
        double-trailer or triple-trailer combination, vehicle 
        transporting hazardous materials, or bus, unless so endorsed. 
           There shall be four general classes of licenses as follows: 
           (a) Class C D; valid for: 
           (1) all farm trucks operated by (i) the owner, (ii) an 
        immediate family member of the owner, (iii) an employee of the 
        owner not primarily employed to operate the farm truck, within 
        150 miles of the farm, or (iv) an employee of the owner employed 
        during harvest to operate the farm truck for the first, 
        continuous transportation of agricultural products from the 
        production site or on-farm storage site to any other location 
        within 50 miles of that site; 
           (2) fire trucks and emergency fire equipment, whether or 
        not in excess of 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, operated by 
        a firefighter while on duty, or a tiller operator employed by a 
        fire department who drives the rear portion of a midmount aerial 
        ladder truck; 
           (3) recreational equipment as defined in section 168.011, 
        subdivision 25, that is operated for personal use; and 
           (4) all single unit vehicles except vehicles with a gross 
        vehicle weight of more than 26,000 pounds, vehicles designed to 
        carry more than 15 passengers including the driver, and vehicles 
        that carry hazardous materials. 
           The holder of a class C D license may also tow vehicles if 
        the combination of vehicles has a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 
        pounds or less. 
           (b) Class CC C; valid for:  
           (1) operating class C D vehicles; 
           (2) with a hazardous materials endorsement, transporting 
        hazardous materials in class C D vehicles; and 
           (3) with a school bus endorsement, operating school buses 
        designed to transport 15 or fewer passengers, including the 
        driver. 
           (c) Class B; valid for all vehicles in class C, class CC D, 
        and all other single unit vehicles including, with a passenger 
        endorsement, buses.  The holder of a class B license may tow 
        only vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or 
        less. 
           (d) Class A; valid for any vehicle or combination thereof. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 
        171.02, subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2a.  [EXCEPTIONS.] Notwithstanding subdivision 2, (1) 
        a hazardous materials endorsement is not required to operate a 
        vehicle having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less 
        while carrying in bulk tanks a total of not more than 200 
        gallons of petroleum products and (2) a class CC C license or 
        hazardous materials endorsement is not required to operate a 
        farm vehicle as defined in Code of Federal Regulations, title 
        49, section 390.5, having a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 
        pounds or less while carrying in bulk tanks a total of not more 
        than 1,500 gallons of liquid fertilizer. 
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.04, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [DISQUALIFIED OPERATORS OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES.] 
        During the period of disqualification, the department shall not 
        issue a class CC C, class B, or class A driver's license to a 
        person who has been disqualified from operating a commercial 
        motor vehicle under section 171.165.  
           Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.05, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [PERSONS 18 OR MORE YEARS OF AGE.] Any 
        person who is 18 or more years of age and who, except for a lack 
        of instruction in operating a motor vehicle, would otherwise be 
        qualified to obtain a Class C D driver's license under this 
        chapter, may apply for an instruction permit and the department 
        shall issue such permit entitling the applicant, while having 
        such permit in immediate possession, to drive a motor vehicle 
        for which a Class C D license is valid upon the highways for a 
        period of one year, but such person must be accompanied by an 
        adult licensed driver who is actually occupying a seat beside 
        the driver.  Any license of a lower class may be used as an 
        instruction permit for a higher class for a period of six months 
        after passage of the written test or tests required for the 
        higher class and when the licensee is accompanied by and 
        receiving instruction from a holder of the appropriate higher 
        class license.  A copy of the record of examination taken for 
        the higher class license must be carried by the driver while 
        using such lower class license as an instruction permit.  
           Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 
        171.06, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [FEES.] (a) The fees for a license and Minnesota 
        identification card are as follows: 
        Classified Driver License   C-$18.50 CC-$22.50 B-$29.50 A-$37.50
                                    D-$18.50  C-$22.50
        Classified Under 21 D.L.    C-$18.50 CC-$22.50 B-$29.50 A-$17.50
                                    D-$18.50  C-$22.50
        Instruction Permit                                        $ 9.50
        Duplicate Driver or Under 21 License or
         duplicate identification card                            $ 8.00
        Minnesota identification card other than duplicate,
         except as otherwise provided in section 171.07,
         subdivisions 3 and 3a                                    $12.50
           Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.06, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [CONTENTS OF APPLICATION; OTHER INFORMATION.] An 
        application must state the full name, date of birth, sex and 
        residence address of the applicant, a description of the 
        applicant in such manner as the commissioner may require, and 
        must state whether or not the applicant has theretofore been 
        licensed as a driver; and, if so, when and by what state or 
        country and whether any such license has ever been suspended or 
        revoked, or whether an application has ever been refused; and, 
        if so, the date of and reason for such suspension, revocation, 
        or refusal, together with such facts pertaining to the applicant 
        and the applicant's ability to operate a motor vehicle with 
        safety as may be required by the commissioner.  An application 
        for a Class CC C, Class B, or Class A driver's license also must 
        state the applicant's social security number.  An application 
        for a Class C D driver's license must have a space for the 
        applicant's social security number and state that providing the 
        number is optional, or otherwise convey that the applicant is 
        not required to enter the social security number.  The 
        application form must contain a space where the applicant may 
        indicate a desire to make an anatomical gift.  If the applicant 
        does not indicate a desire to make an anatomical gift when the 
        application is made, the applicant must be offered a donor 
        document in accordance with section 171.07, subdivision 5.  The 
        application form must contain statements sufficient to comply 
        with the requirements of the uniform anatomical gift act (1987), 
        sections 525.921 to 525.9224, so that execution of the 
        application or donor document will make the anatomical gift as 
        provided in section 171.07, subdivision 5, for those indicating 
        a desire to make an anatomical gift.  The application form must 
        contain a notification to the applicant of the availability of a 
        living will designation on the license under section 171.07, 
        subdivision 7.  The application must be in the form prepared by 
        the commissioner.  
           The application form must be accompanied by a pamphlet 
        containing relevant facts relating to:  
           (1) the effect of alcohol on driving ability; 
           (2) the effect of mixing alcohol with drugs; 
           (3) the laws of Minnesota relating to operation of a motor 
        vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled 
        substance; and 
           (4) the levels of alcohol-related fatalities and accidents 
        in Minnesota and of arrests for alcohol-related violations. 
           The application form must also be accompanied by a pamphlet 
        describing Minnesota laws regarding anatomical gifts and the 
        need for and benefits of anatomical gifts. 
           Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.07, 
        subdivision 1b, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 1b.  [COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE.] Each class CC C, 
        class B, or class A driver's license must be clearly marked 
        "Minnesota Commercial Driver's License." 
           Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.07, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [LIMITATIONS ON ISSUING LICENSES.] The department 
        shall not issue a Class B or Class A license to anyone who does 
        not have or has not qualified for a Class C D license.  A Class 
        A license shall not be issued to anyone under 18 years of age. 
           Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.07, 
        subdivision 3a, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3a.  [IDENTIFICATION CARDS FOR SENIORS.] A Minnesota 
        identification card issued to an applicant 65 years of age or 
        over shall be of a distinguishing color and plainly marked 
        "senior."  The fee for the card issued to an applicant 65 years 
        of age or over shall be one half the required fee for a class C 
        D driver's license.  A Minnesota identification card or a 
        Minnesota driver's license issued to a person 65 years of age or 
        over shall be valid identification for the purpose of qualifying 
        for reduced rates, free licenses or services provided by any 
        board, commission, agency or institution that is wholly or 
        partially funded by state appropriations. 
           Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.165, 
        subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 5.  [RULES.] The commissioner shall adopt rules to 
        administer this section.  The rules must include procedures for 
        issuing class C D licenses to persons who have been disqualified 
        from operating commercial motor vehicles but whose drivers' 
        licenses have not otherwise been revoked, suspended, canceled, 
        or denied. 
           Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 
        171.30, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [CONDITIONS ON ISSUANCE.] The commissioner shall 
        issue a limited license restricted to the vehicles whose 
        operation is permitted only under a Class A, Class B, or Class 
        CC C license whenever a Class A, Class B, or Class CC C license 
        has been suspended under section 171.18, or revoked under 
        section 171.17, for violation of the highway traffic regulation 
        act committed in a private passenger motor vehicle.  This 
        subdivision shall not apply to any persons described in section 
        171.04, subdivision 1, clauses (4), (5), (6), (8), (9), and 
        (11), or any person whose license or privilege has been 
        suspended or revoked for a violation of section 169.121 or 
        169.123, or a statute or ordinance from another state in 
        conformity with either of those sections. 
           Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.321, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [ENDORSEMENT.] No person shall drive a 
        school bus when transporting school children to or from school 
        or upon a school related trip or activity without having a valid 
        class A, class B, or class CC C driver's license with a school 
        bus endorsement except that a person possessing a valid driver's 
        license but not a school bus endorsement may drive a vehicle 
        with a seating capacity of ten or less persons used as a school 
        bus but not outwardly equipped or identified as a school bus. 
           Presented to the governor February 20, 1996 
           Signed by the governor February 21, 1996, 10:19 a.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes