Minnesota Session Laws - 1996, Regular Session

  
    
KEY: stricken = old language to be removed
     underscored = new language to be added
    
                            CHAPTER 333-S.F.No. 2054 
                  An act relating to traffic regulations; requiring 
                  driver to stop to yield right-of-way to pedestrian 
                  within crosswalk; increasing penalty for failure to 
                  yield to pedestrian in crosswalk; directing 
                  commissioner to include information pertaining to 
                  crosswalk right-of-way in driver's manual; requiring 
                  preparation and distribution of publicity concerning 
                  traffic regulations; amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, 
                  section 171.13, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota 
                  Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 169.21, subdivision 
                  2. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 
        169.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [RIGHTS IN ABSENCE OF SIGNALS.] (a) Where 
        traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation, the 
        driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way, 
        slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian 
        crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or within any 
        crosswalk at an intersection but no pedestrian shall suddenly 
        leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the 
        path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for 
        the driver to yield.  This provision shall not apply under the 
        conditions as otherwise provided in this subdivision. 
           (b) When any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at 
        any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian 
        to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle 
        approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the 
        stopped vehicle. 
           (c) It is unlawful for any person to drive a motor vehicle 
        through a column of school children crossing a street or highway 
        or past a member of a school safety patrol or adult crossing 
        guard, while the member of the school safety patrol or adult 
        crossing guard is directing the movement of children across a 
        street or highway and while the school safety patrol member or 
        adult crossing guard is holding an official signal in the stop 
        position.  A person who violates this paragraph is guilty of a 
        misdemeanor.  A person who violates this paragraph a second or 
        subsequent time within one year of a previous conviction under 
        this paragraph is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. 
           (d) A person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a 
        misdemeanor and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more 
        than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $700, or 
        both.  A person who violates this subdivision a second or 
        subsequent time within one year of a previous conviction under 
        this subdivision is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be 
        sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to 
        payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.13, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 1g.  [DRIVER'S MANUAL; CROSSWALK RIGHT-OF-WAY.] The 
        commissioner shall include in each edition of the driver's 
        manual published by the department after August 1, 1996, a 
        section relating to the circumstances under which a driver must 
        stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk 
        and the penalties for failure to yield. 
           Sec. 3.  [169.219] [PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.] 
           The commissioner of public safety shall include in the 
        department's series of public service announcements information 
        that educates the public about traffic regulations that are 
        frequently violated, including the requirement for a vehicle 
        driver to stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a 
        crosswalk.  The commissioner shall distribute these 
        announcements for broadcast in this state on radio and 
        television. 
           Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 1 is effective September 1, 1996, and applies to 
        crimes committed on or after that date. 
           Presented to the governor March 15, 1996 
           Signed by the governor March 18, 1996, 10:07 a.m.