Minnesota Session Laws - 2000, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 324-S.F.No. 3283 
                  An act relating to natural resources; providing for 
                  civil enforcement of metal traction device sticker 
                  requirements for snowmobiles; amending Minnesota 
                  Statutes 1999 Supplement, sections 84.8712, 
                  subdivisions 2, 3, 4, and 6; and 84.8713, subdivision 
                  1. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
        84.8712, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [CIVIL CITATION; AUTHORITY TO ISSUE.] 
        Conservation officers and other licensed peace officers may 
        issue civil citations to a person who operates a snowmobile in 
        violation of this section or section 84.8713.  The citation must 
        impose a penalty of no more than $50 for the first offense, no 
        more than $300 for the second offense, and no more than $600 for 
        third and subsequent offenses.  
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
        84.8712, subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [APPEALS.] Civil citations for offenses under 
        this section or section 84.8713 may be appealed under the 
        procedures in section 116.072, subdivision 6, if the recipient 
        of the citation requests a hearing by notifying the commissioner 
        in writing within 15 days after receipt of the citation.  For 
        the purposes of the enforcement of this section, the terms 
        "commissioner" and "agency" as used in section 116.072 mean the 
        commissioner of natural resources.  If a hearing is not 
        requested within the 15-day period, the citation becomes a final 
        order not subject to further review.  
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
        84.8712, subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [ENFORCEMENT.] Civil citations for offenses under 
        this section or section 84.8713 may be enforced under section 
        116.072, subdivision 9.  If a person fails to pay a penalty owed 
        under this section, the person may not operate a snowmobile 
        until the penalty is paid.  Penalty amounts must be remitted 
        within 30 days of issuance of the penalty citation. 
           Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
        84.8712, subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 6.  [SELECTION OF REMEDY.] A person operating a 
        snowmobile in violation of this section or section 84.8713 is 
        guilty of a petty misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more 
        than $50 for the first offense, no more than $300 for the second 
        offense, and no more than $600 for the third and subsequent 
        offenses.  A peace officer may not seek both civil and petty 
        misdemeanor penalties for a violation of this section or section 
        84.8713. 
           Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 
        84.8713, subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [STICKER REQUIRED; FEE.] (a) An owner of a 
        snowmobile registered in the state may not operate the 
        snowmobile with a track equipped with metal traction devices 
        unless a metal traction device sticker is affixed to the 
        snowmobile.  The commissioner shall issue a metal traction 
        device sticker upon application and payment of a $12 fee.  The 
        sticker is valid for one year following June 30 in the year it 
        is issued.  
           (b) The requirements in paragraph (a) do not apply to 
        snowmobiles owned, leased, or operated by the state or a 
        political subdivision, or to snowmobiles used in an organized 
        race, so long as they do not utilize a paved public trail, 
        except as otherwise provided in this chapter. 
           (c) Fees collected under this section shall be deposited in 
        the state treasury and credited to the snowmobile trails and 
        enforcement account in the natural resources fund.  Money 
        deposited under this section is appropriated to the commissioner 
        of natural resources, and must be used for repair of paved 
        public trails, unless a trail is exempted by local authorities 
        under section 84.8712, except that any money not necessary for 
        this purpose may be used for the grant-in-aid snowmobile trail 
        system. 
           (d) This section shall be enforced under section 84.8712. 
           Sec. 6.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           This act is effective the day following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor March 31, 2000 
           Signed by the governor April 4, 2000, 3:18 p.m.