Minnesota Session Laws - 2000, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 433-S.F.No. 2785 
                  An act relating to motor vehicles; exempting certain 
                  utility-owned vehicles and recycling vehicles from 
                  certain weight restrictions; amending Minnesota 
                  Statutes 1998, sections 169.825, by adding a 
                  subdivision; and 169.87, by adding subdivisions. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.825, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 17.  [APPLICATION TO UTILITY VEHICLE.] This section 
        does not apply to a utility vehicle that does not exceed a 
        weight of 20,000 pounds per axle and is owned by: 
           (1) a public utility, as defined in section 216B.02; 
           (2) a municipality or municipal utility that operates that 
        vehicle for its municipal electric, gas, or water system; and 
           (3) a cooperative electric association organized under 
        chapter 308A. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.87, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 5.  [UTILITY VEHICLES.] Weight restrictions imposed 
        by the commissioner under subdivision 1 do not apply to a 
        two-axle or three-axle utility vehicle that does not exceed a 
        weight of 20,000 pounds per single axle and 36,000 pounds gross 
        vehicle weight for a two-axle vehicle or 48,000 pounds gross 
        vehicle weight for a three-axle vehicle, if the vehicle is owned 
        by: 
           (1) a public utility as defined in section 216B.02; 
           (2) a municipality or municipal utility that operates the 
        vehicle for its municipal electric, gas, or water system; or 
           (3) a cooperative electric association organized under 
        chapter 308A. 
           The exemption in this subdivision applies only when the 
        vehicle is performing service restoration or other work 
        necessary to prevent an imminent loss of service. 
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 169.87, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 6.  [RECYCLING VEHICLES.] Weight restrictions imposed 
        under subdivisions 1 and 2 do not apply to a two-axle vehicle 
        that does not exceed 20,000 pounds per single axle and is used 
        exclusively for recycling, while engaged in recycling in a 
        political subdivision that mandates curbside recycling pickup. 
           Sec. 4.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Sections 1 to 3 are effective the day following final 
        enactment and are repealed June 1, 2003. 
           Presented to the governor April 20, 2000 
           Signed by the governor April 24, 2000, 1:52 p.m.