Minnesota Session Laws - 2019, Regular Session

CHAPTER 10--S.F.No. 1339

An act

relating to transportation; subjecting light rail transit operators to the reckless or careless driving law;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 169.13, subdivisions 1, 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 169.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Reckless driving.

(a) A person who drives a motor vehicle new text begin or light rail transit vehicle new text end while aware of and consciously disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the driving may result in harm to another or another's property is guilty of reckless driving. The risk must be of such a nature and degree that disregard of it constitutes a significant deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the situation.

(b) A person shall not race any vehicle upon any street or highway of this state. Any person who willfully compares or contests relative speeds by operating one or more vehicles is guilty of racing, which constitutes reckless driving, whether or not the speed contested or compared is in excess of the maximum speed prescribed by law.

(c) A person who violates paragraph (a) or (b) is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person who violates paragraph (a) or (b) and causes great bodily harm or death to another is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

(d) For purposes of this section, "great bodily harm" has the meaning given in section 609.02, subdivision 8.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 169.13, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Careless driving.

new text begin (a) new text end Any person who operates or halts any vehicle upon any street or highway carelessly or heedlessly in disregard of the rights of others, or in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger any property or any person, including the driver or passengers of the vehicle, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

new text begin (b) Any person who operates or halts a light rail transit vehicle carelessly or heedlessly in disregard of the rights of others, or in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger any property or any person, including the operator or passengers on the light rail transit vehicle, is guilty of a misdemeanor. new text end

Presented to the governor April 12, 2019

Signed by the governor April 12, 2019, 3:39 p.m.