Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

Key: (1) language to be deleted (2) new language

CHAPTER 86--H.F.No. 1725

An act

relating to motor vehicles; amending certain weight limitations for vehicles transporting milk;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 169.871, subdivision 1; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 169.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [169.8295] WEIGHT LIMITS; VEHICLES TRANSPORTING MILK. new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Weight limits increase. new text end

new text begin (a) The weight limitations under sections 169.823 to 169.829 are increased by ten percent for a single-unit vehicle transporting fluid milk from the point of production to (1) another point of production for additional loading, or (2) the point of first processing. new text end

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding sections 169.824, subdivision 1, paragraph (d); 169.826, subdivision 3; or other law to the contrary, a permit is not required to operate a vehicle under this section. new text end

new text begin (c) The seasonal weight increases under section 169.826, subdivision 1, do not apply to a vehicle operated under this section. new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Requirements; restrictions. new text end

new text begin A vehicle operated under this section: new text end

new text begin (1) is subject to seasonal load restrictions under section 169.87, except as otherwise provided under section 169.87, subdivision 4; new text end

new text begin (2) is subject to bridge load limits posted under section 169.84; and new text end

new text begin (3) must not be operated with a load that exceeds the tire manufacturer's recommended load, the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating as affixed to the vehicle, or other certification of gross vehicle weight rating under Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, sections 567.4 to 567.7. new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 169.871, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Civil liability.

(a) The owner or lessee of a vehicle that is operated with a gross weight in excess of a weight limit imposed under sections 169.823 to deleted text begin 169.829deleted text end new text begin 169.8295new text end , 169.84 to 169.851, and 169.87 or a shipper who ships or tenders goods for shipment in a single truck or combination vehicle that exceeds a weight limit imposed under sections 169.823 to deleted text begin 169.829deleted text end new text begin 169.8295new text end , 169.84 to 169.851, and 169.87 is liable for a civil penalty as follows:

(1) if the total gross excess weight is not more than 1,000 pounds, one cent per pound for each pound in excess of the legal limit;

(2) if the total gross excess weight is more than 1,000 pounds but not more than 3,000 pounds, $10 plus five cents per pound for each pound in excess of 1,000 pounds;

(3) if the total gross excess weight is more than 3,000 pounds but not more than 5,000 pounds, $110 plus ten cents per pound for each pound in excess of 3,000 pounds;

(4) if the total gross excess weight is more than 5,000 pounds but not more than 7,000 pounds, $310 plus 15 cents per pound for each pound in excess of 5,000 pounds;

(5) if the total gross excess weight is more than 7,000 pounds, $610 plus 20 cents per pound for each pound in excess of 7,000 pounds.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, if a person found guilty of a violation of a weight limit imposed under this section or sections 169.823 to deleted text begin 169.829deleted text end new text begin 169.8295new text end , 169.84 to 169.851, or 169.87 is also found by the court to have knowingly and contemporaneously attempted to evade a fixed weigh station or to otherwise avoid weighing by means of stationary scales under section 169.85 or other law, the court deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end impose a penalty of twice the amount otherwise authorized under paragraph (a).

(c) Any penalty imposed upon a defendant under this subdivision deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end not exceed the penalty prescribed by this subdivision. Any fine paid by the defendant in a criminal overweight action that arose from the same overweight violation deleted text begin shall bedeleted text end new text begin isnew text end applied toward payment of the civil penalty under this subdivision. A peace officer or Department of Public Safety employee described in section 299D.06 who cites a driver for a violation of the weight limitations established by sections 169.81 to 169.851 and 169.87 deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end give written notice to the driver that the driver or another may also be liable for the civil penalties provided herein in the same or separate proceedings.

(d) A penalty imposed upon the owner or lessee of a vehicle that is based on violations identified by the use of shippers' weight records under section 169.872 must not exceed an aggregate of $10,000.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment. new text end

Presented to the governor May 20, 2017

Signed by the governor May 23, 2017, 3:23 p.m.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes