1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; regulating titling, registration, and operation of mini 
1.3 	trucks;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 84.798, subdivision 2; 
1.4 	84.922, subdivision 1a; 168.002, subdivision 24, by adding a subdivision; 
1.5 	168.013, by adding a subdivision; 168A.03, subdivision 1; 169.011, subdivision 
1.6 	52, by adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.7 	Statutes, chapter 169.
1.8 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 84.798, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.10 		Subd. 2.Exemptions. Registration is not required for an off-road vehicle that is:
1.11 	(1) owned and used by the United States, the state, another state, or a political 
1.12 	subdivision; or
1.13 	(2) registered in another state or country and has not been in this state for more than 
1.14 	30 consecutive days.; or
1.15 	(3) registered as a mini truck under chapter 168 and is operated solely on public 
1.16 	streets and highways.

1.17 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 84.922, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
1.18 		Subd. 1a.Exemptions. All-terrain vehicles exempt from registration are:
1.19 	(1) vehicles owned and used by the United States, the state, another state, or a 
1.20 	political subdivision;
1.21 	(2) vehicles registered in another state or country that have not been in this state for 
1.22 	more than 30 consecutive days; 
1.23 	(3) vehicles used exclusively in organized track racing events; and
2.1 	(4) vehicles that are 25 years old or older and were originally produced as a separate 
2.2 	identifiable make by a manufacturer.; and
2.3 	(5) vehicles registered as a mini truck under chapter 168 and operated solely on 
2.4 	public streets and highways.

2.5 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.002, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.6 	to read:
2.7 		Subd. 16a.Mini truck. "Mini truck" has the meaning given in section 169.011, 
2.8 	subdivision 40a.

2.9 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.002, subdivision 24, is amended to read:
2.10 		Subd. 24.Passenger automobile. (a) "Passenger automobile" means any motor 
2.11 	vehicle designed and used for carrying not more than 15 individuals, including the driver.
2.12 	(b) "Passenger automobile" does not include motorcycles, motor scooters, buses, 
2.13 	school buses, or commuter vans as defined in section 168.126. Except as provided in 
2.14 	paragraph (c), clause (1), a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 9,000 to 13,000 
2.15 	pounds that is a pickup truck or a van is not a passenger automobile.
2.16 	(c) "Passenger automobile" includes, but is not limited to:
2.17 	(1) a vehicle that is: (i) a pickup truck or a van; (ii) not used in furtherance of a 
2.18 	commercial enterprise; and (iii) not subject to state or federal regulation as a commercial 
2.19 	motor vehicle;
2.20 	(2) neighborhood electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 47; and
2.21 	(3) medium-speed electric vehicles, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 39.; 
2.22 	and
2.23 	(4) mini trucks.

2.24 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168.013, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.25 	to read:
2.26 		Subd. 1m.Mini truck registration. A mini truck may be dually registered under 
2.27 	(1) subdivision 1a for operation on public streets and highways, and (2) if the vehicle is 
2.28 	eligible, section 84.798 or 84.922 for operation on trails and private property. A mini 
2.29 	truck that is not operated on public streets and highways does not have to be registered 
2.30 	under this chapter.

2.31 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 168A.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
3.1 		Subdivision 1.No certificate issued. The registrar shall not issue a certificate of 
3.2 	title for:
3.3 	(1) a vehicle owned by the United States;
3.4 	(2) a vehicle owned by a nonresident and not required by law to be registered in 
3.5 	this state;
3.6 	(3) a vehicle owned by a nonresident and regularly engaged in the interstate 
3.7 	transportation of persons or property for which a currently effective certificate of title 
3.8 	has been issued in another state;
3.9 	(4) a vehicle moved solely by animal power;
3.10 	(5) an implement of husbandry;
3.11 	(6) special mobile equipment;
3.12 	(7) a self-propelled wheelchair or invalid tricycle;
3.13 	(8) a trailer (i) having a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or less unless a secured party 
3.14 	holds an interest in the trailer or a certificate of title was previously issued by this state or 
3.15 	any other state or (ii) designed primarily for agricultural purposes except a recreational 
3.16 	vehicle or a manufactured home, both as defined in section 168.002, subdivisions 16 
3.17 	and 27; 
3.18 	(9) a snowmobile; and
3.19 	(10) a spotter truck, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 77.; and
3.20 	(11) a mini truck, as defined in section 169.011, subdivision 40a.

3.21 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, is amended by adding a subdivision 
3.22 	to read:
3.23 		Subd. 40a.Mini truck. (a) "Mini truck" means a motor vehicle that has four 
3.24 	wheels; is propelled by an electric motor with a rated power of 7,500 watts or less or an 
3.25 	internal combustion engine with a piston displacement capacity of 660 cubic centimeters 
3.26 	or less, has a total dry weight of 900 to 2,200 pounds; contains an enclosed cabin and a 
3.27 	seat for the vehicle operator; commonly resembles a pickup truck or van, including a cargo 
3.28 	area or bed located at the rear of the vehicle; and was not originally manufactured to meet 
3.29 	federal motor vehicle safety standards required of motor vehicles in the Code of Federal 
3.30 	Regulations, title 49, sections 571.101 to 571.404, and successor requirements.
3.31 	(b) A mini truck does not include:
3.32 	(1) a neighborhood electric vehicle or a medium-speed electric vehicle; or
3.33 	(2) a motor vehicle that meets or exceeds the regulations in the Code of Federal 
3.34 	Regulations, title 49, section 571.500, and successor requirements.

4.1 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, subdivision 52, is amended to read:
4.2 		Subd. 52.Passenger vehicle. (a) "Passenger vehicle" means a passenger automobile 
4.3 	defined in section 168.002, subdivision 24; a pickup truck defined in section 168.002, 
4.4 	subdivision 26; a van defined in section 168.002, subdivision 40; and a self-propelled, 
4.5 	recreational vehicle or mini truck licensed under chapter 168 to use the public streets 
4.6 	or highways. 
4.7 	(b) "Passenger vehicle" does not include a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, bus, 
4.8 	school bus, a vehicle designed to operate exclusively on railroad tracks, a farm truck 
4.9 	defined in section 168.002, subdivision 8, or special mobile equipment defined in section 
4.10 	168.002, subdivision 31. 

4.11 	Sec. 9. [169.2245] MINI TRUCK.
4.12 		Subdivision 1.Definition. "Road authority" means the commissioner, as to trunk 
4.13 	highways; the county board, as to county state-aid highways and county highways; the 
4.14 	town board, as to town roads; and the governing body of a city, as to city streets.
4.15 		Subd. 2.Required equipment. Notwithstanding sections 169.48 to 169.68, or any 
4.16 	other law, a mini truck may be operated on public streets and highways if it is equipped 
4.17 	with:
4.18 	(1) at least two headlamps;
4.19 	(2) at least two taillamps;
4.20 	(3) front and rear turn-signal lamps;
4.21 	(4) an exterior mirror mounted on the driver's side of the vehicle and either (i) an 
4.22 	exterior mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the vehicle or (ii) an interior mirror;
4.23 	(5) a windshield;
4.24 	(6) a seat belt for the driver and front passenger; and
4.25 	(7) a parking brake.
4.26 		Subd. 3.Operation. (a) A person may not operate a mini truck on a highway with a 
4.27 	posted speed limit that is greater than 55 miles per hour, except to make a direct crossing.
4.28 	(b) A person operating a mini truck on a highway having two or more lanes in 
4.29 	the same direction must drive in the lane farthest to the right, except to make a left 
4.30 	turn. A person may make a left turn from an appropriate lane if it is safe to do so under 
4.31 	the prevailing conditions.
4.32 		Subd. 4.Restrictions and prohibitions. (a) A road authority, including the 
4.33 	commissioner of transportation by order, may prohibit or further restrict the operation of a 
4.34 	mini truck on any street or highway under the road authority's jurisdiction.
5.1 	(b) A mini truck may not be used to take any examination to demonstrate ability to 
5.2 	exercise control in the operation of a motor vehicle as required under section 171.13.