1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to traffic regulations; requiring driver to 
  1.3             stop to yield right-of-way to pedestrian within 
  1.4             crosswalk; increasing penalty for failure to yield to 
  1.5             pedestrian in crosswalk; directing commissioner to 
  1.6             include information pertaining to crosswalk 
  1.7             right-of-way in driver's manual; requiring preparation 
  1.8             and distribution of publicity concerning traffic 
  1.9             regulations; amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 
  1.10            171.13, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 
  1.11            1995 Supplement, section 169.21, subdivision 2. 
  1.12  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.13     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 
  1.14  169.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.15     Subd. 2.  [RIGHTS IN ABSENCE OF SIGNALS.] (a) Where 
  1.16  traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation, the 
  1.17  driver of a vehicle shall stop to yield the right-of-way, 
  1.18  slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian 
  1.19  crossing the roadway within a crosswalk but no pedestrian shall 
  1.20  suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run 
  1.21  into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is 
  1.22  impossible for the driver to yield.  This provision shall not 
  1.23  apply under the conditions as otherwise provided in this 
  1.24  subdivision. 
  1.25     (b) When any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at 
  1.26  any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian 
  1.27  to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle 
  1.28  approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the 
  2.1   stopped vehicle. 
  2.2      (c) It is unlawful for any person to drive a motor vehicle 
  2.3   through a column of school children crossing a street or highway 
  2.4   or past a member of a school safety patrol or adult crossing 
  2.5   guard, while the member of the school safety patrol or adult 
  2.6   crossing guard is directing the movement of children across a 
  2.7   street or highway and while the school safety patrol member or 
  2.8   adult crossing guard is holding an official signal in the stop 
  2.9   position.  A person who violates this paragraph is guilty of a 
  2.10  misdemeanor.  A person who violates this paragraph a second or 
  2.11  subsequent time within one year of a previous conviction under 
  2.12  this paragraph is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. 
  2.13     (d) A person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a 
  2.14  misdemeanor and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more 
  2.15  than 90 days or to payment of a fine of not more than $700, or 
  2.16  both.  A person who violates this subdivision a second or 
  2.17  subsequent time within one year of a previous conviction under 
  2.18  this subdivision is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be 
  2.19  sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to 
  2.20  payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. 
  2.21     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.13, is 
  2.22  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.23     Subd. 1g.  [DRIVER'S MANUAL; CROSSWALK RIGHT-OF-WAY.] The 
  2.24  commissioner shall include in the next revised edition of the 
  2.25  driver's manual published by the department after August 1, 
  2.26  1996, a section relating to the circumstances under which a 
  2.27  driver must stop to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a 
  2.28  crosswalk and the penalties for failure to yield. 
  2.29     Sec. 3.  [PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.] 
  2.30     The commissioner of public safety shall cause to be 
  2.31  produced a series of public service announcements to educate the 
  2.32  public concerning traffic regulations that are frequently 
  2.33  violated, including the requirement for a vehicle driver to stop 
  2.34  to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.  The 
  2.35  commissioner shall distribute these announcements for broadcast 
  2.36  in this state on radio and television.