1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to natural resources; modifying restrictions on shining artificial lights;
1.3 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 97B.081.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 97B.081, is amended to read:
1.6 	97B.081 USING ARTIFICIAL LIGHTS TO LOCATE ANIMALS.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.With firearms and bows. (a) Except as provided in subdivision 3, a 
1.8 	person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light on a highway, 
1.9 	or in a field, woodland, or forest, to spot, locate, or take a wild animal, except while 
1.10 	taking raccoons in accordance with section 97B.621, subdivision 3, or tending traps in 
1.11 	accordance with section 97B.931, while having in possession, either individually or as 
1.12 	one of a group of persons, a firearm, bow, or other implement that could be used to kill
1.13 	take big game, small game, or unprotected wild animals. 
1.14 	(b) This subdivision does not apply to a firearm that is:
1.15 	(1) unloaded;
1.16 	(2) in a gun case expressly made to contain a firearm that fully encloses the firearm 
1.17 	by being zipped, snapped, buckled, tied, or otherwise fastened without any portion of 
1.18 	the firearm exposed; and
1.19 	(3) in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.
1.20 	(c) This subdivision does not apply to a bow that is:
1.21 	(1) completely encased or unstrung; and
1.22 	(2) in the closed trunk of a motor vehicle.
1.23 	(d) If the motor vehicle under paragraph (b) or (c) does not have a trunk, the firearm 
1.24 	or bow must be placed in the rearmost location of the vehicle.
2.1 	(e) This subdivision does not apply to persons taking raccoons under section 
2.2 	97B.621, subdivision 3. 
2.3 	(f) This subdivision does not apply to a person hunting fox or coyote from January 1 
2.4 	to March 15 while using a hand-held artificial light, provided that the person:
2.5 	(1) is on foot;
2.6 	(2) is using a shotgun;
2.7 	(3) is not within a public road right-of-way;
2.8 	(4) is using a hand-held or electronic calling device; and
2.9 	(5) is not within 200 feet of a motor vehicle.
2.10 		Subd. 2.Without firearms. (a) Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. 
2.11 	from September 1 to December 31, Except as provided in subdivision 3, from one hour 
2.12 	after sunset until sunrise, a person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other 
2.13 	artificial light on a highway, or in a field, woodland, or forest to spot, or locate, or take a 
2.14 	wild animal except to take raccoons under section 97B.621, subdivision 3, or to tend traps 
2.15 	under section 97B.931. 
2.16 	(b) Between one-half hour after sunset until sunrise, Except as provided in 
2.17 	subdivision 3, a person may not cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial 
2.18 	light to spot, locate, or take a wild animal on fenced, agricultural land.containing 
2.19 	livestock, as defined in section 17A.03, subdivision 5, or poultry that is marked with signs 
2.20 	prohibiting the shining of lights. The signs must:
2.21 	(1) display reflectorized letters that are at least two inches in height and state "no 
2.22 	shining" or similar terms; and
2.23 	(2) be placed at intervals of 1,000 feet or less along the boundary of the area.
2.24 	(c) It is not a violation of paragraph (a) or (b) for a person to carry out any 
2.25 	agricultural, occupational, or recreational practice, including snowmobiling that is not 
2.26 	related to spotting, locating, or taking a wild animal.
2.27 	(d) Between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., Except as provided in subdivision 
2.28 	3, a person may not project cast a spotlight or hand-held light onto residential property 
2.29 	or building sites from a moving motor vehicle being operated on land, except for the 
2.30 	following purposes:.
2.31 	(1) safety;
2.32 	(2) emergency response;
2.33 	(3) normal vehicle operations; or
2.34 	(4) performing an occupational duty.
2.35 	(d) Except as provided in subdivision 3, a person may not at any time cast the rays of 
2.36 	a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light on property posted with signs prohibiting the 
3.1 	shining of lights onto the property. When signs are posted, the signs shall display letters 
3.2 	that are at least two inches in height and state "no shining" or similar terms, and shall be 
3.3 	placed at intervals of 500 feet or less along the boundary of the property.
3.4 		Subd. 3.Exceptions. (a) It is not a violation of this section for a person to cast the 
3.5 	rays of a spotlight, headlight, or other artificial light to:
3.6 	(1) take raccoons in accordance with section 97B.621, subdivision 3, or tend traps in 
3.7 	accordance with section 97B.931; or 
3.8 	(2) hunt fox or coyote from January 1 to March 15 while using a hand-held artificial 
3.9 	light, provided that the person is:
3.10 	(i) on foot;
3.11 	(ii) using a shotgun;
3.12 	(iii) not within a public road right-of-way;
3.13 	(iv) using a hand-held or electronic calling device; and
3.14 	(v) not within 200 feet of a motor vehicle.
3.15 	(b) It is not a violation of subdivision 2 for a person to cast the rays of a spotlight, 
3.16 	headlight, or other artificial light to:
3.17 	(1) carry out any agricultural, safety, emergency response, normal vehicle operations, 
3.18 	or occupational-related activities that do not involve taking wild animals; or
3.19 	(2) carry out outdoor recreation as defined in section 97B.001 that is not related to 
3.20 	spotting, locating, or taking a wild animal.