1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to motor vehicles; requiring insurance 
  1.3             validation stickers on vehicle registration plates; 
  1.4             making clarifying changes; imposing misdemeanor 
  1.5             penalty; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 
  1.6             65B.482, subdivision 1; 169.79, subdivision 7, by 
  1.7             adding a subdivision; 169.793. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 65B.482, 
  1.10  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.11     Subdivision 1.  [ISSUANCE OF CARD.] (a) Every reparation 
  1.12  obligor transacting business in this state shall provide an 
  1.13  insurance identification card for each vehicle, as defined in 
  1.14  section 169.791, subdivision 1, paragraph (h), covered at the 
  1.15  time of initiating each policy of automobile insurance, as 
  1.16  defined in section 65B.14, subdivision 2, and at the time of 
  1.17  policy renewal (1) an insurance identification card and (2) one 
  1.18  insurance validation sticker for each registration plate.  When 
  1.19  an insured has five or more vehicles registered in this state, 
  1.20  the obligor may use the designation "all owned vehicles" on each 
  1.21  identification card in lieu of a specified description.  
  1.22     (b) The card must state:  
  1.23     (1) the insured's name; 
  1.24     (2) the policy number; 
  1.25     (3) the policy dates of coverage; 
  1.26     (4) the make, model, and year of the vehicle being covered; 
  2.1      (5) the vehicle identification number or at least the last 
  2.2   three digits of that number; and 
  2.3      (6) the name of the obligor providing coverage.  
  2.4      (c) An insurance validation sticker must show the month, 
  2.5   day, and year on which coverage for the vehicle expires.  The 
  2.6   stickers must meet the same specifications, as applicable, that 
  2.7   are required by the commissioner of public safety for 
  2.8   registration validation stickers required and issued for 
  2.9   vehicles registered under chapter 168.  The reparation obligor 
  2.10  shall include instructions to the insured on correctly affixing 
  2.11  the stickers to the registration plates of the vehicle being 
  2.12  covered. 
  2.13     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.79, 
  2.14  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
  2.15     Subd. 7.  [PLATE AND STICKERS FASTENED AND VISIBLE.] All 
  2.16  plates must be securely fastened so as to prevent them from 
  2.17  swinging.  The person driving the motor vehicle shall keep the 
  2.18  plate and any registration validation sticker and insurance 
  2.19  validation sticker legible and unobstructed and free from 
  2.20  grease, dust, or other blurring material so that the 
  2.21  lettering is and stickers are plainly visible at all times.  It 
  2.22  is unlawful to cover the stickers or any assigned letters and 
  2.23  numbers or the name of the state of origin of a license plate 
  2.24  with any material whatever, including any clear or colorless 
  2.25  material that affects the plate's visibility or reflectivity of 
  2.26  the plate or stickers.  
  2.27     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.79, is 
  2.28  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  2.29     Subd. 9.  [PLATE INSURANCE VALIDATION STICKERS.] A 
  2.30  registration plate insurance validation sticker issued to a 
  2.31  vehicle subject to sections 169.791 to 169.799 must be displayed 
  2.32  on each registration plate.  The display requirements may be 
  2.33  determined by rule of the commissioner of public safety. 
  2.34     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 169.793, is 
  2.35  amended to read: 
  2.36     169.793 [VEHICLE INSURANCE; UNLAWFUL ACTS, PENALTIES.] 
  3.1      Subdivision 1.  [ACTS.] It shall be is unlawful for any 
  3.2   person: 
  3.3      (1) to issue, to display, or cause or permit to be 
  3.4   displayed, or to have in possession, an insurance identification 
  3.5   card, insurance policy, insurance validation sticker, or written 
  3.6   statement knowing or having reason to know that the insurance is 
  3.7   not in force or is not in force as to the vehicle in question; 
  3.8      (2) to alter or make a fictitious insurance identification 
  3.9   card, insurance policy, insurance validation sticker, or written 
  3.10  statement; and 
  3.11     (3) to display an altered or fictitious insurance 
  3.12  identification card, insurance policy, insurance validation 
  3.13  sticker, or written statement knowing or having reason to know 
  3.14  that the proof has been altered or is fictitious. 
  3.15     Subd. 2.  [PENALTY.] Any person who violates any of the 
  3.16  provisions of subdivision 1 is guilty of a misdemeanor.  In 
  3.17  addition to any sentence of imprisonment that the court may 
  3.18  impose, the court shall impose a fine of not less than $200 nor 
  3.19  more than the maximum fine applicable to misdemeanors.  The 
  3.20  court may allow community service in lieu of any fine imposed if 
  3.21  the defendant is indigent. 
  3.22     <b>[EFFECTIVE DATE.]</b> This section is effective January 1, 
  3.23  2005, for offenses committed on or after that date. 
  3.24     Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  3.25     Sections 1 to 4 are effective January 1, 2005.