Minnesota Legislature
Office of the Revisor of Statutes
Minnesota Administrative Rules
7425.0110 DEFINITIONS.
Subpart 1.
Scope.
The terms used in this chapter have the meanings given them in this part except in those instances when the context clearly indicates a different meaning.
Subp. 2.
After-market equipment.
"After-market equipment" means equipment other than "original equipment" as defined in subpart 31.
Subp. 4.
Auxiliary driving lamp.
"Auxiliary driving lamp" means a lighting device that is mounted to provide illumination forward of the vehicle and that supplements the upper beam of a standard headlamp system. It is not intended for use alone or with the lower beam of a standard headlamp system.
Subp. 5.
Auxiliary lamps.
"Auxiliary lamps" means lighting devices on a motor vehicle used to supplement the other road lighting devices. They include those lamps sold commercially as driving lamps, passing lamps, fog lamps, auxiliary low-beam lamps, and motorcycle auxiliary front lamps.
Subp. 6.
Auxiliary low-beam lamp.
"Auxiliary low-beam lamp" means a type of lamp that supplements the lower beam of a standard headlamp system. It is not intended for use alone or with the upper beam of a standard headlamp system.
Subp. 8.
Backup lamp.
"Backup lamp" means a lamp used to furnish general illumination to the rear of a vehicle when it is in rearward motion and to provide a warning signal to pedestrians and other drivers when the vehicle is backing up or is about to back up.
Subp. 9.
Bicycle lighting devices.
"Bicycle lighting devices" includes:
A.
a headlamp which is an electric lamp used to provide general illumination ahead of a nonmotorized bicycle and also to serve as a warning light to approaching motorists;
B.
a rear red reflector which indicates the presence of the bicycle to an approaching driver by reflecting the light from the headlamps of a vehicle approaching from the rear; and
C.
side reflectors, reflectorized pedals, and reflectorized tires which are devices designed to conform with the reflectorization requirements of applicable regulations issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Subp. 10.
Bulb.
"Bulb" means an indivisible assembly containing a source of light and normally used in a lamp.
Subp. 11.
Clearance lamp.
"Clearance lamp" means a lamp used on the upper left and right sides of the vehicle or load, and which shows to the front or rear to indicate the overall width of the vehicle or load.
Subp. 12.
Combination clearance and side marker lamp.
"Combination clearance and side marker lamp" means a single lamp which, when properly positioned and oriented, fulfills the requirements of both a clearance lamp and a side marker lamp.
Subp. 13.
Combination device.
"Combination device" includes:
A.
a combination lamp so constructed and connected that from one position on a vehicle it serves two or more of the lighting functions described in this part; and
B.
combination switches and flashers so constructed and connected as to serve two or more of the functions of a turn-signal switch or flasher or hazard-warning switch or flasher.
Subp. 14.
Commissioner.
"Commissioner" means the commissioner of public safety of the state of Minnesota.
Subp. 15.
Disabled vehicle warning device.
"Disabled vehicle warning device" means a device that is placed on the roadway to warn the driver of an approaching vehicle of a stationary vehicle hazard. "Disabled vehicle warning device" includes:
A.
an emergency reflective triangle which is an equilateral triangle, each side of which displays both a daytime and nighttime warning area;
B.
a portable red reflector device which is a holder with two reflex reflectors on each side, one above the other;
D.
a fusee which consists of a solid fuel enclosed in a waterproof combustible tube and only used as a temporary or auxiliary signal flare; and
E.
an electric emergency lantern which is a device capable of displaying a red light, either flashing or steady-burning.
Subp. 17.
Flashing warning lamp.
"Flashing warning lamp" means a lamp: used for authorized emergency, maintenance, and service vehicles; which may be directionally aimed; and, in which the light sources are turned on and off, interrupting the circuit and producing a repetitive flash of light.
Subp. 18.
Fog lamp.
"Fog lamp" means a lighting device mounted to provide illumination forward of the vehicle under conditions of rain, snow, dust, or fog. A fog lamp is an adverse weather lamp.
Subp. 19.
Front cornering lamp.
"Front cornering lamp" means a steady-burning lamp used in conjunction with the turn-signal system to supplement the headlamps by providing additional illumination in the direction of turn.
Subp. 20.
Hazard-warning signal flasher.
"Hazard-warning signal flasher" means a device which, as long as it is turned on, causes all the required signal lamps to flash that are listed in the description for hazard-warning signal switch.
Subp. 21.
Hazard-warning signal switch.
"Hazard-warning signal switch" means a driver-controlled device which causes at least one turn-signal lamp on the left and right to the front and on the left and right to the rear of the vehicle to flash simultaneously to indicate to the approaching driver the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard.
Subp. 22.
Headlamp assembly and optical unit.
"Headlamp assembly and optical unit" includes:
A.
a sealed-beam headlamp housing assembly which is a major lighting assembly used to provide mounting and aiming adjustment for one or more sealed-beam units or replaceable bulb headlamps that provide general illumination ahead of the vehicle; and either
B.
a sealed-beam headlamp unit which is a mechanically aimable, integral, indivisible, hermetically sealed optical assembly;
C.
a mechanically aimable headlamp unit in which an O ring is used to seal an indexed replaceable bulb to the assembly; or
D.
a mechanically aimable, hermetically sealed lens and reflector assembly with indexed replaceable bulb.
Subp. 23.
Headlamp beam-switching device.
"Headlamp beam-switching device" includes:
A.
a driver-controlled headlamp beam-switching device used to select the upper or lower beam headlamp circuit; and
B.
a semiautomatic headlamp beam-switching device providing either automatic or manual control of beam switching at the option of the driver. When the control is automatic, the headlamps switch from the upper beam to the lower beam when illuminated by the headlamps of an approaching car and switch back to the upper beam when the road ahead is dark. When the control is manual, the driver may obtain either beam manually regardless of the condition of lights ahead of the vehicle.
Subp. 24.
Identification lamps.
"Identification lamps" means lamps that are used in groups of three in a horizontal row, that show to the front or rear or both, and that are mounted as near as practicable to the vertical centerline and the top of the vehicle to identify certain types of vehicles.
Subp. 25.
License plate lamp.
"License plate lamp" means a lamp used to illuminate the license plate on the rear of a vehicle.
Subp. 26.
Lighting device.
"Lighting device" means any device mounted on or in conjunction with a vehicle to furnish or regulate illumination or to mark or identify a vehicle or to serve as a signal or warning either by self-illumination or by reflected light. Interior lighting devices, such as dome, dash, and map lights intended only for interior illumination, placed inside the vehicle, and not intended to serve as a signal or to be seen by persons outside the vehicle, are not considered lighting devices within the scope of this chapter.
Subp. 27.
Motorcycle auxiliary front lamp.
"Motorcycle auxiliary front lamp" means a unit, including sealed beam, intended to supplement either the upper or the lower beam from a motorcycle headlamp system.
Subp. 28.
Motorcycle headlamp.
"Motorcycle headlamp" means a major lighting device used to provide general illumination ahead of the motorcycle.
Subp. 29.
Motorcycle turn-signal lamp.
"Motorcycle turn-signal lamp" means the signaling element of a motorcycle turn-signal system which indicates a change in direction by giving a flashing light on the side toward which the turn will be made.
Subp. 30.
Optical unit.
"Optical unit" means an integral and indivisible assembly consisting of a lens, reflector, and light source.
Subp. 31.
Original equipment.
"Original equipment" means an item of motor vehicle equipment which was installed in or on a motor vehicle at the time of its delivery to the first purchaser if:
A.
the item of equipment was installed on or in the motor vehicle at the time of its delivery to a dealer or distributor; or
B.
the item of equipment was installed by the dealer or distributor with the express authorization of the motor vehicle manufacturer.
Subp. 32.
Parking lamps.
"Parking lamps," whether separate or in combination with other lamps, means lamps on both the left and right of the front of the vehicle which shine to the front and are intended to mark the vehicle when parked. In addition, these front lamps may serve as a reserve front position-indicating system in the event of headlamp failure. For rear parking lamps, see tail lamps.
Subp. 34.
Rear cornering lamp.
"Rear cornering lamp" means a lamp aimed and so connected as to illuminate an area to the side and rear of the vehicle only when the vehicle is moving backward or about to move backward.
Subp. 35.
Reflex reflector.
"Reflex reflector" means a lighting device used on vehicles to indicate a vehicle's presence to an approaching driver by reflecting the light from the headlamps of the approaching vehicle. This device may use a system of cube corners or, as a side marker only, a system of lens-mirror reflexes.
Subp. 37.
SAE standard or recommended practice.
"SAE standard or recommended practice" means a vehicle equipment standard or recommended practice contained in a SAE Standards Handbook published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.
Subp. 38.
Safety glass.
"Safety glass" means glazing materials so constructed, treated, or combined with other materials as to reduce, in comparison with ordinary sheet, float, or plate glass, the likelihood of injury to persons by objects from exterior sources or by the glazing materials when cracked or broken. The term also includes rigid and flexible safety glazing plastics.
Subp. 39.
School bus warning-signal devices.
"School bus warning-signal devices" includes:
A.
flashing red signal lamps which are alternately flashing lamps mounted horizontally both front and rear and intended to identify a vehicle as a school bus and to inform other users of the highway that the school bus is stopped on the highway to take on or discharge school children;
B.
flashing amber signal lamps which are alternately flashing lamps mounted horizontally both front and rear and intended to identify a vehicle as a school bus and to prewarn by informing other users of the highway that the school bus is about to stop to take on or discharge school children;
C.
a white strobe lamp which is a 360-degree double-flash lamp mounted on top of a school bus and used only when atmospheric conditions or terrain restrict visibility of the flashing warning-signal lamps; and
D.
a stop arm which is an auxiliary device used to signal that a school bus has stopped to load or discharge passengers. It supplements the flashing red signal lamps. It may have alternately flashing, red lamps and it may be reflectorized.
Subp. 40.
Side marker lamps.
"Side marker lamps" means lamps that show to the side of the vehicle and are mounted on the permanent structure of the vehicle as near as practicable to the front and rear edges to indicate the overall length of the vehicle. Additional lamps may also be mounted at intermediate locations on the sides of the vehicle.
Subp. 41.
Side turn-signal lamps.
"Side turn-signal lamps" means lighting devices mounted on the side at or near the front of a vehicle and used as part of the turn-signal system to indicate a change in direction by giving a supplementary flashing, warning signal on the side toward which the vehicle operator intends to turn or maneuver.
Subp. 42.
Spot lamp.
"Spot lamp" means a lamp that provides a substantially parallel beam of light and which can be aimed at will. These lamps are not intended as substitutes for headlamps or as auxiliary lamps for road lighting, but are intended for use in emergencies and under conditions when a concentrated, controllable light beam is advantageous.
Subp. 43.
Stop lamp.
"Stop lamp" means a lamp giving a steady light to the rear of a vehicle or train of vehicles to indicate the intention of the operator of a vehicle to stop or diminish speed by braking.
Subp. 44.
Supplemental high-mounted stop and rear turn-signal lamps.
"Supplemental high-mounted stop and rear turn-signal lamps" means additional rear-facing lamps mounted high and possibly forward of the required tail, stop, and rear turn-signal lamps. They are intended to project a signal through intervening vehicles to operators of following vehicles.
Subp. 45.
Tail lamp or rear-position lamp.
"Tail lamp" or "rear-position lamp" means a lamp used to designate the rear of a vehicle by a steady-burning, low intensity light. Tail lamps are also used as rear parking lamps.
Subp. 46.
360-degree emergency warning-signal lamps.
"360-degree emergency warning-signal lamps" means devices that project light through a 360-degree arc in a regularly repeating pattern of flashes and that are designed for use on authorized emergency, maintenance, and service vehicles. The 360-degree emergency warning-signal lamps are used to signal other drivers to stop, to yield right-of-way, or to indicate the existence of a hazardous situation.
Subp. 47.
Towing device.
"Towing device" includes:
A.
a coupling which is that part of the trailer-connecting mechanism by which the connection is actually made but which does not include any structural member, extension of the trailer frame, or brake actuator;
B.
a hitch which is that part of a connecting mechanism including the ball support platform and ball and those components that extend and are attached to the towing vehicle;
C.
a fifth wheel which is a load-carrying mechanical or structural towing device, including a kingpin and load-bearing plate-type device, that, when in use, serves as a primary connecting system for a semitrailer;
D.
a saddle mount which is a device designed and constructed to be readily demountable and used in drive-away, tow-away operations to perform the functions of a conventional fifth wheel;
E.
a tow bar which is a beam-type device fastened between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle and used to transmit longitudinal loads between the vehicles; and
F.
a safety chain which is a flexible tension member including chain, cable, or wire rope, and the attaching means, connected from the front of the trailer or trailer tongue to the rear of the towing vehicle for the purpose of retaining connection between the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle in the event the trailer coupling or ball should fail.
Subp. 48.
Turn-signal lamp.
"Turn-signal lamp" means the signaling element of a turn-signal system which indicates a change in direction by a flashing light indicating the side toward which the turn will be made. Turn-signal lamps may be flashed simultaneously as a vehicular traffic hazard-warning signal.
Subp. 49.
Turn-signal flasher.
"Turn-signal flasher" means a device that causes all the required signal lamps to flash when it is turned on.
Subp. 50.
Turn-signal switch.
"Turn-signal switch" means that part of a turn-signal system by which the vehicle operator causes the signal lamps to function.
Subp. 51.
Turn-signal system.
A "turn-signal system" consists of a turn-signal switch, a flasher unit, two or more turn-signal lamps, and one or two indicator lights.
Subp. 53.
Warning lamp alternating flasher.
"Warning lamp alternating flasher" means a device that alternately flashes warning-signal lamps used on authorized emergency vehicles or school buses.
History:
9 SR 1252
Published Electronically:
May 1, 2000
Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes