Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

169.67 BRAKES.
    Subdivision 1. Motor vehicle. Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, when operated
upon a highway, shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop
and hold such vehicle, including two separate means of applying the brakes, each of which
means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least two wheels. If these two separate means
of applying the brakes are connected in any way, they shall be so constructed that failure of any
one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the motor vehicle without brakes on at least
two wheels. The requirement in this subdivision for separate braking systems does not apply to a
commercial motor vehicle described in section 169.781, subdivision 5, paragraph (d).
    Subd. 2. Motorcycle and bicycle. Every motorcycle, and bicycle with motor attached, when
operated upon a highway, shall be equipped with at least one brake, which may be operated
by hand or foot.
    Subd. 3. Trailer, semitrailer. (a) No trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight of 3,000 or
more pounds, or a gross weight that exceeds the empty weight of the towing vehicle, may be
drawn on a highway unless it is equipped with brakes that are adequate to control the movement
of and to stop and hold the trailer or semitrailer. A surge brake on a trailer or semitrailer meets the
requirement of this paragraph for brakes adequate to stop and hold the trailer or semitrailer.
(b) No trailer or semitrailer that is required to have brakes and that has a gross weight of
more than 6,000 pounds may be drawn on a highway unless it is equipped with brakes that
are so constructed that they are adequate to stop and hold the trailer or semitrailer whenever it
becomes detached from the towing vehicle.
(c) Except as provided in paragraph (d), paragraph (a) does not apply to:
(1) a trailer used by a farmer while transporting farm products produced on the user's farm,
or supplies back to the farm of the trailer's user;
(2) a towed custom service vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle that is equipped with brakes
that meet the standards of subdivision 5, provided that such a towed custom service vehicle that
exceeds 30,000 pounds gross weight may not be drawn at a speed of more than 45 miles per hour;
(3) a trailer or semitrailer operated or used by retail dealers of implements of husbandry
while engaged exclusively in the delivery of implements of husbandry;
(4) a motor vehicle drawn by another motor vehicle that is equipped with brakes that meet
the standards of subdivision 5;
(5) a tank trailer of not more than 12,000 pounds gross weight owned by a distributor of
liquid fertilizer while engaged exclusively in transporting liquid fertilizer, or gaseous fertilizer
under pressure;
(6) a trailer of not more than 12,000 pounds gross weight owned by a distributor of dry
fertilizer while engaged exclusively in the transportation of dry fertilizer; and
(7) a disabled vehicle while being towed to a place of repair.
(d) Vehicles described in paragraph (c), clauses (1), (3), and (4), may be operated without
complying with paragraph (a) only if the trailer or semitrailer does not exceed the following
gross weights:
(1) 3,000 pounds while being drawn by a vehicle registered as a passenger automobile, other
than a pickup truck as defined in section 168.011, subdivision 29;
(2) 12,000 pounds while being drawn by any other motor vehicle except a self-propelled
implement of husbandry.
    Subd. 4. Service brakes on wheels; exceptions. (a) All motor vehicles, trailers, and
semitrailers manufactured after June 30, 1988, must be equipped with foot brakes on all wheels.
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to:
(1) a mobile crane that is not operated at a speed of more than 45 miles per hour and is
capable of stopping within the performance standards of subdivision 5;
(2) a motorcycle;
(3) a trailer or semitrailer with a gross weight of less than 3,000 pounds;
(4) a swivel-type third wheel on a travel trailer; and
(5) a temporary auxiliary axle attached to a motor vehicle during a period of vehicle weight
restrictions for the purpose of relieving the weight on another axle, if the combined gross weight
on the temporary axle and the axle being relieved does not exceed 18,000 pounds and the motor
vehicle meets all brake requirements under this section.
(c) Paragraph (a) does not require brakes on the front wheels of a vehicle having three or
more axles and manufactured before July 1, 1988, if the brakes on the other wheels of the vehicle
meet the standards of subdivision 5.
    Subd. 5. Performance standards. Every motor vehicle or combination of vehicles, at all
times and under all conditions of loading, upon application of the service (foot) brake, shall be
capable of (1) developing a braking force that is not less than the percentage of its gross weight
tabulated herein for its classification, (2) decelerating in a stop from not more than 20 miles per
hour at not less than the feet per second per second tabulated herein for its classification, and (3)
stopping from a speed of 20 miles per hour in not more than the distance tabulated herein for
its classification, such distance to be measured from the point at which movement of the service
brake pedal or control begins. Tests for deceleration and stopping distance shall be made on a
substantially level (not to exceed plus or minus one percent grade), dry, smooth, hard surface that
is free from loose material.
Deceleration Table
1
2
3
4
Classification of Vehicles
and Combinations
Braking Force as
a Percentage of
Gross Vehicle or
Combination Weight
Deceleration in
Feet Per Second
Per Second
Brake System
Application and
Braking Distance
in Feet
Passenger vehicles, not
including buses .....
52.8 percent
17
25
Single-unit vehicles with
a manufacturer's gross
vehicle weight rating of less
than 10,000 pounds .....
43.5 percent
14
30
Single-unit, 2-axle vehicles
with a manufacturer's gross
vehicle weight rating of
10,000 or more pounds,
and buses not having
a manufacturer's gross
vehicle weight rating .....
43.5 percent
14
40
All other vehicles and
combinations with a
manufacturer's gross
vehicle weight rating of
10,000 or more pounds .....
43.5 percent
14
50
All brakes shall be maintained in good working order and shall be so adjusted as to operate as
equally as practicable with respect to the wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle.
    Subd. 6. Implement of husbandry. An implement of husbandry that (1) is not self-propelled,
(2) has a manufacturer's recommended capacity of more than 24,000 pounds, and (3) is
manufactured and sold after January 1, 1994, must be equipped with brakes adequate to control
the movement of and to stop and hold the towed vehicle.
History: (2720-255, 2720-256) 1937 c 464 s 105,106; Ex1937 c 38 s 2; 1939 c 430 s 19;
1945 c 207 s 7; 1953 c 423 s 1; 1955 c 452 s 1; 1959 c 277 s 1; 1961 c 89 s 1; 1963 c 747 s 1;
1967 c 272 s 1; 1976 c 205 s 1; 1988 c 636 s 8,9; 1989 c 342 s 17; 1990 c 416 s 2,3; 1992 c 581 s
12; 1993 c 187 s 10-12; 1995 c 120 s 2; 1Sp2001 c 8 art 2 s 44

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes