2004 Minnesota Statutes

     221.091 Local government authority. 

    Subdivision 1.    Local authority over streets and 
 highways.  Sections 221.011 to 221.291 do not authorize the 
 use by a carrier of a public highway in a city of the first 
 class in violation of a charter provision or ordinance of the 
 city in effect January 1, 1925, unless the charter provision or 
 ordinance is repealed after that date.  In addition, sections 
 221.011 to 221.291 do not (1) curtail the right of a city to 
 reasonably regulate or control the routing, parking, speed, or 
 safety of operation of a motor vehicle operated by a carrier 
 under the terms of those sections, (2) curtail the general 
 police power of the city over its highways, or (3) abrogate any 
 provision of the city's charter requiring certain conditions to 
 be complied with before a carrier can use the highways of the 
 city; and these rights and powers are expressly reserved and 
 granted to the city.  However, no city shall prohibit or deny 
 the use of the public highways within its territorial boundaries 
 by a carrier for transporting passengers or property received 
 within its boundaries to destinations beyond the city's 
 boundaries, or for transporting passengers or property from 
 points beyond the city's boundaries to destinations within the 
 city's boundaries, or for transporting passengers or property 
 from points beyond the city's boundaries through the city to 
 points beyond the city's boundaries when the carrier is 
 operating pursuant to a certificate of registration issued under 
 this chapter or a permit issued by the commissioner under 
 section 221.84. 

    Subd. 2.    Local licensing of small vehicle passenger 
 service.  A city that licenses and regulates small vehicle 
 passenger service must do so by ordinance.  The ordinance must, 
 at a minimum, provide for driver qualifications, insurance, 
 vehicle safety, and periodic vehicle inspections.  A city that 
 has adopted an ordinance complying with this subdivision may 
 enforce the registration requirement in section 221.021. 

    Subd. 3.    Authority of Metropolitan Airports Commission. 
  Notwithstanding any other law: 

    (a) The Metropolitan Airports Commission may regulate 
 ground transportation to and from an airport under its 
 jurisdiction, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b).  The 
 authority under this paragraph includes, but is not limited to, 
 regulating the number and types of transportation services, 
 making concession agreements, and establishing vehicle standards.

    (b) The Metropolitan Airports Commission may regulate small 
 passenger vehicles, including taxicabs, serving an airport under 
 its jurisdiction only by ordinance.  An ordinance adopted under 
 this paragraph must at a minimum define taxicabs and provide for 
 driver qualifications, insurance, and vehicle safety, and may 
 provide for issuance of permits to taxicabs and other small 
 passenger vehicles and limits on the number of permits issued.  
 An ordinance under this paragraph may not provide for making 
 concession agreements relating to small passenger vehicle 
 service, including taxicabs. 

    HIST: Ex1957 c 17 s 9; 1971 c 25 s 67; 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 
 1976 c 166 s 77; 1991 c 284 s 6; 1992 c 578 s 39; 1993 c 323 s 
 3; 1994 c 635 art 1 s 41; 1999 c 238 art 2 s 52