2005 Minnesota Statutes

     169.79 Vehicle registration; displaying license plates. 

    Subdivision 1.    Registration required.  No person 
 shall operate, drive, or park a motor vehicle on any highway 
 unless the vehicle is registered in accordance with the laws of 
 this state and has the number plates or permit confirming that 
 valid registration or operating authority has been obtained, 
 except as provided in sections 168.10 and 168.12, subdivision 
 2f, as assigned to it by the commissioner of public safety, 
 conspicuously displayed thereon in a manner that the view of any 
 plate or permit is not obstructed.  A plate issued under section 
 168.27 or a permit issued under chapter 168 may be displayed on 
 a vehicle in conjunction with expired registration whether or 
 not it displays the license plate to which the last registration 
 was issued.  

    Subd. 2.    Semitrailer.  If the vehicle is a 
 semitrailer, the number plate displayed must be assigned to the 
 registered owner and correlate to the certificate of title 
 documentation on file with the department and shall not display 
 a year indicator. 

    Subd. 3.    Rear display of single plate.  If the 
 vehicle is a motorcycle, motor scooter, motorized bicycle, 
 motorcycle sidecar, trailer registered at greater than 3,000 
 pounds gross vehicle weight (GVW), semitrailer, or vehicle 
 displaying a dealer plate, then one license plate must be 
 displayed on the rear of the vehicle.  

    Subd. 3a.    Small trailer.  If the vehicle is a trailer 
 with 3,000 pounds or less GVW with lifetime registration, the 
 numbered plate or sticker must be adhered to the side of the 
 trailer frame tongue near the hitch. 

    Subd. 4.    Collector's vehicle.  If the vehicle is (1) 
 a collector's vehicle with a pioneer, classic car, collector, or 
 street rod license; (2) a vehicle that meets the requirements of 
 a pioneer, classic, or street rod vehicle except that the 
 vehicle is used for general transportation purposes; or (3) a 
 vehicle that is of model year 1972 or earlier, not registered 
 under section 168.10, subdivision 1c, and is used for general 
 transportation purposes, one plate must be displayed on the rear 
 of the vehicle, or one plate on the front and one on the rear, 
 at the discretion of the owner. 

    Subd. 5.    Truck-tractor, road-tractor, or farm truck.  
 If the vehicle is a truck-tractor, road-tractor, or farm truck, 
 as defined in section 168.011, subdivision 17, but excluding 
 from that definition semitrailers and trailers, one plate must 
 be displayed on the front of the vehicle. 

    Subd. 6.    Other motor vehicles.  If the motor vehicle 
 is any kind of motor vehicle other than those provided for in 
 subdivisions 2 to 4, one plate must be displayed on the front 
 and one on the rear of the vehicle.  

    Subd. 7.    Plate fastened and visible.  All plates must 
 be securely fastened so as to prevent them from swinging.  The 
 person driving the motor vehicle shall keep the plate legible 
 and unobstructed and free from grease, dust, or other blurring 
 material so that the lettering is plainly visible at all times.  
 It is unlawful to cover any assigned letters and numbers or the 
 name of the state of origin of a license plate with any material 
 whatever, including any clear or colorless material that affects 
 the plate's visibility or reflectivity.  

    Subd. 8.    Plate registration stickers.  License plates 
 issued to vehicles registered under section 168.017 must display 
 the month of expiration in the lower left corner as viewed 
 facing the plate and the year of expiration in the lower right 
 corner as viewed facing the plate.  License plates issued to 
 vehicles registered under section 168.127 must display either 
 fleet registration validation stickers in the lower right corner 
 as viewed facing the plates or distinctive license plates, 
 issued by the registrar, with "FLEET REG" displayed on the 
 bottom center portion of the plate. 

    HIST: (2720-268) 1937 c 464 s 118; 1961 c 622 s 1; 1967 c 464 
 s 2; 1977 c 248 s 4; 1981 c 357 s 62; 1981 c 363 s 27; 1985 c 
 291 s 18; 1995 c 120 s 4; 1995 c 145 s 2; 1997 c 240 s 5; 1997 c 
 250 s 6; 2000 c 280 s 1; 1Sp2001 c 8 art 2 s 45; 2002 c 371 art 
 1 s 46-48