2007 Minnesota Statutes

169.468 VEHICLE SAFETY RULES; FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS.
    Subdivision 1. Federal motor vehicle safety standards. The commissioner of public
safety, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, may adopt and enforce rules in substantial
conformity with federal motor vehicle safety standards established by the United States Secretary
of Transportation pursuant to the national Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 (Public
Law 89-563) with respect to any new motor vehicle or new item of motor vehicle equipment
applicable to the same aspect of performance of such new vehicle or new equipment.
    Subd. 2. Other safety standards; fee for testing and approval. In the absence of a motor
vehicle safety standard adopted pursuant to the national Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of
1966 or if any such standard is not applicable to new vehicles or new equipment manufactured
and first sold in the state of Minnesota, the commissioner of public safety may require new
vehicles and specific types of new equipment to be tested and approved for compliance with the
requirements of this chapter, or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter. The commissioner
shall approve or disapprove of the vehicle or equipment within a reasonable time after it is
submitted. Approval may be based upon a certificate of approval or test report furnished to
the commissioner by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. If such new
vehicle or new equipment does not conform to the provisions of this chapter, or to such rules
adopted by the commissioner of public safety, no person shall sell, offer for sale, or use any
such new vehicle or new equipment. The commissioner of public safety is authorized to set and
collect a reasonable fee from the manufacturer or distributor for the testing and approval of all
new vehicles and specific types of new equipment upon which approval is required under this
section. Such fee may be sufficient in amount to reimburse the Department of Public Safety for
all costs connected with such test and approval. The commissioner shall waive the fee for any
approval based on a certificate of approval or test report furnished by the American Association
of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
    Subd. 3. Conflicts of laws. A federal motor vehicle safety standard adopted by the
commissioner of public safety which conflicts with an equipment provision of this chapter,
applicable to the same aspect of performance, shall supersede, on its effective date, the conflicting
equipment provision of this chapter, with respect to new motor vehicles.
    Subd. 4. Misdemeanor. Any person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of
a misdemeanor.
History: 1974 c 21 s 2; 1978 c 494 s 3; 1985 c 248 s 70