2007 Minnesota Statutes

168.041 IMPOUNDING REGISTRATION PLATES.
    Subdivision 1. Driving after license invalidated. (a) When a person is convicted of
driving a self-propelled motor vehicle after the suspension, revocation, or cancellation of the
person's driver's license or driving privileges, the court shall require the registration plates of the
self-propelled motor vehicle involved in the violation owned by the person or registered in the
person's name to be surrendered to the court. The court shall issue a receipt for the surrendered
registration plates.
(b) If the violator is not the owner of the self-propelled motor vehicle, the court shall require
the registration plates of the motor vehicle to be surrendered to the court if the vehicle was used
by the violator with the permission of the owner and the owner had knowledge of the fact that the
violator's driver's license had been revoked or suspended prior to the commission of the offense.
    Subd. 1a.[Repealed, 1992 c 571 art 14 s 14]
    Subd. 2. Moving violation following previous conviction. If a person is convicted of
violating a law or municipal ordinance, except a parking law or ordinance, regulating the
operation of motor vehicles on the streets or highways, and the record of the person so convicted
shows a previous conviction for driving after suspension or revocation of the person's driver's
license or driving privileges, the court may direct the commissioner of public safety to suspend
the driver's license of the person for a period not exceeding one year. The court may also require
the registration plates of any self-propelled motor vehicle owned by the violator or registered in
the violator's name to be surrendered to the court.
    Subd. 3. Other convictions. Except as otherwise provided in section 169A.60, if a person is
convicted of an offense that makes mandatory the revocation of the person's driver's license, or
is convicted of driving a self-propelled motor vehicle without having a valid driver's license in
force, the court may require the registration plates of any self-propelled motor vehicle owned by
the person or registered in the person's name to be surrendered to the court.
    Subd. 3a.[Repealed, 1990 c 602 art 1 s 8]
    Subd. 4. Impoundment order; plates surrendered. If the court issues an impoundment
order, the registration plates must be surrendered to the court either three days after the order is
issued or on the date specified by the court, whichever date is later. The court may destroy the
surrendered registration plates. Except as provided in subdivision 6 or 7, no new registration
plates may be issued to the violator or owner until the driver's license of the violator has been
reissued or reinstated. The court shall notify the commissioner of public safety within ten days
after issuing an impoundment order.
    Subd. 4a.[Repealed, 1990 c 602 art 1 s 8]
    Subd. 5. Revocation rescinded. If the driver's license revocation that is the basis for an
impoundment order is rescinded, the registrar of motor vehicles shall issue new registration plates
for the vehicle at no cost, when the registrar receives an application that includes a copy of the
order rescinding the driver's license revocation.
    Subd. 6. Special series plates. (a) A violator or owner may apply to the commissioner for
new registration plates, which must bear a special series of numbers or letters so as to be readily
identified by traffic law enforcement officers. The commissioner may authorize the issuance of
special plates if a member of the violator's household has a valid driver's license, the violator or
owner has a limited license issued under section 171.30, or the owner is not the violator and the
owner has a valid or limited license or a member of the owner's household has a valid driver's
license. The commissioner may issue the special plates on payment of a $25 fee for each vehicle
for which special plates are requested. The commissioner may not authorize the issuance of
special plates unless the court that impounded the vehicle's plates gives written approval for
the issuance of the special plates.
(b) Until the driver's license of the violator is reinstated or reissued, the violator shall inform
the commissioner that an impoundment order is in effect when requesting any new registration
plates.
    Subd. 7. Transferring vehicle when plates impounded. A registered owner may not sell
a motor vehicle during the time its registration plates have been ordered surrendered or during
the time its registration plates bear a special series number, unless the registered owner applies
to the court that impounded the plates, for consent to transfer title to the motor vehicle. If the
court is satisfied that the proposed sale is in good faith and for a valid consideration, that the
registered owner will be deprived of the custody and control of the motor vehicle, and that the
sale is not for the purpose of circumventing the provisions of this section, it may certify its
consent to the registrar of motor vehicles. The registrar shall then transfer the certificate of title to
the new owner upon proper application and issue new registration plates. After the registration
plates have been ordered surrendered to the court under this section, if the title to the motor
vehicle is transferred by the foreclosure of a chattel mortgage, the cancellation of a conditional
sales contract, a sale upon execution, or by decree or order of a court of competent jurisdiction,
the registrar of motor vehicles shall then transfer the certificate of title and issue new registration
plates to the new registered owner.
    Subd. 8. Applicability to registration tax. Nothing contained in this section or section
169A.60 is intended to change or modify any provision of this chapter, with respect to the taxation
of motor vehicles or the time within which motor vehicle taxes must be paid.
    Subd. 9. Penalty. A person who fails to surrender any registration plates to the court upon
demand under this section, who operates a motor vehicle on a street or highway at a time when a
court has ordered the surrender of its registration plates, or who fails to comply with subdivision
6, paragraph (b), is guilty of a misdemeanor.
    Subd. 10. Definition of rental motor vehicle. "Rental motor vehicle" means a passenger
vehicle, truck, motorcycle, or motorized bicycle:
(1) that is leased in the name of the violator, or leased jointly in the name of the violator and
the violator's spouse; and
(2) that is one of a fleet of two or more vehicles rented for periods of 30 days or less.
    Subd. 11.[Repealed, 1Sp2005 c 6 art 2 s 48]
History: 1955 c 468 s 1-9; 1961 c 386 s 1,2; 1976 c 166 s 7; 1979 c 50 s 16; 1984 c 549 s 6;
1986 c 444; 1988 c 647 s 3; 1988 c 681 s 1; 1989 c 321 s 6-8; 1990 c 602 art 1 s 1-4; 1991 c 301
s 2; 1992 c 571 art 14 s 1; 1992 c 581 s 3; 1995 c 99 s 1-3; 2000 c 478 art 2 s 7