1st Engrossment - 82nd Legislature (2001 - 2002) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to public safety; modifying definition of 1.3 passenger automobile to include certain vans; 1.4 modifying provisions governing registration of 1.5 recreational vehicles; providing grounds for 1.6 cancellation of motor vehicle dealer license; 1.7 modifying definition of utility trailer as it relates 1.8 to motor vehicle dealers; providing for uncontested 1.9 vehicle sale cancellation; allowing traffic accidents 1.10 to be reported electronically; authorizing 1.11 nonidentifying traffic accident data to be made 1.12 public; providing for display and issuance of permits 1.13 for vehicle registration plates; removing requirement 1.14 that signature on driver's license or permit be in 1.15 ink; increasing monetary amount for satisfaction of 1.16 judgment resulting from traffic accident; modifying 1.17 driver instruction requirements; expanding ability of 1.18 department of public safety to capture advertising 1.19 revenue; making conforming, technical, and clarifying 1.20 changes and removing unnecessary language; amending 1.21 Minnesota Statutes 2000, sections 168.011, subdivision 1.22 7; 168.09, subdivisions 3, 7; 168.27, subdivisions 1.23 12a, 20; 168.31, subdivision 1; 169.09, subdivisions 1.24 8, 9, 10, 13; 169.79; 171.07, subdivision 1; 171.183, 1.25 subdivision 1; 171.39; 299A.01, subdivision 1b; 1.26 proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 1.27 chapter 168A. 1.28 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.29 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 168.011, 1.30 subdivision 7, is amended to read: 1.31 Subd. 7. [PASSENGER AUTOMOBILE.] "Passenger automobile" 1.32 means any motor vehicle designed and used forthecarryingof1.33 not more than 15 persons including the driver. "Passenger 1.34 automobile" does not include motorcycles, motor scooters, and 1.35 buses described in subdivision 9, paragraph (a), clause (2). 1.36 For purposes of taxation only, "passenger automobile" includes 2.1 pickup trucks and vans,other thanincluding those vans designed 2.2 to carry passengers with a manufacturer's nominal rated carrying 2.3 capacity of one ton, but does not include commuter vans as 2.4 defined in section 168.126. 2.5 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 168.09, 2.6 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 2.7 Subd. 3. [PRORATABLE VEHICLES; OTHER VEHICLES.] (a) Plates 2.8 or other insignia issued for a motor vehicle registered under 2.9 the provisions of section 168.187 for a calendar year shall be 2.10 displayed on the motor vehicle not later than 12:01 a.m. on 2.11 March 2 of the year unless extended by the registrar for the 2.12 period of time required for the issuance of the new plates or 2.13 insignia. The commissioner of public safety shall register all 2.14 motor vehicles registered under section 168.187 for a period of 2.15 14 months for the registration year 1994 to implement the 2.16 provisions of this subdivision. The registration year for 2.17 vehicles registered under section 168.187 as provided in this 2.18 section shall be from March 1 to the last day of February for 2.19 1995 and succeeding years. 2.20 (b) Plates or other insignia issued for a self-propelled 2.21 motor vehicle registered for over 27,000 pounds except a motor 2.22 vehicle registered under the provision of sections 168.017 and 2.23 168.187 shall be displayed on the vehicle not later than 12:01 2.24 a.m. on March 2 of the year, nor earlier than 12:01 a.m. on 2.25 February 15 of the year, unless otherwise extended by the 2.26 registrar for the period of time required for the issuance of 2.27 the new plates or insignia. 2.28 (c) Plates or other insignia issued for a self-propelled 2.29 vehicle registered for 27,000 pounds or less and all other motor 2.30 vehicles except those registered under the provisions of section 2.31 168.017 or 168.187 shall be displayed not later than 12:01 a.m. 2.32 on March 2 of the year, and not earlier than January 1 of the 2.33 year unless otherwise extended by the registrar for the period 2.34 of time required for the issuance of the new plates or insignia. 2.35 The registration year for all vehicles as provided in this 2.36 paragraph and paragraph (b) shall be from March 1 to the last 3.1 day of February for 1979 and succeeding years. 3.2 (d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (b) and (c), plates issued 3.3 for a recreational vehicle shall be displayed not later than 3.4 12:01 a.m. on the second day of a month designated by the 3.5 registrar by order. The registration year for a recreational 3.6 vehicle is from the first day of the month designated by the 3.7 registrar under this paragraph to the last day of the eleventh 3.8 month following that month. 3.9 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 168.09, 3.10 subdivision 7, is amended to read: 3.11 Subd. 7. [DISPLAY OF TEMPORARY PERMIT; SPECIAL PLATES.] 3.12 (a) A vehicle that displays a special plate issued under section 3.13 168.021; 168.12, subdivision 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, or 2d; 168.123; 3.14 168.124; 168.125; 168.126; 168.128; or 168.129 may display a 3.15 temporary permit in conjunction with expired registration if: 3.16 (1) the current registration tax and all other fees have 3.17 been paid in full; and 3.18 (2) the plate requires replacement under section 168.12, 3.19 subdivision 1, paragraph (b), clause (3). 3.20 (b) A vehicle that is registered under section 168.10 may 3.21 display a temporary permit in conjunction with expired 3.22 registration, with or without a registration license plate, if: 3.23 (1) the license plates have been applied for and the 3.24 registration tax has been paid in full, as provided for in 3.25 section 168.10; and 3.26 (2) the vehicle is used solely as a collector vehicle while 3.27 displaying the temporary permit and not used for general 3.28 transportation purposes. 3.29(b)(c) The permit is valid for a period of 60 days. The 3.30 permit must be in a form prescribed by the commissioner of 3.31 public safety and whenever practicable must be posted upon the 3.32 driver's side of the rear window on the inside of the vehicle. 3.33 The permit is valid only for the vehicle for which it was issued 3.34 to allow a reasonable time for the new license plates to be 3.35 manufactured and delivered to the applicant. 3.36 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 168.27, 4.1 subdivision 12a, is amended to read: 4.2 Subd. 12a. [GROUNDS FOR CANCELLATIONWITHOUT HEARING; 4.3 NOTICE REQUIRED.] (a) A license may be canceled by the registrar 4.4 after notice to the dealer, upon satisfactory proof that the 4.5 dealer: (1) has failed to provide or maintain the required 4.6 surety bond, or that the dealer; (2) has failed to provide or 4.7 maintain the insurance required under chapter 65B; or (3) is no 4.8 longer operating at the dealer's licensed location. 4.9 (b) Surety companies and insurers providing required 4.10 coverages shall promptly notify the registrar upon canceling any 4.11 surety bond or required insurance. The registrar shall notify 4.12 the dealer of the reason or reasons for cancellation before the 4.13 cancellation occurs. 4.14 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 168.27, 4.15 subdivision 20, is amended to read: 4.16 Subd. 20. [APPLICATION TO SALE OF OTHER VEHICLES.] (a) 4.17 This sectionshalldoes not apply: 4.18 (1) to any person, copartnership, or corporation engaged in 4.19 the business of selling vehicles designed to operate exclusively 4.20 over snow, motor scooters, motorized wheelchairs, utility 4.21 trailers, farm wagons, farm trailers, or farm tractors or other 4.22 farm implements, whether self-propelled or not,and even 4.23 thoughsuch wagons, trailers, tractors or implementsa vehicle 4.24 listed in this clause may be equipped with a trailer hitch,; or 4.25 (2) to any person licensed as a real estate broker or 4.26 salesperson pursuant to chapter 82, who engages in the business 4.27 of selling,orwho offers to sell, or who solicits or advertises 4.28 the sale of manufactured homes affixed to land, unless such. 4.29 (b) However, this section does apply to a person, 4.30 copartnership, or corporationshalldescribed in paragraph (a) 4.31 who is alsobeengaged in the business of selling other motor 4.32 vehicles or manufactured homes within the provisions of this 4.33 section. 4.34(b)(c) As used in this subdivisionthe term "utility4.35trailer" has the following meaning:, "utility trailer" means a 4.36 motorless vehicle, other than a boat trailer or snowmobile 5.1 trailer, equipped with one or two wheelsand, having acarrying5.2capacity of 2000gross vehicle weight of 4,000 pounds or less, 5.3 and used for carrying property on its own structure while being 5.4 drawn by a motor vehicle. 5.5 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 168.31, 5.6 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 5.7 Subdivision 1. [WHEN DUE AND PAYABLE.] (a) The tax 5.8 required under this chapter to be paid upon a motor vehicle for 5.9 each calendar year becomes due when the vehicle first uses the 5.10 public streets or highways in the state, and upon January 1 each 5.11 year thereafter, except those vehicles which are taxed under 5.12 section 168.017 and vehicles registered under 168.09, 5.13 subdivision 3. Taxes due upon January 1 become payable upon 5.14 November 15 preceding the calendar year for which they are 5.15 assessed. 5.16 (b) The tax required to register vehicles for the 5.17 registration year March 1 to the last day of February is due on 5.18 March 1 and payable January 1 preceding. 5.19 (c) The tax required to register vehicles under the 5.20 provisions of section 168.017 and recreational vehicles taxed 5.21 under section 168.013, subdivision 1g, is due the first day of 5.22 the month commencing the 12-month registration period and 5.23 payable during the 45 days preceding the due date. 5.24 (d) Nothing in this section shall preclude prepayment. 5.25 Sec. 7. [168A.101] [CANCELLATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE SALE.] 5.26 Subdivision 1. [REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION.] If the parties 5.27 cancel a purchase of a motor vehicle after the transfer of 5.28 interest, they must submit within 90 days of the original 5.29 purchase date the following items: 5.30 (1) the outstanding certificate of title with proper 5.31 assignment; and 5.32 (2) an affidavit correcting ownership signed by the parties. 5.33 Subd. 2. [REFUNDS.] A party may be eligible for a refund 5.34 of taxes and fees only if the items indicated in subdivision 1 5.35 are submitted within the 90-day time frame unless otherwise 5.36 provided by law. 6.1 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.09, 6.2 subdivision 8, is amended to read: 6.3 Subd. 8. [OFFICER TO REPORT ACCIDENT TO COMMISSIONER.] 6.4EveryA law enforcement officer who, in the regular course of 6.5 duty, investigates a motor vehicle accidentof which report must6.6be made as required inthat must be reported under this section,6.7either at the time of and at the scene of the accident or6.8thereafter by interviewing participants or witnesses,shall, 6.9 within ten days after the date ofsuchthe accident, forwarda6.10 an electronic or written report ofsuchthe accident to the 6.11 commissioner of public safety. 6.12 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.09, 6.13 subdivision 9, is amended to read: 6.14 Subd. 9. [ACCIDENT REPORT FORMS.] The department of public 6.15 safety shall prepare, andelectronic or written forms for 6.16 accident reports required under this section. Upon request, the 6.17 department shall supply the forms to police departments, 6.18 coroners, sheriffs, garages, and other suitable agencies or 6.19 individuals, forms for accident reports required hereunder,. 6.20 The forms must be appropriate with respect to the persons 6.21 required to makesuchthe reports and the purposes to be 6.22 served. The electronic or writtenreportsreport forms to be 6.23madecompleted by persons involved in accidents and by 6.24 investigating officersshallmust call for sufficiently detailed 6.25 information to disclose with reference to a traffic accident the 6.26 causes, conditions then existing, and the persons and vehicles 6.27 involved. 6.28 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.09, 6.29 subdivision 10, is amended to read: 6.30 Subd. 10. [USE OF FORM REQUIRED.]EveryA required 6.31 accident reportrequired to be made in writing shallmust be 6.32 made onthean appropriate form approved by the department of 6.33 public safety and contain all of the information 6.34 requiredthereinunless not available. 6.35 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.09, 6.36 subdivision 13, is amended to read: 7.1 Subd. 11. [REPORTS CONFIDENTIAL; EVIDENCE, FEE, PENALTY, 7.2 APPROPRIATION.] (a)AllElectronic and written reports and 7.3 supplemental reports required under this sectionshall beare 7.4 for the use of the commissioner of public safety and other 7.5 appropriate state, federal, county, and municipal governmental 7.6 agencies for accident analysis purposes, except: 7.7 (1) the commissioner of public safety or any law 7.8 enforcement agency shall, upon written request of any person 7.9 involved in an accident or upon written request of the 7.10 representative of the person's estate, surviving spouse, or one 7.11 or more surviving next of kin, or a trustee appointed pursuant 7.12 to section 573.02, disclose to the requester, the requester's 7.13 legal counsel, or a representative of the requester's insurer 7.14 the report required under subdivision 8; 7.15 (2) the commissioner of public safety shall, upon written 7.16 request, provide the driver filing a report under subdivision 7 7.17 with a copy of the report filed by the driver; 7.18 (3) the commissioner of public safety may verify with 7.19 insurance companies vehicle insurance information to enforce 7.20 sections 65B.48, 169.792, 169.793, 169.796, and 169.797; 7.21 (4) the commissioner of public safety shall provide the 7.22 commissioner of transportation the information obtained for each 7.23 traffic accident involving a commercial motor vehicle, for 7.24 purposes of administering commercial vehicle safety regulations; 7.25 and 7.26 (5) the commissioner of public safety may give to the 7.27 United States Department of Transportation commercial vehicle 7.28 accident information in connection with federal grant programs 7.29 relating to safety. 7.30 (b) Accident reports and data contained in the reports 7.31shallare notbediscoverable under any provision of law or rule 7.32 of court.NoA reportshallmay not be used as evidence in any 7.33 trial, civil or criminal, arising out of an accident, except 7.34 that the commissioner of public safety shall furnish upon the 7.35 demand ofanya person who has, or claims to have, made a 7.36 report, or, upon demand ofanya court, a certificate showing 8.1 that a specified accident report has or has not been made to the 8.2 commissioner solely to prove compliance or failure to comply 8.3 with the requirements that the report be made to the 8.4 commissioner. 8.5 (c) Nothing in this subdivision preventsanya person who 8.6 has made a report pursuant to this section from providing 8.7 information toanypersons involved in an accident or their 8.8 representatives or from testifying inanya trial, civil or 8.9 criminal, arising out of an accident, as to facts within the 8.10 person's knowledge. It is intended by this subdivision to 8.11 render privileged the reports required, but it is not intended 8.12 to prohibit proof of the facts to which the reports relate. 8.13 (d) Disclosinganyinformation contained inanyan accident 8.14 report, except as provided in this subdivision, section 13.82, 8.15 subdivision 3 or 4, or other statutes, is a misdemeanor. 8.16 (e) The commissioner of public safety may charge authorized 8.17 persons a $5 fee for a copy of an accident report. The 8.18 commissioner may also furnish copies of the modified accident 8.19 records database to private agencies as provided in paragraph 8.20 (g) for not less than the cost of preparing the copies. 8.21 (f) The commissioner and law enforcement agencies may 8.22 charge commercial users who request access to response or 8.23 incident data relating to accidents a fee not to exceed 50 cents 8.24 per report. "Commercial user" is a user who in one location 8.25 requests access to data in more than five accident reports per 8.26 month, unless the user establishes that access is not for a 8.27 commercial purpose. Money collected by the commissioner under 8.28 this paragraph is appropriated to the commissioner. 8.29 (g) The commissioner may provide a modified copy of the 8.30 accident records database that does not contain names, driver's 8.31 license numbers, vehicle license plate numbers, addresses, or 8.32 other identifying data to the public upon request. 8.33 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 169.79, is 8.34 amended to read: 8.35 169.79 [VEHICLE REGISTRATION.] 8.36 (a) No person shall operate, drive, or park a motor vehicle 9.1 on any highway unless the vehicle is registered in accordance 9.2 with the laws of this state and has the number platesfor the9.3current year onlyor permit confirming that valid registration 9.4 or operating authority has been obtained, except as provided in 9.5 sections 168.10 and 168.12, subdivision 2f, as assigned to it by 9.6 the commissioner of public safety, conspicuously displayed 9.7 thereon in a manner that the view of any plate or permit is not 9.8 obstructed. A plate issued under section 168.27 or a permit 9.9 issued under chapter 168 may be displayed on a vehicle in 9.10 conjunction with expired registration whether or not it displays 9.11 the license plate to which the last registration was issued. 9.12 (b) If the vehicle is a semitrailer, the number plate 9.13 displayed must be assigned to the registered owner and correlate 9.14 to the certificate of title documentation on file with the 9.15 department and shall not display a year indicator. 9.16 (c) If the vehicle is a motorcycle, motor scooter, 9.17 motorized bicycle, motorcycle sidecar, trailer, semitrailer, or 9.18 vehicle displaying a dealer plate, one plateshallmust be 9.19 displayed on the rearthereofof the vehicle. 9.20 (d) If the vehicle is (1) a collector's vehicle with a 9.21 pioneer, classic car, collector, or street rod license; (2) a 9.22 vehicle that meets the requirements of a pioneer, classic, or 9.23 street rod vehicle except that the vehicle is used for general 9.24 transportation purposes; or (3) a vehicle that is of model year 9.25 1972 or earlier, not registered under section 168.10, 9.26 subdivision 1c, and is used for general transportation purposes, 9.27 one plateshallmust be displayed on the rear of the vehicle, or 9.28 one plate on the front and one on the rear, at the discretion of 9.29 the owner. 9.30 (e) If the vehicle is a truck-tractor, road-tractor or farm 9.31 truck, as defined in section 168.011, subdivision 17, but 9.32 excluding from that definition semitrailers and trailers, one 9.33 plateshallmust be displayed on the frontthereofof the 9.34 vehicle. 9.35 (f) If the motor vehicle is any kind of motor vehicle other 9.36 than those provided for in paragraphs (b) to (d), one plate 10.1shallmust be displayed on the front and one on the rearthereof10.2 of the vehicle. 10.3 (g) All platesshallmust be securely fastened so as to 10.4 prevent them from swinging. The person driving the motor 10.5 vehicle shall keep the plate legible and unobstructed and free 10.6 from grease, dust, or other blurring material so that the 10.7 letteringshall beis plainly visible at all times. It is 10.8 unlawful to cover any assigned letters and numbers or the name 10.9 of the state of origin of a license plate with any material 10.10 whatever, including any clear or colorless material that affects 10.11 the plate's visibility or reflectivity. 10.12 (h) License plates issued to vehicles registered under 10.13 section 168.017 must display the month of expiration in the 10.14 lower left corner as viewed facing the plate and the year of 10.15 expiration in the lower right corner as viewed facing the plate. 10.16 License plates issued to vehicles registered under section 10.17 168.127 must display either fleet registration validation 10.18 stickers in the lower right corner as viewed facing the plates 10.19 or distinctive license plates, issued by the registrar, with 10.20 "FLEET REG" embossed on the bottom center portion of the plate. 10.21 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 171.07, 10.22 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 10.23 Subdivision 1. [LICENSE; CONTENTS.]The department shall,10.24 Upon the payment of the required fee, the department shall issue 10.25 to every qualifying applicantqualifying therefora license 10.26 designating the type or class of vehicles the applicant is 10.27 authorized to drive as applied for, which. This licenseshall10.28 must bearthereona distinguishing number assigned to the 10.29 licensee, the full name, date of birth, residence address and 10.30 permanent mailing address if different, a description of the 10.31 licensee in such manner as the commissioner deems necessary, and 10.32 a space upon which the licensee shall write the usual signature 10.33 and the date of birth of the licenseewith pen and ink. No 10.34 licenseshall beis valid until it has beensosigned by the 10.35 licensee. Except in the case of an instruction permit, every 10.36 licenseshallmust bearthereona colored photograph or an 11.1 electronically produced image of the licensee. Every license 11.2 issued to an applicant under the age of 21shallmust be of a 11.3 distinguishing color and plainly marked "Under-21." The 11.4 department shall use such process or processes in the issuance 11.5 of licenses that prohibits, as near as possible, the ability to 11.6 alter or reproduce the licenses, or prohibit the ability to 11.7 superimpose a photograph or electronically produced image on 11.8suchthe licenses, without ready detection. A license issued to 11.9 an applicantofage 65 or overshallmust be plainly marked 11.10 "senior" if requested by the applicant. 11.11 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 171.183, 11.12 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 11.13 Subdivision 1. [REQUIREMENTS.] For the purposes of 11.14 sections 171.182 to 171.184, a judgment is satisfied if: 11.15 (1)$25,000$30,000 has been credited upon any judgment or 11.16 judgments rendered in excess of that amount because of bodily 11.17 injury to or death of one person as the result of any one 11.18 accident; 11.19 (2) subject to the limit of$25,000$30,000 because of 11.20 bodily injury to or death of one person, the sum 11.21 of$50,000$60,000 has been credited upon any judgment or 11.22 judgments rendered in excess of that amount because of bodily 11.23 injury to or death of two or more persons as the result of any 11.24 one accident; or 11.25 (3) $10,000 has been credited upon any judgment or 11.26 judgments rendered in excess of that amount because of damage to 11.27 or destruction of property of others as a result of any one 11.28 accident. 11.29 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 171.39, is 11.30 amended to read: 11.31 171.39 [EXEMPTIONS.] 11.32 (a) The provisions of sections 171.33 to 171.41shalldo 11.33 not apply:to any person giving driver training lessons without 11.34 charge; to employers maintaining driver training schools without 11.35 charge for their employees only; to a home-school within the 11.36 meaning of sections 120A.22 and 120A.24; or to schools or 12.1 classes conducted by colleges, universities, and high schools as 12.2 a part of the normal program forsuchthose institutions; nor to12.3those schools or persons described in section 171.05,12.4subdivision 2. 12.5 (b) Any person who is a certificated driver training 12.6 instructor in a high school driver training program may give 12.7 driver training instruction to persons over the age of 18 12.8 without acquiring a driver training school license or 12.9 instructor's license, andsuchthose instructors may make a 12.10 charge for that instruction, if there is no private commercial 12.11 driver training school licensed underthis statutesections 12.12 171.33 to 171.41 within ten miles of the municipality wheresuch12.13 driver training instruction is given and there is no adult 12.14 drivers training program in effect in the schools of the school 12.15 district in which the trainee resides. 12.16 Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 299A.01, 12.17 subdivision 1b, is amended to read: 12.18 Subd. 1b. [DEPARTMENT ADVERTISING SALES; APPROPRIATION.] 12.19 The commissioner may accept paid advertising for departmental 12.20 publications, media productions, or other informational 12.21 materials. Advertising revenues received are appropriated to 12.22 the commissioner to be used to defray costs of publications, 12.23 media productions, or other informational materials. The 12.24 commissioner may not accept paid advertising from an elected 12.25 official or candidate for elective office. 12.26 Sec. 17. [TRANSITION.] 12.27 Subdivision 1. [EXTENSION OF REGISTRATION.] The 12.28 registration period of a recreational vehicle taxed under 12.29 Minnesota Statutes, section 168.013, subdivision 1g, the 12.30 Minnesota registration of which would otherwise expire on 12.31 February 28, 2002, is extended to the last day of the month 12.32 preceding the month that is designated by the registrar of motor 12.33 vehicles under section 2 as the first month of the registration 12.34 year for recreational vehicles. 12.35 Subd. 2. [RENEWED REGISTRATION; PROPORTIONATE INCREASE IN 12.36 TAX.] The tax on a recreational vehicle described in subdivision 13.1 3, paragraph (a), the registration of which is renewed in 2002 13.2 for the registration year beginning on the first day of the 13.3 month that is designated by the registrar of motor vehicles 13.4 under section 2 as the first month of the registration year for 13.5 recreational vehicles, is increased by an amount equal to 1/12 13.6 of the tax imposed under that subdivision for each month between 13.7 March and the month preceding the designated month. 13.8 Subd. 3. [NEW REGISTRATION.] (a) The tax imposed on a 13.9 recreational vehicle taxable under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.10 168.013, subdivision 1g, that is registered for the first time 13.11 in Minnesota during the period between March 1, 2002, and the 13.12 first day of the month that is designated by the registrar of 13.13 motor vehicles under section 2 as the first month of the 13.14 registration year for recreational vehicles, shall be 1/12 of 13.15 the tax imposed under that subdivision for each month during 13.16 that period. 13.17 (b) The registrar may, at the registrar's discretion, 13.18 register recreational vehicles described in paragraph (a) for 13.19 more than 12 consecutive months for a tax consisting of the 13.20 annual tax plus 1/12 of the annual tax for each month of 13.21 registration over 12. The authority in this paragraph expires 13.22 December 31, 2002. 13.23 (c) The 1/12 tax for any month under paragraphs (a) and (b) 13.24 is reduced by 50 percent for any new registration of a 13.25 recreational vehicle that is made after the 15th day of that 13.26 month. 13.27 Sec. 18. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 13.28 Sections 1, 3 to 5, and 7 to 15 are effective July 1, 2001. 13.29 Section 16 is effective the day following final enactment.