Minnesota Session Laws - 2016, Regular Session

CHAPTER 142--H.F.No. 3588

An act

relating to transportation; governing certain motor vehicle weight limits; providing for an increase in weight limits for certain vehicles powered by natural gas; making technical changes;

amending Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.824, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.824, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Gross vehicle weight of all axles deleted text begin ; credit for idle reduction technology deleted text end .

deleted text begin (a) deleted text end The gross vehicle weight of all axles of a vehicle or combination of vehicles must not exceed:

(1) 80,000 pounds for any vehicle or combination of vehicles on all streets and highways, unless posted at a lower axle weight under section 169.87, subdivision 1; and

(2) 88,000 pounds for any vehicle or combination of vehicles with six or more axles while exclusively engaged in hauling livestock on all state trunk highways other than interstate highways, if the vehicle has a permit under section 169.86, subdivision 5, paragraph (j).

deleted text begin (b) Notwithstanding the maximum weight provisions of this section, and in order to promote the reduction of fuel use and emissions, the maximum gross vehicle weight limits and the axle weight limits for any motor vehicle subject to sections 169.80 to 169.88 and equipped with idle reduction technology or emissions-reduction technology must be increased by the amount of weight necessary to compensate for the weight of the idle reduction technology or emissions-reduction technology, not to exceed 550 pounds. At the request of an authorized representative of the Department of Transportation or the Department of Public Safety, the vehicle operator shall provide proof that the vehicle is equipped with this technology through documentation or demonstration. deleted text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169.824, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Weight limit credits; idle- and emissions-reduction technology; natural gas vehicles. new text end

new text begin (a) Notwithstanding the maximum weight provisions of this section, the maximum gross vehicle weight limits and the axle weight limits for any motor vehicle subject to sections 169.80 to 169.88 that is equipped with idle-reduction technology or emissions-reduction technology are increased by the amount of weight necessary to compensate for the weight of the idle-reduction technology or emissions-reduction technology, not to exceed 550 pounds. new text end

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding the maximum weight provisions of this section, the maximum gross vehicle weight limits and the axle weight limits for any motor vehicle that is a natural gas vehicle and subject to sections 169.80 to 169.88 are increased by the amount of weight calculated as provided under United States Code, title 23, section 127(s), not to exceed 2,000 pounds. new text end

new text begin (c) The weight limit increases under paragraphs (a) and (b) are cumulative. new text end

new text begin (d) At the request of an authorized representative of the Department of Transportation or the Department of Public Safety, the vehicle operator must provide proof through documentation or demonstration that the vehicle meets the requirements of this subdivision. new text end

Sec. 3.

new text begin REVISOR'S INSTRUCTION. new text end

new text begin The revisor of statutes shall recodify Minnesota Statutes, section 160.02, subdivision 21a, as Minnesota Statutes, section 169.011, subdivision 46a. The revisor shall correct any cross-references made necessary by this recodification and for consistency with the changes made in Minnesota Statutes, section 169.824, subdivision 2. new text end

Presented to the governor May 19, 2016

Signed by the governor May 23, 2016, 2:34 p.m.