1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; exempting towing and recovery vehicles from certain 
1.3 	motor vehicle weight limitations; making technical changes;proposing coding for 
1.4 	new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 169; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2022, 
1.5 	sections 168B.15; 169.829, subdivision 2.
1.6 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.7 	Section 1. [169.8296] WEIGHT LIMITS; TOWING AND RECOVERY VEHICLE.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Annual permit. The commissioner may issue permits to an applicant 
1.9 	who pays a single $300 annual fee to cover all tow trucks and towing vehicles owned by 
1.10 	the applicant and who meets any other conditions prescribed by the commissioner. The 
1.11 	permit authorizes the tow truck or towing vehicle, when towing a disabled or damaged 
1.12 	vehicle to a place of repair or safekeeping, to exceed the length and weight limitations of 
1.13 	this chapter.
1.14 		Subd. 2.Applicability with urgent movement. Sections 169.823 to 169.828 do not 
1.15 	apply to a tow truck or towing vehicle when towing a disabled or damaged vehicle and the 
1.16 	movement is (1) urgent, and (2) for the purpose of removing the disabled vehicle from the 
1.17 	roadway to a place of repair or safekeeping. A permit is not required for a vehicle operating 
1.18 	under this subdivision.
1.19 		Subd. 3.Seasonal load restrictions; exemption. (a) For purposes of this subdivision, 
1.20 	"recovery vehicle" means a vehicle equipped with a boom that is used to move or recover 
1.21 	an inoperable vehicle.
1.22 	(b) The seasonal load restrictions under section 169.87, subdivisions 1 and 2, do not 
1.23 	apply to a tow truck, towing vehicle, or a recovery vehicle that does not exceed a weight 
2.1 	of 20,000 pounds per single axle and is being operated for the purpose of towing or 
2.2 	recovering another vehicle that:
2.3 	(1) is involved in a vehicle crash or is inoperable and is located within a public road 
2.4 	right-of-way; or
2.5 	(2) has entered a public body of water adjacent to the roadway.

2.6 	Sec. 2. REPEALER.
 2.7 	Minnesota Statutes 2022, sections 168B.15; and 169.829, subdivision 2, are repealed.

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: 23-02756 

168B.15 TOW TRUCK PERMIT.
The commissioner of transportation may issue permits to an applicant who pays a single $300 annual fee to cover all tow trucks and towing vehicles owned by the applicant and meets any other conditions prescribed by the commissioner. The permit authorizes the tow truck or towing vehicle, when towing a disabled or damaged vehicle to a place of repair or to a place of safekeeping, to exceed the length and weight limitations of chapter 169. 

169.829 WEIGHT LIMITS NOT APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN VEHICLES.Subd. 2.Tow truck. 
Sections 169.823 to 169.828 do not apply to a tow truck or towing vehicle when towing a disabled or damaged vehicle, when the movement is urgent, and when the movement is for the purpose of removing the disabled vehicle from the roadway to a place of safekeeping or to a place of repair.