1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to traffic regulations; authorizing local
1.3 	governments to permit low-speed neighborhood electric
1.4 	vehicles to be operated on residential roadways;
1.5 	making clarifying changes; amending Minnesota Statutes
1.6 	2004, sections 168.011, subdivision 4; 168.012,
1.7 	subdivision 3a; 169.01, by adding a subdivision;
1.8 	169.045.
1.9 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.10 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.011,
1.11 	subdivision 4, is amended to read:
1.12 		Subd. 4.Motor vehicle.  (a) "Motor vehicle" means any
1.13 	self-propelled vehicle designed and originally manufactured to
1.14 	operate primarily upon public roads and highways, and not
1.15 	operated exclusively upon railroad tracks.  It includes any
1.16 	vehicle propelled or drawn by a self-propelled vehicle and
1.17 	includes vehicles known as trackless trolleys that are propelled
1.18 	by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not
1.19 	operated upon rails.  It does not include snowmobiles,
1.20 	manufactured homes, or park trailers.
1.21 	(b) "Motor vehicle" also includes an all-terrain vehicle,
1.22 	as defined in section 84.92, subdivision 8, that (1) has at
1.23 	least four wheels, (2) is owned and operated by a physically
1.24 	disabled person, and (3) displays both physically disabled
1.25 	license plates and a physically disabled certificate issued
1.26 	under section 169.345, subdivision 3.
1.27 	(c) "Motor vehicle" does not include an all-terrain vehicle
2.1 	as defined in section 84.92, subdivision 8; except (1) an
2.2 	all-terrain vehicle described in paragraph (b), or (2) an
2.3 	all-terrain vehicle licensed as a motor vehicle before August 1,
2.4 	1985.  The owner may continue to license an all-terrain vehicle
2.5 	described in clause (2) as a motor vehicle until it is conveyed
2.6 	or otherwise transferred to another owner, is destroyed, or
2.7 	fails to comply with the registration and licensing requirements
2.8 	of this chapter.
2.9 	(d) "Motor vehicle" does not include an electric personal
2.10 	assistive mobility device as defined in section 169.01,
2.11 	subdivision 90.
2.12 	(e) "Motor vehicle" does not include a neighborhood
2.13 	electric vehicle, as defined in section 169.01, subdivision 91.

2.14 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 168.012,
2.15 	subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
2.16 		Subd. 3a.Special permits.  Motorized golf carts,
2.17 	neighborhood electric vehicles,and four-wheel,all-terrain
2.18 	vehicles operated under permit and on roadways designated
2.19 	pursuant to section 169.045 are exempt from the provisions of
2.20 	this chapter.

2.21 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.01, is
2.22 	amended by adding a subdivision to read:
2.23 		Subd. 91.Neighborhood electric vehicle. "Neighborhood
2.24 	electric vehicle" means an electrically powered vehicle that has
2.25 	four wheels in contact with the ground, that has an unladen
2.26 	weight of less than 1,900 pounds, that is designed to and does
2.27 	operate at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour, and that can
2.28 	carry no more than four persons, including the driver.

2.29 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 169.045, is
2.30 	amended to read:
2.31 	169.045 SPECIAL VEHICLE USE ON ROADWAY.
2.32 		Subdivision 1.Designation of roadway, permit. (a) The
2.33 	governing body of any county, home rule charter or statutory
2.34 	city, or town may by ordinance authorize the operation of:
2.35 	(1) motorized golf carts~~,~~or four-wheel,all-terrain
2.36 	vehicles~~,~~on designated roadways or portions thereof under its
3.1 	jurisdiction; and 
3.2 	(2) neighborhood electric vehicles that meet federal motor
3.3 	vehicle safety standard 500 under Code of Federal Regulations,
3.4 	title 49, section 571.500, on designated roadways having a
3.5 	maximum speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less under its
3.6 	jurisdiction.
3.7 	(b) Authorization to operate a motorized golf cart,
3.8 	neighborhood electric vehicle,or four-wheel,all-terrain
3.9 	vehicle is by permit only.
3.10 	(c) For purposes of this section, a four-wheel,all-terrain
3.11 	vehicle is a motorized,flotation-tired vehicle with four
3.12 	low-pressure tires that is limited in engine displacement of
3.13 	less than 800 cubic centimeters and total dry weight less than
3.14 	600 pounds.
3.15 		Subd. 2.Ordinance. (a) The ordinance ~~shall~~ must 
3.16 	designate the roadways, prescribe the form of the application
3.17 	for the permit, and require evidence of insurance complying with
3.18 	the provisions of section 65B.48, subdivision 5~~and~~ .
3.19 	(b) The ordinance may prescribe conditions, not
3.20 	inconsistent with the provisions of this section, under which a
3.21 	permit may be granted.  Permits may be granted for a period of
3.22 	not to exceed one year, and may be annually renewed.  A permit
3.23 	may be revoked at any time if there is evidence that the
3.24 	permittee cannot safely operate the motorized golf cart,
3.25 	neighborhood electric vehicle,or four-wheel,all-terrain
3.26 	vehicle on the designated roadways.  The ordinance may require,
3.27 	as a condition to obtaining a permit, that the applicant submit
3.28 	a certificate signed by a physician that the applicant is able
3.29 	to safely operate a motorized golf cart, neighborhood electric
3.30 	vehicle,or four-wheel,all-terrain vehicle on the roadways
3.31 	designated.
3.32 		Subd. 3.Times of operation. Motorized golf carts and
3.33 	four-wheel,all-terrain vehicles may only be operated on
3.34 	designated roadways from sunrise to sunset.  They ~~shall~~ must not
3.35 	be operated in inclement weather or when visibility is impaired
3.36 	by weather, smoke, fog,or other conditions, or at any time when
4.1 	there is insufficient light to clearly see persons and vehicles
4.2 	on the roadway at a distance of 500 feet.
4.3 		Subd. 4.Slow-moving vehicle emblem. Motorized golf
4.4 	carts ~~shall~~ must display the slow-moving vehicle emblem provided
4.5 	for in section 169.522, when operated on designated roadways.
4.6 		Subd. 5.Crossing intersecting highways. The operator,
4.7 	under permit, of a motorized golf cart, neighborhood electric
4.8 	vehicle,or four-wheel,all-terrain vehicle may cross any street
4.9 	or highway intersecting a designated roadway.
4.10 		Subd. 6.Application of traffic laws. Every person
4.11 	operating a motorized golf cart, neighborhood electric vehicle,
4.12 	or four-wheel,all-terrain vehicle under permit on designated
4.13 	roadways has all the rights and duties applicable to the driver
4.14 	of any other vehicle under the provisions of this chapter,
4.15 	except when those provisions cannot reasonably be applied to
4.16 	motorized golf carts, neighborhood electric vehicles,or
4.17 	four-wheel,all-terrain vehicles and except as otherwise
4.18 	specifically provided in subdivision 7.
4.19 		Subd. 7.Nonapplication of certain laws. (a) The
4.20 	provisions of chapter 171~~,~~are not applicable to persons
4.21 	operating motorized golf carts, neighborhood electric vehicles,
4.22 	or four-wheel,all-terrain vehicles under permit on designated
4.23 	roadways pursuant to this section. ~~Except for the requirements~~
4.24 	~~of section 169.70,~~
4.25 	(b) The provisions of this chapter relating to equipment on
4.26 	vehicles ~~is~~ are not applicable to:
4.27 	(1) motorized golf carts or four-wheel,all-terrain
4.28 	vehicles operating, under permit, on designated roadways, except
4.29 	for the requirements of section 169.70; and 
4.30 	(2) neighborhood electric vehicles operating, under permit,
4.31 	on designated roadways described in subdivision 1, but they are
4.32 	subject to the equipment requirements of Code of Federal
4.33 	Regulations, title 49, section 571.500.
4.34 		Subd. 8.Insurance. In the event persons operating a
4.35 	motorized golf cart, neighborhood electric vehicle,or
4.36 	four-wheel, all-terrain vehicle under this section cannot obtain
5.1 	liability insurance in the private market, that person may
5.2 	purchase automobile insurance, including no-fault coverage, from
5.3 	the Minnesota Automobile Assigned Risk Plan at a rate to be
5.4 	determined by the commissioner of commerce.