1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to motor vehicles; clarifying definition of motor vehicle;amending 
1.3 	Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 65B.43, subdivision 2; 169.09, subdivision 5a.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 65B.43, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
1.6 		Subd. 2.Motor vehicle. "Motor vehicle" means every vehicle, other than a 
1.7 	motorcycle or other vehicle with fewer than four wheels, which (a) is required to be 
1.8 	registered pursuant to chapter 168, and (b) is designed to be self-propelled by an engine or 
1.9 	motor for use primarily upon public roads, highways or streets in the transportation of 
1.10 	persons or property, and includes a trailer with one or more wheels, when the trailer is 
1.11 	connected to or being towed by a motor vehicle, in which case the combination of the 
1.12 	single self-propelled vehicle and one or more trailers is considered a single motor vehicle 
1.13 	for purposes of this definition.

1.14 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.09, subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
1.15 		Subd. 5a.Driver deemed agent of owner. Whenever anyIf a motor vehicle 
1.16 	shall beis operated within this state, by anyby a person other than the owner, with the 
1.17 	express or implied consent of the owner, express or implied, the operator thereof shall,
1.18 	in case of accident, beis deemed the agent of the owner of suchthe motor vehicle in the
1.19 	its operation thereof. For a single self-propelled vehicle connected to or towing one or 
1.20 	more trailers, the operator of the motor vehicle is deemed to be an agent of the owner of 
1.21 	the self-propelled portion of the motor vehicle combination, and not an agent of the owner 
1.22 	of the trailer portion of the motor vehicle combination.