1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to traffic regulations; regulating vehicle-mounted digital signs; making 
1.3 	technical changes;amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 169.011, by 
1.4 	adding a subdivision; 169.55, subdivision 1; 169.58, subdivision 4, by adding a 
1.5 	subdivision; 169.64, subdivision 4, by adding a subdivision; Minnesota Statutes 
1.6 	2009 Supplement, section 169.71, subdivision 1.
1.7 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.8 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.011, is amended by adding a 
1.9 	subdivision to read:
1.10 		Subd. 92a.Vehicle-mounted digital sign. (a) "Vehicle-mounted digital sign" 
1.11 	means a sign that:
1.12 	(1) is mounted in the interior or on the exterior of a vehicle;
1.13 	(2) is primarily intended to convey advertising, messages, or other information to 
1.14 	operators and passengers of vehicles located in the vicinity of the vehicle in or on which 
1.15 	the sign is mounted;
1.16 	(3) is capable of digitally displaying static or moving content, including but not 
1.17 	limited to text, images, animation, flashing lights, graphics, or video; and
1.18 	(4) displays programmable content that can be controlled or changed through 
1.19 	electronic or wireless communication.
1.20 	(b) A vehicle-mounted digital sign is not an advertising device, as defined in section 
1.21 	173.02, subdivision 16, for purposes of chapter 173.

1.22 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.55, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.23 		Subdivision 1.Lights or reflectors required. (a) At the times when lighted lamps 
1.24 	on vehicles are required each vehicle including an animal-drawn vehicle and any vehicle 
2.1 	specifically excepted in sections 169.47 to 169.79, with respect to equipment and not 
2.2 	hereinbefore specifically required to be equipped with lamps, shall be equipped with one 
2.3 	or more lighted lamps or lanterns projecting a white light visible from a distance of 500 
2.4 	feet to the front of the vehicle and with a lamp or lantern exhibiting a red light visible from 
2.5 	a distance of 500 feet to the rear, except that reflectors meeting the maximum requirements 
2.6 	of this chapter may be used in lieu of the lights required in this subdivision.
2.7 	(b)~~It shall be unlawful except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, to project a~~ 
2.8 	~~white light to the rear of any such vehicle while traveling on any street or highway, unless~~ 
2.9 	~~such vehicle is moving in reverse. A lighting device mounted on top of a vehicle engaged~~ 
2.10 	~~in deliveries to residences may project a white light to the rear if the sign projects one~~ 
2.11 	~~or more additional colors to the rear.~~ An authorized emergency vehicle may display an 
2.12 	oscillating, alternating, or rotating white light used in connection with an oscillating, 
2.13 	alternating, or rotating red light when responding to emergency calls.  

2.14 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.58, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
2.15 		Subd. 4.Lighted sign on delivery vehicle. A vehicle engaged in deliveries to 
2.16 	residences may display a lighting device mounted on top of the vehicle, which may:
2.17 	(1) project a red light to the front if the sign projects one or more additional colors to 
2.18 	the front; and
2.19 	(2) project a white light to the rear if the sign projects one or more additional 
2.20 	colors to the rear.

2.21 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.58, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.22 	to read:
2.23 		Subd. 5.Vehicle-mounted digital sign. (a) A vehicle may display a 
2.24 	vehicle-mounted digital sign, if:
2.25 	(1) the sign does not display moving content, including but not limited to moving 
2.26 	text, moving images, animation, flashing lights, or video;
2.27 	(2) the content displayed by the sign changes no more frequently than once every 
2.28 	eight seconds;
2.29 	(3) each transition or change in content displayed by the sign is as near as feasible to 
2.30 	instantaneous;
2.31 	(4) the luminescence of the sign is less than that of tail lamps and turn signals on 
2.32 	the vehicle, in both daytime and nighttime;
3.1 	(5) the sign does not partially or completely block the front windshield, a sidewing, 
3.2 	or a side window on the driver's side or passenger's side located nearest to the front 
3.3 	windshield or used in viewing an exterior rearview mirror;
3.4 	(6) the sign does not partially or completely block a lamp or reflector required under 
3.5 	this chapter, including but not limited to a headlamp, tail lamp, stop lamp, turn signal, 
3.6 	or hazard light;
3.7 	(7) the sign complies with the prohibitions on advertising devices under sections 
3.8 	173.15, clauses (1) to (3), and 173.16, subdivision 3; and
3.9 	(8) for a sign mounted in the rear window of the vehicle:
3.10 	(i) the vehicle is equipped with an exterior rearview mirror mounted on the driver's 
3.11 	side of the vehicle and an exterior rearview mirror mounted on the passenger's side of the 
3.12 	vehicle, and each mirror is so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a 
3.13 	distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle; and
3.14 	(ii) the sign does not completely block visibility by the driver through the rear 
3.15 	window.
3.16 	(b) Paragraph (a), clause (1), does not apply when the sign is mounted in or on 
3.17 	an authorized emergency vehicle. 
3.18 	(c) A vehicle-mounted digital sign under this subdivision may project a white light 
3.19 	or blue light to the rear if the sign projects one or more additional colors to the rear.

3.20 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.64, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
3.21 		Subd. 4.Blue light. (a) ~~Except as provided in paragraphs (b) to (d),~~ Blue lights 
3.22 	are prohibited on all vehicles except (1) road maintenance equipment and snow removal 
3.23 	equipment operated by or under contract to the state or a political subdivision thereof, and 
3.24 	(2) as provided in this subdivision.
3.25 	(b) Authorized emergency vehicles may display flashing blue lights to the rear of 
3.26 	the vehicle as a warning signal in combination with other lights permitted or required by 
3.27 	this chapter. In addition, authorized emergency vehicles may display, mounted on the 
3.28 	passenger side only, flashing blue lights to the front of the vehicle as a warning signal in 
3.29 	combination with other lights permitted or required by this chapter.
3.30 	(c) A motorcycle may display a blue light of up to one-inch diameter as part of 
3.31 	the motorcycle's rear brake light.
3.32 	(d) A motor vehicle may display a blue light of up to one-inch diameter as part of 
3.33 	the vehicle's rear brake light if:
3.34 	(1) the vehicle is a collector vehicle, as described in section 168.10; or 
3.35 	(2) the vehicle is eligible to display a collector plate under section 168.10. 
4.1 	(e) A vehicle may display a blue light as provided in section 169.58, subdivision 5, 
4.2 	paragraph (b).

4.3 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 169.64, is amended by adding a subdivision 
4.4 	to read:
4.5 		Subd. 4a.White light displayed to rear of vehicle. A vehicle, including an 
4.6 	implement of husbandry and an animal-drawn vehicle, may not project a white light to 
4.7 	the rear of the vehicle while traveling on any street or highway, unless (1) the vehicle is 
4.8 	moving in reverse, or (2) as authorized in this chapter.

4.9 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 169.71, subdivision 1, is 
4.10 	amended to read:
4.11 		Subdivision 1.Prohibitions generally; exceptions. (a) A person shall not drive or 
4.12 	operate any motor vehicle with:
4.13 	(1) a windshield cracked or discolored to an extent to limit or obstruct proper vision;
4.14 	(2) any objects suspended between the driver and the windshield, other than:
4.15 	(i) sun visors;
4.16 	(ii) rearview mirrors;
4.17 	(iii) global positioning systems or navigation systems when mounted or located near 
4.18 	the bottommost portion of the windshield; and
4.19 	(iv) electronic toll collection devices; or
4.20 	(3) any sign, poster, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, 
4.21 	sidewings, or side or rear windows of the vehicle, other than a certificate or other paper 
4.22 	required to be so displayed by law or authorized by the state director of the Division of 
4.23 	Emergency Management or the commissioner of public safety.
4.24 	(b) Paragraph (a), clauses (2) and (3), do not apply to law enforcement vehicles.
4.25 	(c) Paragraph (a), clause (2), does not apply to authorized emergency vehicles.
4.26 	(d) Paragraph (a), clause (3), does not apply to a vehicle-mounted digital sign that 
4.27 	meets the requirements under section 169.58, subdivision 5.