1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to motor vehicles; imposing minimum fine on 
  1.3             persons who violate compulsory insurance laws by 
  1.4             operating on public streets or highways a motor 
  1.5             vehicle registered under an insurance waiver; amending 
  1.6             Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.797, subdivision 
  1.7             4. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.797, 
  1.10  subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 4.  [PENALTY.] (a) A person who violates this section 
  1.12  is guilty of a misdemeanor.  A person is guilty of a gross 
  1.13  misdemeanor who violates this section within ten years of the 
  1.14  first of two prior convictions under this section, section 
  1.15  169.791, or a statute or ordinance in conformity with one of 
  1.16  those sections.  The operator of a vehicle who violates 
  1.17  subdivision 3 and who causes or contributes to causing a vehicle 
  1.18  accident that results in the death of any person or in 
  1.19  substantial bodily harm to any person, as defined in section 
  1.20  609.02, subdivision 7a, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.  The 
  1.21  same prosecuting authority who is responsible for prosecuting 
  1.22  misdemeanor violations of this section is responsible for 
  1.23  prosecuting gross misdemeanor violations of this section.  In 
  1.24  addition to any sentence of imprisonment that the court may 
  1.25  impose on a person convicted of violating this section, the 
  1.26  court shall impose a fine of not less than $200, or in the case 
  2.1   of a person who violates this section by operating on the public 
  2.2   streets or highways a motor vehicle registered under an 
  2.3   insurance waiver a fine of not less than $300, nor more than the 
  2.4   maximum amount authorized by law.  The court may allow community 
  2.5   service in lieu of any fine imposed if the defendant is indigent.
  2.6      (b) The court may impose consecutive sentences for offenses 
  2.7   arising out of a single course of conduct as permitted in 
  2.8   section 609.035, subdivision 2. 
  2.9      (c) In addition to the criminal penalty, the driver's 
  2.10  license of an operator convicted under this section shall be 
  2.11  revoked for not more than 12 months.  If the operator is also an 
  2.12  owner of the vehicle, the registration of the vehicle shall also 
  2.13  be revoked for not more than 12 months.  Before reinstatement of 
  2.14  a driver's license or registration, the operator shall file with 
  2.15  the commissioner of public safety the written certificate of an 
  2.16  insurance carrier authorized to do business in this state 
  2.17  stating that security has been provided by the operator as 
  2.18  required by section 65B.48. 
  2.19     (d) The commissioner shall include a notice of the 
  2.20  penalties contained in this section on all forms for 
  2.21  registration of vehicles required to maintain a plan of 
  2.22  reparation security. 
  2.23     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.24     Section 1 is effective August 1, 1997, for offenses 
  2.25  committed on and after that date.