Flying cars, booster seats included in transportation policy law

A new law updates and clarifies various transportation policies and procedures, including around driving safely, road construction, vehicle registration, underground excavation and public transit in Greater Minnesota.

Sponsored by Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee) and Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls), the law spells out best practices for child passengers, sets strategies for reducing wait times for driver’s licenses, updates requirements pertaining to permits and helps the highway patrol recruit troopers by offering contracts comparable to other law enforcement agencies.

It takes effect Aug. 1, 2024, unless otherwise noted.

HF3436*/SF3944/CH104

Child restraint systems

The law modifies child restraint requirements when a child is transported in a motor vehicle:

• a child who is younger than age 2 must be properly restrained in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system with an internal harness, until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child passenger restraint system;

• a child who is at least age 2 who exceeds the rear-facing weight or height limit of the child passenger restraint system must be properly restrained in a forward-facing child passenger restraint system with an internal harness, until the child reaches the weight or height limit of the child passenger restraint system;

• a child who is at age 4 and exceeds the weight or height limit of the forward-facing child passenger restraint system must be properly restrained in a booster seat and secured with a safety belt;

• a child who is at least age 9 or exceeds the weight or height limit of the child passenger restraint system or the booster seat must be secured with a safety belt adjusted and fastened around the child's body to fit correctly; and

• a child younger than age 13 must be transported in the rear seat of a motor vehicle, when available, and must be properly restrained in a child passenger restraint system or booster seat or secured with a safety belt.

A child younger than age 6 or weighs less than 60 pounds must be transported in a rear seat if the vehicle has a passenger side air bag supplemental restraint system, the system is activated, and a rear seat is available.

Additionally, if the number of children under age 13 exceeds the number of age- or size-appropriate child passenger restraint systems and safety belts available in the motor vehicle, the unrestrained children must be seated in a rear seat, if rear seats are available. (Art. 1, Secs. 40-44)

Licenses, IDs

The law updates and expands many requirements and relevant documents pertaining to permits, endorsements, noncompliant licenses and REAL ID compliant licenses and identification cards. It expands documents that can be provided to show identity and residency, revises information to be provided applications, broadens eligibility for a veteran designation, and allows the release of some information for people who want to participate in the Transportation Security Administration's Registered Traveler program.

It also clarifies and amends eligibility and waiting periods to obtain a limited license following loss of driving privileges in various situations.

Additionally, it gives people the opportunity to list all those they care for, such as disabled adults, who may need a welfare check should the caretaker be in a crash. Current law only accommodates up to three people. (Art. 1, Secs. 55-72)

Flying cars

Provisions allowing registration of roadable aircraft (i.e. flying cars) are included, making Minnesota the second state after New Hampshire with a “Jetsons” law.

The provisions define roadable aircraft as “any aircraft capable of taking off and landing from a suitable airfield and that is also designed to be operated on a public highway as a motor vehicle.” They allow registration as a motor vehicle, with the vehicle’s tail number displayed in lieu of plates.

For operations, roadable aircraft are like cars unless they are at an airport, landing area or in flight. Operators may not take off or land on public roads unless it is an emergency, an exception that has been open to other light aircraft. (Art. 1, Secs. 11-12, 17, 21, 26, 27, 29, 45, 52, 54, 97)

Other Policy

Among its provisions, the law also:

• sets a 4-hour instead of 8-hour time for motor vehicle accident prevention courses taken by people 55 and older, which can be used to reduce insurance rates. This is effective July 1, 2024;

• adds three members to the Advisory Council on Traffic Safety;

• designates a bridge on U.S. Highway 212 over the Minnesota River in Granite Falls as the "Mayor Dave Smiglewski Memorial Bridge;"

• includes teardrop trailers in the definition of recreational vehicles and excludes recreational vehicles from needing a special license plate;

• effective Oct. 1, 2024, allows disclosure of leased vehicle information to licensed motor vehicle dealers as part of a sale or lease;

• prohibits towing of vehicles from a space where a meter has expired solely for having parking tickets;

• revises mandated reporting to the Department of Public Safety for crashes involving fatalities, injuries, damage to highway fixtures or involving school buses or commercial vehicles;

• if traffic allows, permits drivers to make a right-hand turn into the far lane at a reduced conflict intersection which is also known as a J-turn;

• allows a motorcycle to be equipped white ground lighting “if the bulbs or strips are not visible to operators of other vehicles; and the lights are aimed as to project a steady, non-flashing beam not more than six feet in radius directly onto the roadway and illuminate an area around the motorcycle”;

• allows farm implements to pull into the left side roadway to avoid an obstacle as long as they return to the far right as soon as possible;

• effective June 1, 2024, allows septic tank trucks responding to an emergency to exceed some weight limits;

• allows oversized trucks to carry sugar beets after harvest on a few roads in East Grand Forks;

• effective May 16, 2024, establishes a program on capital projects for Department of Transportation buildings and facilities, including to create program accounts, set project eligibility, and identify prioritization considerations;

• has MnDOT maximize long-term benefits as much as possible in its construction plans;

• allow MnDOT to promote train travel;

• sets parameters for notifications and markings as part of underground excavation, including scheduling on-site meetings among an excavator and underground facility operator;

• effective May 16, 2024, requires a multimodal transportation plan for the Minnesota State Fair be developed by Aug. 1, 2024, for implementation at this year’s fair; and

• revises provisions under MnDOT’s transit assistance program and reporting, including to update terminology, modify transit system classifications, amend aid calculation procedures, and eliminate some administrative rules. (Art. 1, Secs. 1, 3, 8, 14-15, 23, 25, 30-34, 39, 47-50, 79, 84-91, 109; Art. 2, Secs. 1-16)

HF3436* / SF3944 / CH104