ST. PAUL – A number of new state laws take effect as of Jan. 1, 2016, including one which requires drivers to provide proof of insurance when renewing license tabs.
Citizens, when applying for motor vehicle or motorcycle registration or transfer of ownership, must provide proof that the motor vehicle or motorcycle is covered by an insurance policy. Under the new law, required information includes the insurance company’s name, the policy number and the policy expiration date.
Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Acton Township, said the change in law is an attempt to reduce the number of uninsured motorists on Minnesota's roadways.
"Reports show approximately 10 percent of Minnesota's drivers do not carry auto insurance, which ultimately results in higher premiums for those who do," Urdahl said. "This is another checkpoint where the state can verify drivers are adhering to the law requiring people on our roadways to be insured."
Another new law related to drivers taking effect requires law enforcement agencies to develop policies regarding data collected by automated license plate readers. Urdahl said this is in response to data privacy issues which have been raised and the new law requires agencies to, by Jan. 15, establish and enforce a written policy governing use of the reader, including employee discipline standards for unauthorized access to the data.
New law also adds intractable pain to the medical cannabis use list, and makes long-term care policy changes designed to assist those with disability income. The provision addressing disability income indicates policy providers with a standard of review will no longer be allowed to indiscriminately deny claims for services for which the enrollee otherwise is entitled.
Information regarding these and other state laws is available at www.house.mn/newlaws.
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