Committee Hears Bill to Allow Mini Trucks on Local Roads

A bill that would allow operation of mini trucks on local roads as passenger automobiles had its first hearing in the House on Tuesday, Feb. 5.
(Published Feb 8, 2013)

A bill that would allow operation of mini trucks on local roads as passenger automobiles has been introduced in the House and Senate and had its first hearing in the House on Tuesday, Feb. 5. HF 138 (Rep. Nornes, R-Fergus Falls), requires titling and a vehicle identification number (VIN). It also specifies mini truck required equipment, operation, restrictions, and prohibitions.

The bill was heard in the House Transportation Policy Committee and was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus transportation policy bill.

The League testified with concerns about the proposal since it changes the existing law prohibiting mini-trucks on local roads unless explicitly allowed by the road authority. Although the bill provides that a local road authority may by ordinance prohibit the operation of a mini truck on streets and highways under the local road authority's jurisdiction, they no longer have the authority to issue permits for mini-truck use. The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, the Association of Minnesota Counties and the Minnesota Department of Transportation also testified against the bill.

The Senate companion to HF 138, SF 67 (Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria), has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

Questions? Contact Anne Finn at afinn@lmc.org or at (651)281-1263.

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