1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to public safety; increasing speed limit for implements of husbandry to
1.3 35 miles per hour; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 169.50, subdivision
1.4 1; 169.522, subdivision 1; 169.801, subdivision 6; 169.81, subdivision 5b.
1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.6 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.50, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.7 Subdivision 1.Requirements; exception.(a) Every motor vehicle and every vehicle
1.8that is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles must be equipped with at least one tail
1.9lamp, exhibiting a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear.
1.10 (b) Every motor vehicle, other than a truck-tractor, and every vehicle that is being drawn
1.11at the end of a train of vehicles, registered in this state and manufactured or assembled after
1.12January 1, 1960, must be equipped with at least two tail lamps mounted on the rear and on
1.13the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable. When lighted, the tail lamps
1.14must comply with the provisions of this section.
1.15 (c) An implement of husbandry being towed by a motor vehicle at a speed of not more
1.16than 30 35 miles per hour, displaying a slow-moving vehicle emblem, and complying with
1.17section 169.55, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (4), is not subject to the requirements
1.18of this section.
1.19 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.522, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.20 Subdivision 1.Displaying emblem; rules.(a) All animal-drawn vehicles, motorized
1.21golf carts when operated on designated roadways pursuant to section 169.045, implements
1.22of husbandry, and other machinery, including all road construction machinery, which are
1Sec. 2.
REVISOR EB/VJ 25-0043311/15/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 739
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Olson02/13/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Transportation Finance and Policy 2.1designed for operation at a speed of 30 35 miles per hour or less, must display a triangular
2.2slow-moving vehicle emblem, except (1) when being used in actual construction and
2.3maintenance work and traveling within the limits of a construction area marked in accordance
2.4with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as set forth in section 169.06, or (2)
2.5for a towed implement of husbandry that is empty and that is not self-propelled, in which
2.6case it may be towed at lawful speeds greater than 30 35 miles per hour without removing
2.7the slow-moving vehicle emblem. The emblem must consist of a fluorescent or illuminated
2.8red-orange triangle with a dark red reflective border and be mounted so as to be visible from
2.9a distance of not less than 600 feet to the rear. When a primary power unit towing an
2.10implement of husbandry or other machinery displays a slow-moving vehicle emblem visible
2.11from a distance of 600 feet to the rear, it is not necessary to display a similar emblem on
2.12the secondary unit. All slow-moving vehicle emblems sold in this state must be so designed
2.13that when properly mounted they are visible from a distance of not less than 600 feet to the
2.14rear when directly in front of lawful lower beam of headlamps on a motor vehicle. The
2.15commissioner of public safety shall adopt standards and specifications for the design and
2.16position of mounting the slow-moving vehicle emblem. Such standards and specifications
2.17must be adopted by rule in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
2.18 (b) An alternate slow-moving vehicle emblem consisting of a dull black triangle with a
2.19white reflective border may be used after obtaining a permit from the commissioner under
2.20rules of the commissioner. A person with a permit to use an alternate slow-moving vehicle
2.21emblem must:
2.22 (1) carry in the vehicle a regular slow-moving vehicle emblem and display the emblem
2.23when operating a vehicle between sunset and sunrise, and at any other time when visibility
2.24is impaired by weather, smoke, fog, or other conditions; and
2.25 (2) permanently affix to the rear of the slow-moving vehicle at least 72 square inches
2.26of reflective tape that reflects the color red.
2.27 (c) In addition to the emblem requirement under this subdivision, an animal-drawn
2.28vehicle must comply with section 169.58, subdivision 6.
2.29 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.801, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
2.30 Subd. 6.Speed.No person may operate or tow an implement of husbandry at a speed
2.31of more than 30 35 miles per hour.
2Sec. 3.
REVISOR EB/VJ 25-0043311/15/24 3.1 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 169.81, subdivision 5b, is amended to read:
3.2 Subd. 5b.Securing load; exceptions.(a) The driver of a vehicle transporting sand,
3.3gravel, aggregate, dirt, lime rock, silica, or similar material shall ensure that the cargo
3.4compartment of the vehicle is securely covered if:
3.5 (1) the vertical distance from the top of an exterior wall of the cargo compartment to
3.6the load, when measured downward along the inside surface of the wall, is less than six
3.7inches; or
3.8 (2) the horizontal distance from the top of an exterior wall of the cargo compartment to
3.9the load is less than two feet.
3.10 (b) The driver shall not operate a vehicle to transport sand, gravel, aggregate, dirt, lime
3.11rock, silica, or similar material in or on any part of the vehicle other than in the cargo
3.12container. The driver shall clean the vehicle of loose sand, gravel, aggregate, dirt, lime rock,
3.13silica, or similar material before the vehicle is moved on a road, street, or highway following
3.14loading or unloading.
3.15 (c) A driver of a vehicle used to transport garbage, rubbish, trash, debris, or similar
3.16material is not required to cover the transported material as long as (1) the vehicle is being
3.17operated at a speed less than 30 35 miles per hour, (2) the vehicle is not being operated on
3.18an interstate highway, and (3) no part of the load escapes from the vehicle. A driver shall
3.19immediately retrieve material that escapes from the vehicle, when safe to do so.
3Sec. 4.
REVISOR EB/VJ 25-0043311/15/24