M.S.A. § 169.57. Vehicle signals
Subdivision 1. Stoplights. (a) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under this
chapter, shall be equipped with at least two stop lamps on the rear which shall emit a red or
yellow light and which shall be actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake and which
may, but need not be, incorporated with the tail lamps and which shall be plainly visible and
understandable from a distance of 100 feet to the rear during normal sunlight and at night.
(b) No person shall sell or offer for sale or operate on the highways any motor vehicle
registered in this state and manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1960, unless it is
equipped with at least two stop lamps meeting the requirements of this subdivision, except
that a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or truck-tractor manufactured or assembled after said
date shall be equipped with at least one stop lamp meeting the requirements of this
subdivision.
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M.S.A. § 169.64. Prohibited lights; exceptions
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Subd. 4. Blue light. (a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) to (d), blue lights are prohibited on
all vehicles except road maintenance equipment and snow removal equipment operated by or
under contract to the state or a political subdivision thereof.
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(d) A motor vehicle may display a blue light of up to one-inch diameter as part of the vehicle's
rear brake light if:
(1) the vehicle is a collector vehicle, as described in section 168.10; or
(2) the vehicle is eligible to display a collector plate under section 168.10.
M.S.A. § 169.73. Bumpers, safeguards
Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) As used in this section, “private passenger vehicle” means a fourwheeled
passenger automobile as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 24; a van as defined
in section 168.002, subdivision 40; a pickup truck as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 26;
and a jeep-type automobile or other multipurpose vehicle. “Private passenger vehicle” does
not include a collector vehicle or collector military vehicle as defined in section 168.10.
(b) “Suspension system” includes both the front and rear wheels and tires of a vehicle as
specified in subdivision 3.
Subd. 2. Bumper requirement. All private passenger vehicles shall be equipped with front and
rear bumpers, except that pickup trucks and vans shall be equipped with front bumpers and
with either rear bumpers or reflectors.
Subd. 3. Bumper restrictions. No person shall operate a private passenger vehicle that: (a) was
originally equipped with bumpers as standard equipment, unless the vehicle is equipped with
bumpers equal to the original equipment; or (b) has a suspension system or body so modified
that the height of the vehicle or any bumpers varies more than six inches from the original
manufactured height for the vehicle.
Subd. 4. Maximum bumper height. (a) Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in subdivision
3, bumpers required under this section shall not exceed a height of (1) 20 inches on any
passenger automobile or station wagon or (2) 25 inches on any four-wheel drive multipurpose
type vehicle, van as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 40, or pickup truck as defined in
section 168.002, subdivision 26, when the vehicle is being operated on a public highway. The
height of the bumper shall be determined by measuring from the bottom of the bumper,
excluding any vertical bumper attachments, to the ground. A vehicle which has an original
bumper which does not exceed a height of 30 inches may be modified by attaching a full width
bumper to the regular bumper to meet the height requirement. The attached bumper must be
at least 4.5 inches in vertical height, be centered on the vehicle's centerline, extend at least ten
inches on either side of the frame, and be attached to the frame in at least four places with
angle braces at no less than 45 degrees so that it effectively transfers impact to an extent equal
to or greater than the original bumper.
(b) Competent evidence that a vehicle was originally manufactured with bumpers higher than
prescribed in this subdivision shall be an affirmative defense in any action under this section.
Subd. 4a. Rear-end protection for other vehicles. (a) Vehicles other than private passenger
vehicles, collector vehicles, collector military vehicles, and other vehicles specifically exempted
by law from such requirements must meet the rear-end protection requirements of federal
motor carrier regulations, Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, section 393.86.
(b) Notwithstanding contrary regulations cited in paragraph (a), a truck-tractor and semitrailer
combination with a semitrailer length longer than 50 feet whose frame or body extends more
than 36 inches beyond the rear of its rearmost axle must not be operated on the highways of
this state unless equipped with a bumper or underride guard on the extreme rear of the frame
or body. The bumper or underride guard must:
(1) provide a continuous horizontal beam having a maximum ground clearance of 22 inches, as
measured with the vehicle empty and on level ground; and
(2) extend to within four inches of the lateral extremities of the semitrailer on both left and
right sides.
Subd. 5. Misdemeanor. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
M.S.A. § 239.791. Oxygenated gasoline
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Subd. 12. Exemption for collector vehicle and off-road use. (a) A person responsible for the
product may offer for sale, sell, or dispense at a retail gasoline station for use in collector
vehicles or vehicles eligible to be licensed as collector vehicles, off-road vehicles, motorcycles,
boats, snowmobiles, or small engines, gasoline that is not oxygenated in accordance with
subdivision 1 if the person meets the conditions in paragraphs (b) to (d). If the nonoxygenated
gasoline is for use in a small engine, it must be dispensed into a can with a capacity of six or
fewer gallons.
(b) The nonoxygenated gasoline must be unleaded premium grade as defined in section
239.751, subdivision 4.
(c) No more than one storage tank on the premises of the retail gasoline station may be used
for storage of the nonoxygenated gasoline offered for sale, sold, or dispensed by the station.
(d) The pump stands must be posted with a permanent notice stating:
“NONOXYGENATED GASOLINE. FOR USE IN COLLECTOR VEHICLES OR VEHICLES ELIGIBLE TO BE
LICENSED AS COLLECTOR VEHICLES, OFF-ROAD VEHICLES, MOTORCYCLES, BOATS,
SNOWMOBILES, OR SMALL ENGINES ONLY.”
This notice must be posted at least two feet above the ground. A retail gasoline station that
sells nonoxygenated premium gasoline as defined in section 239.791, subdivision 15, must
register every two years with the director, or an entity appointed by the director, on forms
approved by the director, the total amount of nonoxygenated premium gasoline sold annually.
M.S.A. § 169.62. Certain lights permitted on old motor vehicles
Headlamps arranged to provide a single distribution of light not supplemented by auxiliary
driving lamps shall be permitted on motor vehicles manufactured and sold prior to January 1,
1938, in lieu of multiple-beam road-lighting equipment herein specified if the single distribution
of light complies with the following requirements and limitations:
(a) The headlamps shall be so aimed that when the vehicle is fully loaded none of the highintensity
portion of the lamp beam rises above a horizontal plane passing through the
headlamp centers parallel to the level surface upon which the vehicle stands, and in no case
higher than 42 inches above the level on which the vehicle stands at a distance of 75 and more
feet ahead.
(b) The intensity shall be sufficient to reveal persons and vehicles at a distance of at least 200
feet.
M.S.A. § 169.686. Seat belt use required; penalty
Subdivision 1. Seat belt requirement. (a) Except as provided in section 169.685, a properly
adjusted and fastened seat belt, including both the shoulder and lap belt when the vehicle is so
equipped, shall be worn by the driver and passengers of a passenger vehicle, commercial motor
vehicle, type III vehicle, and type III Head Start vehicle. Notwithstanding the equipment
exemption in section 169.685, subdivision 1, this paragraph applies to the driver and
passengers of an autocycle equipped with seat belts.
(b) A person who is 15 years of age or older and who violates paragraph (a) is subject to a fine
of $25. The driver of the vehicle in which a violation occurs is subject to a $25 fine for each
violation of paragraph (a) by the driver or by a passenger under the age of 15, but the court
may not impose more than one surcharge under section 357.021, subdivision 6, on the driver.
The Department of Public Safety shall not record a violation of this subdivision on a person's
driving record.
(c) The driver of a bus is not subject to the fine under paragraph (b) for a violation of paragraph
(a) by a passenger under the age of 15. This paragraph does not apply to (1) a school bus,
including a type III vehicle; and (2) a Head Start bus, including a type III Head Start vehicle.
Subd. 1a. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings
given.
(b) “Passenger vehicle” means:
(1) a passenger automobile defined in section 168.002, subdivision 24;
(2) a pickup truck;
(3) a van;
(4) a commuter van, as defined in section 168.126; and
(5) a recreational vehicle, as defined in section 168.002, subdivision 27.
(c) “Passenger vehicle” does not include a motorcycle, motorized bicycle, bus, school bus, a
vehicle designed to operate exclusively on railroad tracks, a farm truck as defined in section
168.002, subdivision 8, or special mobile equipment as defined in section 168.002, subdivision
31.
(d) “Pickup truck” means a truck, regardless of manufacturer's nominal rated carrying capacity,
that is commonly known as a pickup truck.
(e) “Van” means a vehicle, regardless of the manufacturer's nominal rated carrying capacity, of
a box-like design that (1) has no barrier or separation between the operator's area and the
remainder of the cargo-carrying area, or (2) is designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers,
including the driver.
Subd. 2. Seat belt exemptions. This section shall not apply to:
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(6) a person