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168.013

Statute ID: 2884

Statute Function ID: 19320

Motor Vehicle Registration - Rate of Tax

In Effect

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Statute Number:

168.013

Enactment Date:

Jan 1, 1859

Effective Date:

Jan 1, 1859

Expiration Date:

Repealed?:

Summary Text:

Motor Vehicle Registration - Rate of Tax

Statute ID:

2884

Created:

Sep 1, 2006 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Updated:

Sep 1, 2006 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Last Update Action:

System

Legal Analyst Comment:

Summary Text:

Motor Vehicle Registration - Rate of Tax

Link to MN Statute Text:

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/168/013.html

Legislative Session:

2005 - NA

Session Law Text?:

Statute text last updated on:

Sep 1, 2006

Subd. 3.   
(a) The applicant for all licenses based on gross weight shall state the unloaded weight of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer and the maximum load the applicant proposes to carry on it, the sum of which constitutes the gross weight upon which the license tax must be paid. However, the declared gross weight upon which the tax is paid must not be less than 1-1/4 times the declared unloaded weight of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to be registered, except recreational vehicles taxed under subdivision 1g, school buses taxed under subdivision 18, and tow trucks or towing vehicles defined in section 168B.011, subdivision 12a. The gross weight of a tow truck or towing vehicle is the actual weight of the tow truck or towing vehicle fully equipped, but does not include the weight of a wrecked or disabled vehicle towed or drawn by the tow truck or towing vehicle.

(b) Except as provided by special permit issued under section 169.86, the gross weight of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer must not exceed the gross weight upon which the license tax has been paid by more than four percent or 1,000 pounds, whichever is greater; provided that, a vehicle transporting unfinished forest products on a highway, other than a highway that is part of the system of interstate and defense highways, unless a federal exemption is granted, in accordance with paragraph (d)(3):

(1) shall not exceed its gross vehicle weight upon which the license tax has been paid, or gross axle weight on any axle, by more than five percent and, notwithstanding other law to the contrary, is not subject to any fee, fine, or other assessment or penalty for exceeding a gross vehicle or axle weight by up to five percent. This clause applies year round to suppliers of unfinished forest products to mills; and

(2) is not subject to any provision of paragraph (d) or chapter 169 limiting the gross axle weight of any individual axle unless the entire vehicle also exceeds its gross vehicle weight plus its weight allowance allowed in clause (1) and plus any weight allowance permitted under section 169.826 or 169.8261, in which case the vehicle is subject to all applicable penalties for excess weight violations.

(c) The gross weight of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer for which the license tax is paid must be indicated by a distinctive character on the license plate or plates except as provided in subdivision 12 or section 169.86, subdivision 5a, as applicable, and the plate or plates must be kept clean and clearly visible at all times.

(d) The owner, driver, or user of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer, upon conviction for transporting a gross weight in excess of the gross weight for which it was registered or for operating a vehicle with an axle weight exceeding the maximum lawful axle load weight, is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to increased registration or reregistration according to the following schedule:

(1) Upon conviction for transporting a gross weight in excess of the gross weight for which a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is registered by more than the allowance set forth in paragraph (b) but less than 25 percent, or for operating or using a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer with an axle weight exceeding the maximum lawful axle load as provided in sections 169.822 to 169.829 by more than the allowance set forth in paragraph (b) but less than 25 percent, the owner, driver, or user of the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer used to commit the violation, in addition to any penalty imposed for the misdemeanor, shall apply to the registrar to increase the authorized gross weight to be carried on the vehicle to a weight equal to or greater than the gross weight the owner, driver, or user was convicted of carrying. The increase is computed for the balance of the calendar year on the basis of 1/12 of the annual tax for each month remaining in the calendar year beginning with the first day of the month in which the violation occurred. If the additional registration tax computed upon that weight, plus the tax already paid, amounts to more than the regular tax for the maximum gross weight permitted for the vehicle under sections 169.822 to 169.829, that additional amount must nevertheless be paid into the highway fund, but the additional tax thus paid does not authorize or permit any person to operate the vehicle with a gross weight in excess of the maximum legal weight as provided by sections 169.822 to 169.829. Unless the owner within 30 days after a conviction applies to increase the authorized weight and pays the additional tax as provided in this section, the registrar shall revoke the registration on the vehicle and demand the return of the registration card and plates issued on that registration.

(2) Upon conviction of an owner, driver, or user of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer for transporting a gross weight in excess of the gross weight for which the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer was registered by 25 percent or more or for operating or using the vehicle or trailer with an axle weight exceeding the maximum lawful axle load as provided in sections 169.822 to 169.829 by 25 percent or more, and in addition to any penalty imposed for the misdemeanor, the registrar shall either (i) cancel the reciprocity privileges on the vehicle involved if the vehicle is being operated under reciprocity or (ii) if the vehicle is not being operated under reciprocity, cancel the certificate of registration on the vehicle operated and demand the return of the registration certificate and registration plates. The registrar may not cancel the registration or reciprocity privileges for any vehicle found in violation of seasonal load restrictions imposed under section 169.87 unless the axle weight exceeds the year-round weight limit for the highway on which the violation occurred. The registrar may investigate any allegation of gross weight violations and demand that the operator show cause why all future operating privileges in the state should not be revoked unless the additional tax assessed is paid.

(3) Clause (1) does not apply to the first haul of unprocessed or raw farm products or unfinished forest products, when the registered gross weight is not exceeded by more than ten percent. For purposes of this clause, "first haul" means (i) the first, continuous transportation of unprocessed or raw farm products from the place of production or on-farm storage site to any other location within 100 miles of the place of production or on-farm storage site, or (ii) the continuous or noncontinuous transportation of unfinished forest products from the place of production to the place of final processing or manufacture located within 200 miles of the place of production.

(4) When the registration on a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is revoked by the registrar according to this section, the vehicle must not be operated on the highways of the state until it is registered or reregistered, as the case may be, and new plates issued, and the registration fee is the annual tax for the total gross weight of the vehicle at the time of violation. The reregistration pursuant to this subdivision of any vehicle operating under reciprocity agreements pursuant to section 168.181 or 168.187 must be at the full annual registration fee without regard to the percentage of vehicle miles traveled in this state.

Subd. 12.   
(a) Whenever an owner has registered a vehicle and paid the tax as provided in subdivisions 1 to 1g, on the basis of a selected gross weight of the vehicle and thereafter such owner desires to operate such vehicle with a greater gross weight than that for which the tax has been paid, such owner shall be permitted to reregister such vehicle by paying the additional tax due thereon for the remainder of the calendar year for which such vehicle has been reregistered, the additional tax computed pro rata by the month, 1/12 of the annual tax due for each month of the year remaining in the calendar year, beginning with the first day of the month in which such owner desires to operate the vehicle with the greater weight. In computing the additional tax as aforesaid, the owner shall be given credit for the unused portion of the tax previously paid computed pro rata by the month, 1/12 of the annual tax paid for each month of the year remaining in the calendar year beginning with the first day of the month in which such owner desires to operate the vehicle with the greater weight. An owner will be permitted one reduction of gross weight or change of registration per year, which will result in a refund. This refund will be prorated monthly beginning with the first day of the month after such owner applies to amend the registration. The application for amendment shall be accompanied by a fee of $3, and all fees shall be deposited in the highway user tax distribution fund. Provided, however, the owner of a vehicle may reregister the vehicle for a weight of more than 81,000 pounds for one or more 30-day periods. For each 30-day period, the additional tax shall be equal to 1/12 of the difference between the annual tax for the weight at which the vehicle is registered and reregistered. 
(b) This subdivision does not apply to the owner of a vehicle who pays the additional tax for excessive gross weight under section 169.86, subdivision 5a, when buying a permit to operate with the greater gross weight.