| Minnesota Criminal Justice Statute Service | Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

168.12

Statute ID: 10526

Plates.

In Effect

New Search Refine Search Back to Results

Details are only available for Penalty and Charging Statutes.

Statute Number:

168.12

Enactment Date:

Jan 1, 1859

Effective Date:

Jan 1, 1859

Expiration Date:

Repealed?:

Summary Text:

Plates.

Statute ID:

10526

Created:

Oct 19, 2006 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Updated:

Oct 19, 2006 by mnjis.legal.analyst@state.mn.us

Last Update Action:

System

Legal Analyst Comment:

Summary Text:

Plates.

Link to MN Statute Text:

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/168/12.html

Legislative Session:

0 - NA

Session Law Text?:

Statute text last updated on:

Oct 19, 2006

Subdivision 1.  
(a) The commissioner, upon approval and payment, shall issue to the applicant the plates required by this chapter, bearing the state name and an assigned vehicle registration number. The number assigned by the commissioner may be a combination of a letter or sign with figures. The color of the plates and the color of the abbreviation of the state name and the number assigned must be in marked contrast. The plates must be lettered, spaced, or distinguished to suitably indicate the registration of the vehicle according to the rules of the commissioner.

(b) When a vehicle is registered on the basis of total gross weight, the plates issued must clearly indicate by letters or other suitable insignia the maximum gross weight for which the tax has been paid.

(c) Plates issued to a noncommercial vehicle must bear the inscription "noncommercial" unless the vehicle is displaying a special plate authorized and issued under this chapter.

(d) A one-ton pickup truck that is used for commercial purposes and is subject to section 168.185, is eligible to display special plates as authorized and issued under this chapter.

(e) The plates must be so treated as to be at least 100 times brighter than the conventional painted number plates. When properly mounted on an unlighted vehicle, the plates, when viewed from a vehicle equipped with standard headlights, must be visible for a distance of not less than 1,500 feet and readable for a distance of not less than 110 feet.

(f) The commissioner shall issue plates for the following periods:
(1) New plates issued pursuant to section 168.012, subdivision 1, must be issued to a vehicle for as long as the vehicle is owned by the exempt agency and the plate shall not be transferable from one vehicle to another but the plate may be transferred with the vehicle from one tax-exempt agency to another.
(2) Plates issued for passenger automobiles must be issued for a seven-year period. All plates issued under this paragraph must be replaced if they are seven years old or older at the time of registration renewal or will become so during the registration period.
(3) Plates issued under sections 168.053 and 168.27, subdivisions 16 and 17, must be for a seven-year period.
(4) Plates issued under subdivisions 2c and 2d and section 168.123 must be issued for the life of the veteran under section 169.79.
(5) Plates for any vehicle not specified in clauses (1) to (3) must be issued for the life of the vehicle.

(g) In a year in which plates are not issued, the commissioner shall issue for each registration a sticker to designate the year of registration. This sticker must show the year or years for which the sticker is issued, and is valid only for that period. The plates and stickers issued for a vehicle may not be transferred to another vehicle during the period for which the sticker is issued, except when issued for a vehicle registered under section 168.187.

(h) Despite any other provision of this subdivision, plates issued to a vehicle used for behind-the-wheel instruction in a driver education course in a public school may be transferred to another vehicle used for the same purpose without payment of any additional fee. The public school shall notify the commissioner of each transfer of plates under this paragraph. The commissioner may prescribe a format for notification.

Subd. 2.   
(a) The commissioner shall issue amateur radio plates to an applicant who:
(1) is an owner of a passenger automobile or recreational vehicle;
(2) is a resident of this state;
(3) holds an official amateur radio station license or a citizens radio service class D license, in good standing, issued by the Federal Communications Commission;
(4) pays the registration tax required under section 168.013;
(5) pays a fee of $10 for each set of special plates and any other fees required by this chapter; and
(6) complies with this chapter and rules governing the registration of motor vehicles and licensing of drivers;
(b) In lieu of the registration number required for identification under subdivision 1, the plates must indicate the official amateur call letters of the applicant, as assigned by the Federal Communications Commission, and the words "AMATEUR RADIO."
(c) This provision for the issue of special plates applies only if the applicant's motor vehicle is already registered in Minnesota so that the applicant has valid regular Minnesota plates issued for that motor vehicle under which to operate it during the time that it will take to have the necessary special plates made.
(d) If owning more than one motor vehicle of the type specified in this subdivision, the applicant may apply for special plates for each of not more than two motor vehicles and, if each application complies with this subdivision, the commissioner shall furnish the applicant with the special plates, indicating the official amateur call letters and other distinguishing information as the commissioner considers necessary, for each of the two motor vehicles.
(e) The commissioner may make reasonable rules governing the use of the special plates as will assure the full compliance by the owner of the special plates, with all existing laws governing the registration of motor vehicles and the transfer and use of the plates.
(f) Despite any contrary provision of subdivision 1, the special plates issued under this subdivision may be transferred by an owner to another motor vehicle listed in paragraph (a) and registered to the same owner, upon the payment of a fee of $5. The commissioner must be notified before the transfer and may prescribe a format for the notification.