Bill HF5374, SF5174

1.1          A bill for an act
1.2          relating to transportation; allowing motorcycles to split lanes under certain
1.3          circumstances; requiring public awareness campaign; appropriating money;
1.4          amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.974, subdivision 5.
1.5          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6          Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 169.974, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
1.7                          Subd. 5.Driving rules. (a) An operator of a motorcycle must ride only upon a permanent
1.8          and regular seat which is attached to the vehicle for that purpose. No other person shall may
1.9          ride on a motorcycle, except that passengers may ride (1) upon a permanent and regular
1.10       operator's seat if designed for two persons, (2) upon additional seats attached to or in the
1.11       vehicle, or (3) in a sidecar attached to the vehicle. The operator of a motorcycle is prohibited
1.12       from carrying passengers in a number in excess of the designed capacity of the motorcycle
1.13       or sidecar attached to it. A passenger is prohibited from being carried in a position that
1.14       interferes with the safe operation of the motorcycle or the view of the operator.
1.15       (b) No person shall may ride upon a motorcycle as a passenger unless the person can
1.16       reach the footrests or floorboards with both feet.
1.17       (c) Except for passengers of sidecars, drivers and passengers of three-wheeled
1.18       motorcycles, and persons in an autocycle, no person shall may operate or ride upon a
1.19       motorcycle except while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on either side
1.20       of the motorcycle.
1.21       (d) No person shall may operate a motorcycle while carrying animals, packages, bundles,
1.22       or other cargo which prevent the person from keeping both hands on the handlebars.
2.1          (e) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of moving or stationary vehicles
2.2          headed in the same direction, nor shall any person drive a motorcycle abreast of or overtake
2.3          or pass another vehicle within the same traffic lane. Only if the operation of the motorcycle
2.4          does not exceed 40 miles per hour and is operated at no more than 15 miles per hour over
2.5          the speed of traffic, a person may operate a motorcycle (1) abreast of, overtake, or pass
2.6          another vehicle within the same traffic lane, or (2) between two parallel lanes of moving or
2.7          stationary traffic headed in the same direction. Motorcycles may, with the consent of both
2.8          drivers, be operated not more than two abreast in a single traffic lane if the vehicles fit safely
2.9          within the designated space of the lane.
2.10       (f) Motor vehicles including motorcycles are entitled to the full use of a traffic lane and
2.11       no motor vehicle may be driven or operated in a manner so as to deprive a motorcycle of
2.12       the full use of a traffic lane. An operator of a motor vehicle that intentionally impedes or
2.13       attempts to prevent any operator of a motorcycle from operating a motorcycle as permitted
2.14       under paragraph (e) is guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
2.15       (g) A person operating a motorcycle upon a roadway must be granted the rights and is
2.16       subject to the duties applicable to a motor vehicle as provided by law, except as to those
2.17       provisions which by their nature can have no application.
2.18       (h) Paragraph (e) of this subdivision does not apply to police officers in the performance
2.19       of their official duties.
2.20       (i) No person shall operate a motorcycle on a street or highway unless the headlight or
2.21       headlights are lighted at all times the motorcycle is so operated.
2.22       (j) A person parking a motorcycle on the roadway of a street or highway must:
2.23       (1) if parking in a marked parking space, park the motorcycle completely within the
2.24       marked space; and
2.25       (2) park the motorcycle in such a way that the front of the motorcycle is pointed or
2.26       angled toward the nearest lane of traffic to the extent practicable and necessary to allow the
2.27       operator to (i) view any traffic in both directions of the street or highway without having
2.28       to move the motorcycle into a lane of traffic and without losing balance or control of the
2.29       motorcycle, and (ii) ride the motorcycle forward and directly into a lane of traffic when the
2.30       lane is sufficiently clear of traffic.

2.31       EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2025.

3.1          Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN; MOTORCYCLE
3.2          LANE SPLITTING.
 3.3        (a) The commissioner of public safety must implement a statewide public education
3.4          campaign to alert drivers and the public on how motorcycles may safely pass a vehicle
3.5          within the same lane or between parallel lanes. The information must be consistent with the
3.6          requirements of Minnesota Statutes, section 169.974, subdivision 5.
3.7          (b) $....... in fiscal year 2025 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
3.8          of public safety for the purposes of the public education campaign established in paragraph
3.9          (a).

3.10       EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2024.