1
MINNESOTASTATUTES2010
169.79
169.79VEHICLEREGISTRATION;DISPLAYINGLICENSEPLATES.
Subdivision1.Registrationrequired.Nopersonshalloperate,drive,orparkamotor
vehicleonanyhighwayunlessthevehicleisregisteredinaccordancewiththelawsofthisstate
andhasthenumberplatesorpermitconrmingthatvalidregistrationoroperatingauthorityhas
beenobtained,exceptasprovidedinsections168.10and168.12,subdivision2f,asassignedtoit
bythecommissionerofpublicsafety,conspicuouslydisplayedthereoninamannerthattheview
ofanyplateorpermitisnotobstructed.Aplateissuedundersection168.27orapermitissued
underchapter168maybedisplayedonavehicleinconjunctionwithexpiredregistrationwhether
ornotitdisplaysthelicenseplatetowhichthelastregistrationwasissued.
Subd.2.Semitrailer.Ifthevehicleisasemitrailer,thenumberplatedisplayedmustbe
assignedtotheregisteredownerandcorrelatetothedocumentationonlewiththedepartment.
Subd.3.Reardisplayofsingleplate.Ifthevehicleisamotorcycle,motorscooter,
motorizedbicycle,motorcyclesidecar,trailerregisteredatgreaterthan3,000poundsgrossvehicle
weight(GVW),semitrailer,orvehicledisplayingadealerplate,thenonelicenseplatemustbe
displayedhorizontallyorvertically,foramotorcycleissuedverticallicenseplatesundersection
168.12,subdivision2a,withtheidentifyingnumbersandlettersfacingoutwardfromthevehicle
andmustbemountedontherearofthevehicle.
Subd.3a.Smalltrailer.Ifthevehicleisatrailerwith3,000poundsorlessGVWwith
lifetimeregistration,thenumberedplateorstickermustbeadheredtothesideofthetrailer
frametonguenearthehitch.
Subd.4.Collector'svehicle.Ifthevehicleis(1)acollector'svehiclewithapioneer,classic
car,collector,orstreetrodlicense;(2)avehiclethatmeetstherequirementsofapioneer,classic,
orstreetrodvehicleexceptthatthevehicleisusedforgeneraltransportationpurposes;or(3)a
vehiclethatisofmodelyear1972orearlier,notregisteredundersection168.10,subdivision1c,
andisusedforgeneraltransportationpurposes,thenoneplatemustbedisplayedontherearofthe
vehicle,oroneplateonthefrontandoneontherear,atthediscretionoftheowner.
Subd.5.Truck-tractor,road-tractor,orfarmtruck.Ifthevehicleisatruck-tractor,
road-tractor,orfarmtruck,asdenedinsection168.002,subdivision8,butexcludingfromthat
denitionsemitrailersandtrailers,thenoneplatemustbedisplayedonthefrontofthevehicle.
Subd.6.Othermotorvehicles.Ifthemotorvehicleisanykindofmotorvehicleother
thanthoseprovidedforinsubdivisions2to4,oneplatemustbedisplayedonthefrontandone
ontherearofthevehicle.
Subd.7.Platefastenedandvisible.Allplatesmustbe(1)securelyfastenedsoastoprevent
themfromswinging,(2)displayedhorizontallywiththeidentifyingnumbersandlettersfacing
outwardfromthevehicle,and(3)mountedintheuprightposition.Thepersondrivingthemotor
vehicleshallkeeptheplatelegibleandunobstructedandfreefromgrease,dust,orotherblurring
materialsothattheletteringisplainlyvisibleatalltimes.Itisunlawfultocoveranyassigned
lettersandnumbersorthenameofthestateoforiginofalicenseplatewithanymaterialwhatever,
includinganyclearorcolorlessmaterialthataffectstheplate'svisibilityorreectivity.
Subd.8.Plateregistrationstickers.Asviewedfacingtheplates:
(a)Licenseplatesissuedtovehiclesregisteredundersection168.017mustdisplaythe
monthofexpirationinthelowerleftcornerofeachplateandtheyearofexpirationinthelower
rightcornerofeachplate.
Copyright©2010bytheOfceoftheRevisorofStatutes,StateofMinnesota.AllRightsReserved.
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MINNESOTASTATUTES2010
169.79
(b)Licenseplatesissuedtovehiclesregisteredundersection168.127mustdisplayeithereet
registrationvalidationstickersinthelowerrightcornerofeachplateordistinctivelicenseplates,
issuedbytheregistrar,with"FLEETREG"displayedonthebottomcenterportionofeachplate.
(c)LicenseplatesissuedafterJuly1,2008,requiringvalidationmustdisplaythemonthof
expirationinthelowerleftcornerofeachplateandtheyearofexpirationinthelowerright
corneroftheplate.
Subd.9.Tax-exemptvehiclemarking.V ehiclesdisplayingtax-exemptplatesissuedunder
section16B.581or168.012musthavevehiclemarkingsthatcomplywithsection168.012,
subdivision1.
History:(2720-268)1937c464s118;1961c622s1;1967c464s2;1977c248s4;1981
c357s62;1981c363s27;1985c291s18;1995c120s4;1995c145s2;1997c240s5;
1997c250s6;2000c280s1;1Sp2001c8art2s45;2002c371art1s46-48;2008c350
art1s43;2010c351s33
Copyright©2010bytheOfceoftheRevisorofStatutes,StateofMinnesota.AllRightsReserved.