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S.F. No. 1719 - Establishing Motorcycle Road Guard Certificate
 
Author: Senator Gretchen M. Hoffman
 
Prepared By: Krista Boyd, Senate Fiscal Analyst (651/296-7681)
Stephanie James, Senate Counsel (651/296-0103)
 
Date: February 27, 2012



 

Section 1 allows a person who meets the following three requirements to stop vehicles and hold them in place until it is safe to proceed.  To be qualified, the person must:

  • hold a motorcycle road guard certificate;
  • meet safety and equipment standards; and
  • be escorting a motorcycle group ride.

The motorcycle road guard may direct motorcycles within a group ride or other vehicle traffic to act contrary to traffic control signals.  A vehicle stopped by a motorcycle road guard may proceed only when directed by the flagger or police officer.  A person representing a motorcycle group ride may request that city police stop traffic for the ride.  If the police choose not to control traffic, then a motorcycle road guard may do it.

Section 2 creates the motorcycle road guard certificate.

Subdivision 1 requires a motorcycle road guard to possess a valid certificate issued by the commissioner to perform the traffic control activities in section 1.

Subdivision 2 directs the Commissioner of Public Safety, through the Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center, to establish qualifications to obtain the certificate.  The qualified person must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid driver’s license, and successfully complete a motorcycle road guard certification course developed and offered by the Motorcycle Safety Center or agents.  The commissioner, also through the Motorcycle Safety Center, must establish safety and equipment standards for operating as a motorcycle road guard, including wearing a reflective safety vest.  

Subdivision 3 requires the commissioner to collect a fee for motorcycle road guard certificate applicants, which covers the department’s costs.

Subdivision 4 provides that violation of this section is a petty misdemeanor.  

Subdivision 5 authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules to carry out this section.  The rules must specify the fee to be collected under subdivision 3.

Section 3 provides that the rulemaking provision is effective immediately and all other provisions are effective one year after the adopted rules are published in the State Register.

BB/KB/SJJ:rdr

 
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