Omnibus policy bill approved

A bill that its sponsor said could be a “world-record small transportation omnibus bill” was given a green light by a House division.

Sponsored by Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls), HF928 was amended and approved March 27 by the House Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division. It now goes to the House Transportation Finance and Policy Division.

Just five bills, which Hornstein said, “had no controversy attached to them,” were included in the original proposal:

• HF570, sponsored by Rep. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Mpls), which would prohibit certain acts at rest stops, including improper trash disposal and consuming or possessing open containers of alcohol;

• HF1088, sponsored by Rep. Marsha Swails (DFL-Woodbury), which would conform commercial driver’s license recordkeeping to federal standards;

• HF1191, sponsored by Rep. Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park), which would broaden the capability of the Metropolitan Council to make loans to local governments to purchase homestead property in anticipation of a trunk highway project;

• HF1464, sponsored by Rep. Mike Nelson (DFL-Brooklyn Park), which would add two members from labor organizations involved in freight and commuter rail lines to a Transportation Department committee that provides commuter rail advice; and

• HF1672, sponsored by Rep. Jim Davnie (DFL-Mpls), which would prohibit driving into an intersection until the vehicle can move completely through without blocking cross-traffic.

Sponsored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), HF1246 was amended to the bill on an 8-6 vote.

Often referred to as an expansion of the “Dimler amendment,” it would keep tickets for going up to 10 mph over the speed limit in a 55 mph or 60 mph zone off a person’s driving record. Currently that is only the case at 55 mph.

“This would change one thing — how speeding is recorded, and thus how much insurance companies charge on their premiums,” Urdahl said.

Opponents said that it would encourage speeding and aggressive driving.

State Patrol Maj. Michele Tuchner also countered Urdahl’s assertion that it would reduce the number of court cases.

“I would argue that it would actually increase the number of court trials because more people would attempt to go to court to it get it pled down to an Urdahl, instead of a Dimler.”