Trans policy bill makes another try

This year’s House omnibus transportation policy bill mimics last year’s, minus three provisions that were cause for a governor’s veto.

Approved 117-13 as amended to include House language May 5, the Senate refused to accept the changes to HF2807/ SF2540*, sponsored Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. Steve Murphy (DFL-Red Wing), and a conference committee has been requested. The Senate passed its version 63-4 April 28.

Among the provisions successfully amended to the bill was one from Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City) that would expand current law as it relates to speeding. Currently, a speeding ticket does not appear on someone’s driving record if the person was driving up to 10 mph over the limit in a 55 mph zone or 5 mph over the limit in a 60 mph zone. His bill would add the 10 mph threshold to the 60 mph limit.

Rep. Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers) successfully added an amendment that would allow those with vehicle windshield disability tags to secure them in a holder or a display device on their dashboard.

An amendment successfully offered by Rep. Bev Scalze (DFL-Little Canada) draws attention to a problem where an owner of a vehicle may be liable for a previous owner’s parking tickets.

Scalze was contacted regarding a woman whose truck was towed after law enforcement found several unpaid parking tickets issued to the previous owner. Her amendment would prohibit any local ordinance to hold a vehicle owner liable for a previous owner’s parking violations.

The 2009 bill prohibited several activities at rest areas, including sleeping overnight in vehicles or pitching a tent. This year’s bill no longer carries the prohibitions, sans one relating to improper disposal of trash and rubbish at rest areas.

Also out of the bill is reference to a specific route for a proposed high-speed rail line from the Twin Cities metropolitan area to Chicago. The governor had said that it was premature to select a specific route.

Criteria for issuing special license plates and a process for mothballing plates that have few takers are laid out in the bill. It would also expand the eligibility for the Combat Wounded license plate to a Purple Heart recipient who is still serving in the military, rather than just veterans.

The bill clarifies language creating a Council on Transportation Access. The governor objected to a provision that members would be eligible for per diem; the new language states members could only be reimbursed for expenses.

The bill designates two highway sections as memorials to veterans: the “Becker County Veterans Memorial Highway” would be along segments of Trunk Highways 34 and 87, and a portion of Trunk Highway 200 from the North Dakota border to Mahnomen would be the “Veterans Memorial Highway.” It also clarifies the description in a 2009 law creating a Clearwater County Veterans Memorial Highway along Trunk Highway 200.