CHAPTER 120-H.F.No. 383
                  An act relating to traffic regulations; clarifying
                  conditions when covering motor vehicle head lamp,
                  tail lamp, or reflector is unlawful; prohibiting the
                  covering of a license plate with any material or
                  substance; ameding Minnesota Statutes 1994,
                  sections 169.64, by adding a subdivision; 169.67,
                  subdivision 3; 169.781, subdivision 4; and 169.79.

        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 169.64, is
           amended by adding a subdivision to read:

           Subd. 10.  [ COVERING LAMPS AND REFLECTORS. ] 
           (a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), it is prohibited
               for any person to:
           (1) equip a motor vehicle with any equipment or material
               that covers a head lamp, tail lamp, or reflector; or
           (2) operate a motor vehicle fitted with or otherwise having
               equipment or material that covers a head lamp, tail lamp,
               or reflector.

           (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply to:

           (1) any manufacturer's original equipment or material;
           (2) any equipment or material that is clear and colorless; or
           (3) the covering for auxiliary lights required under
               section 169.56.

           Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 169.79, is
                    amended to read:

           169.79 [ VEHICLE REGISTRATION. ]
           No person shall operate, drive or park a motor vehicle on
        any highway unless the vehicle is registered in accordance with
        the laws of this state and has the number plates for the current
        year only, as assigned to it by the commissioner of public
        safety, conspicuously displayed thereon in a manner that the
        view of any plate is not obstructed.  If the vehicle is a
        semitrailer, the number plate displayed must be assigned to the
        registered owner and correlate to the certificate of title
        documentation on file with the department and shall not display
        a year indicator.  If the vehicle is a motorcycle, motor
        scooter, motorized bicycle, motorcycle sidecar, trailer,
        semitrailer, or vehicle displaying a dealer plate, one plate
        shall be displayed on the rear thereof; if the vehicle is a
        truck-tractor, road-tractor or farm truck, as defined in section
        168.011, subdivision 17, but excluding from that definition
        semitrailers and trailers, one plate shall be displayed on the
        front thereof; if it is any other kind of motor vehicle, one
        plate shall be displayed on the front and one on the rear
        thereof.  All plates shall be securely fastened so as to prevent
        them from swinging.  The person driving the motor vehicle shall
        keep the plate legible and unobstructed and free from grease,
        dust, or other blurring material so that the lettering shall be
        plainly visible at all times.  It is unlawful to cover any
        assigned letters and numbers or the name of the state of origin
        of a license plate with any material whatever, including any
        clear or colorless material that affects the plate's visibility
        or reflectivity.  License plates issued to vehicles registered
        under section 168.017 must display the month of expiration in
        the lower left corner as viewed facing the plate and the year of
        expiration in the lower right corner as viewed facing the plate.
           
           Presented to the governor May 4, 1995

           Signed by the governor May 5, 1995, 9:03 a.m.
.