DPS-DVS Update

Minnesota Department of Public Safety sent this bulletin at 08/01/2023 07:13 AM CDT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Driver and Vehicle Services - A Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Aug. 1, 2023

DPS-DVS Update

What's New in This Update

Crime to obstruct work of a DVS or DR/DLA employee.
Summary of recent Driver Services changes.
Summary of recent Vehicle Services changes.

Crime to obstruct work of a DVS or DR/DLA employee

As of Aug. 1, 2023, is it a crime to obstruct the work of a DVS, Driver’s License Agent or Deputy Registrar employee by force or threat of force. We are creating signage that will be made available for DLAs and DRs to print and post where it is visible to customers.

Driver Services Changes

Caretaker Information Included on Driver’s License or Identification Card Record

What you need to know

Allows individuals to include information on their record of the names and contact information for up to three individuals who receive exclusive care from the applicant.
Individuals can include up to three contacts for whom they are caregivers and up to three emergency contacts.
Data is classified as private and the information is available to law enforcement in case of an emergency.
Providing this information is optional.
A new form has been created to add/remove emergency contacts and/or caretakers. The form also allows the individual the option to add/remove the Mental Health and/or Autism Spectrum indicator to their driving/identification record.
Form PS2902 Autism and Mental Health Indicator has been retired. Please do not use this form after July 31, 2023. The stand-alone Emergency Contact form has also been retired. Please do not use this form after July 31, 2023. Instead use the new form linked above.

In MNDRIVE

REAL ID Proof of Residency Documentation

What you need to know

Expands documentation that may be used to demonstrate Minnesota residency for purposes of a REAL ID. New options include: Health Savings Account statement, assisted living or nursing home statement, internet service bill, cable bill and more.
Changes only impact REAL ID proof of residency documents. This DOES NOT APPLY to Enhanced Driver’s License or Identification Card applications.
Be sure to reference the updated REAL ID Requirements Handout.

Restricted Farm License Eligibility Expansion

What you need to know

Expands eligibility for the restricted farm license to include individuals who are employed on a farm, regardless of whether their parent or guardian owns the farm. The Farm Work form has been updated. Please do not use old versions of the form after July 31, 2023.
Other restrictions for the farm license remain the same: valid for farm work, daylight only, 40-mile radius of farm.
Customer will still be required to provide a Property Tax Statement showing that the address of the farm the minor is working on is listed as agricultural land.

Driver’s License for Medical Reason Exemption

What you need to know

Creates option for 15-year-old to obtain a driver’s license related to their own medical needs or the medical needs of a relative or for a disabled relative with difficulty driving.
Applicant must meet requirements and provide required documentation.
The restriction printed on the license will read MEDLIM and means that the license holder has been granted an exemption to hold a driver’s license at 15 years old to drive themselves for personal medical reasons, or a relative for medical reasons or reasons related to a disability.
There is a brand-new form for this: License for Medical Reason form.

Teleconference and Online Driver’s Education

What you need to know

Allows two additional methods to complete required driver education: online or via live teleconference.
Driver education program must be licensed through DVS.
DVS staff will audit programs to ensure compliance with requirements.

Elimination of Written Test Requirement for New Minnesota Residents

What you need to know

Applicants for a Minnesota driver’s license who are 21 or over and hold a valid, unexpired driver’s license from another U.S. state, Canada or U.S. Territory will no longer be required to take the written test.
Also waives the written test requirement if the applicant holds a valid two-wheeled endorsement from another state.

Expansion of Eligibility for Veteran Designation on Driver’s License or Identification Card

What you need to know

Expands eligibility for the veteran designation to retired members of the National Guard or reserves of the United States armed forces.
Allows additional documents to demonstrate eligibility for the designation.
The MNDRIVE Help Guide: Issue a Credential has been updated to include examples of additional documents that are now accepted.

Retroactive Driver’s License Reinstatement

What you need to know

Individuals currently suspended solely due to Minnesota court notifications for failure to pay court fines or failure to appear in court for petty misdemeanor offenses or driving after suspension (DAS) traffic violations will become eligible for reinstatement.
As of 2021, DVS is no longer authorized to suspend a driver’s license for these Minnesota court notifications. This creates an opportunity for individuals whose suspension would no longer be authorized under this law change to reinstate their driver’s license. A single $20.00 reinstatement fee is required.
DVS will send a letter to all eligible individuals no later than Dec. 1, 2023.

Vehicle Services Changes

Dealer Licensing Changes

What you need to know

Extends length of the temporary dealer license from 120 days to 180 days.
Provides DVS with authority to deny a dealer license if the applicant is not in compliance with location requirements or has intentionally misrepresented information on the dealer license application.
Requires dealers to designate inspection hours on the dealer application or dealer record, and dealers must be open for DVS inspection during those hours.

Clarification of Disclosure Requirements for Licensed Dealers

What you need to know

Clarifies that for online motor vehicle sales, only a written disclosure, not oral, is required regarding prior vehicle damage, branding or flooding.

Use of Dealer Plates on Tow Truck, Service Truck, or Parts Vehicle

What you need to know

Removes “customarily” from the statute. Dealer plate requirements apply to all tow trucks, service trucks and parts vehicles.

Motor Vehicle Data Sharing

What you need to know

Clarifies that lessee data may be shared with the owner of the vehicle and the lessee.
Repeals the restriction on discussing any motor vehicle data over the phone, regardless of its classification as public or private.

Hennepin County Deputy Registrar Appointed in North Minneapolis Service Center

What you need to know

The existing North Minneapolis Service Center has been approved to provide vehicle services in addition to the services the office currently provides as a driver’s license agent.
COMING SOON! We will send an update when this location is ready to process vehicle transactions.

Use of Electronic Signatures on Certain Support Documents

What you need to know

When an insurer has paid damages for a salvaged vehicle, the supporting documents to transfer ownership to the insurer, including power of attorney forms, may be signed electronically and do not require a notary’s signature.

Gold Star Plate Personalization

What you need to know

Individuals eligible for Gold Star plates may have them personalized without a personalization fee.

Administrative License Plate Impound

Plate impound change to affected vehicles

For violations that occur Aug. 1, 2023, or later, only the vehicle driven at the time of violation is subject to plate impoundment. Previously all vehicles registered to the violator were also impounded.
Plate impoundment will also affect a vehicle purchased/acquired by the violator during the impound period, typically one year from the date of violation. This will require the display of special registration plates or payment of the $100 early reinstatement fee if the violator/owner is enrolled in the ignition interlock device program.
Incidents that occur prior to Aug. 1, 2023, are still subject to plate impoundment of the vehicle driven and all vehicles registered to the violator.

Repeal of Qualified Driver Requirement for Special Registration Plates

When an individual applies for special registration plates following impoundment, they no longer need to list the information of a qualified driver on the application for the special plates.
Form PS2041 Application for Special Registration Plates has been updated. Please do not use old versions of the form after July 31, 2023.

Ignition Interlock Device Program Technical Correction

What you need to know

Adds “revoked” status to the list of certain driving privilege withdrawals that are required to provide additional information regarding insurance when enrolling in IIDP.

Statutory Language Clean-Up

What you need to know

Deletes outdated language regarding issuance of USDOT numbers. No changes to current practice or procedures.

Native American sales tax exemption

What you need to know

When a transaction qualifies for the Native American sales tax exemption, MNDRIVE will prepopulate the information from the transaction to the form so the deputy registrar can print it out for the customer to sign.

In MNDRIVE