March 7 UPDATE:

Legislation to regulate heavy and oversized vehicles has been in introduced (SF 4603)! Thank you to Senator Omar Fateh for leading on this legislation. Take action today to ask your legislator to sign-on!  

Moving forward, the bills must be heard in the Transportation Committee to be eligible for passage. You can take action by contacting transportation committee chairs Sen. Scott Dibble and Rep. Frank Hornstein to ask them to schedule a hearing.

Minnesota needs to address the pedestrian safety crisis by regulating heavy and oversized vehicles.

Problem:

Vehicles in America have rapidly become bigger and heavier. Automakers have prioritized SUV’s and trucks over smaller models due to their higher profit margin. All five of the most popular automobile models in Minnesota were SUV’s, with three out of the five being pickup trucks.

The increasingly large US vehicle fleet is a major contributor to a pedestrian safety crisis in America. In 2023, United States pedestrian deaths reached a 40-year high. Heavier vehicles also significantly worsen wear and tear on roads and increase particulate pollution from tires. Currently, Minnesota has no regulations to disincentivize the use of heavy or oversized vehicles.

Solution:

The legislature must address this issue by modifying registration fees to account for vehicle weight and size. These regulations will incentivize the purchase of lighter and smaller vehicles, resulting in less roadway wear-and-tear, fewer pedestrian deaths, less pollution, and more affordable car options. Colorado and New York are among states considering a similar solution.

The revenue from the registration would be redirected to the state's Active Transportation and Safe Routes to School funds. Exemptions to the new fee should be added for low-income registrants and for vehicle owners with disabilities.

Take action today! Your email will be sent to your state senator, state representative, and Governor Walz.