The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to limit the authority of peace officers to issue citations to pedestrians for certain violations related to traffic-control signals and pedestrian signals. Specifically, it introduces new provisions that prohibit officers from stopping, detaining, or citing pedestrians for violations of specific clauses unless the officer is addressing an unrelated violation or if a vehicle poses a collision hazard to the pedestrian. This change aims to enhance pedestrian rights and safety by reducing unnecessary citations in situations where pedestrians may not be at fault.

Additionally, the bill updates various sections of the statutes to replace the word "shall" with "must," reinforcing the obligations of both drivers and pedestrians in relation to traffic signals and crosswalks. The amendments also clarify the responsibilities of drivers to yield to pedestrians under certain conditions. The effective date for these changes is set for August 1, 2025, applying to violations committed on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 169.06, 169.21