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HF1261 • 2026

Penalty for tampering with a motor vehicle increased, and crime for riding in a vehicle when the person reasonably should have known that a vehicle was taken without permission established.

Penalty for tampering with a motor vehicle increased, and crime for riding in a vehicle when the person reasonably should have known that a vehicle was taken without permission established.

Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Repinski, Davis, Stier, Duran, Schwartz, Sexton
Last action
2025-03-10
Official status
Author added Sexton
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-10 House

    Author added Sexton

  2. 2025-02-20 House

    Introduction and first reading, referred to Public Safety Finance and Policy

Official Summary Text

Penalty for tampering with a motor vehicle increased, and crime for riding in a vehicle when the person reasonably should have known that a vehicle was taken without permission established.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A bill for an act

relating to public safety; increasing the penalty for tampering with a motor vehicle;

establishing a crime for riding in a vehicle when the person reasonably should

have known that a vehicle was taken without permission; amending Minnesota

Statutes 2024, section 609.546.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 609.546, is amended to read:

609.546 MOTOR VEHICLE TAMPERING.

A person is guilty of a
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gross
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misdemeanor who intentionally:

(1) rides in or on a motor vehicle
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knowing
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when the person knows or reasonably should

know
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that the vehicle was taken and is being driven by another without the owner's

permission; or

(2) tampers with or enters into or on a motor vehicle without the owner's permission.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective August 1, 2025, and applies to crimes

committed on or after that date.

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