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default under Minn Stat. ch. 221 (the <br />chapter of law dealing with motor carriers) <br />and registered by the Minnesota Dept. of <br />Transportation's (MnDOT's) Office of <br />Freight and Commercial Vehicle <br />Operations. The regulations require <br />operators to carry commercial insurance, <br />have an annual vehicle inspection and be <br />registered with the state. Party bus drivers <br />are required to hold a current commercial <br />driver's license (CDL) issued through the <br />Minnesota Dept. of Public Safety's Driver <br />and Vehicle Services Division. <br />A boat -for -hire is a watercraft used by <br />owners and operators to carry passengers for <br />hire. Minn. Stat. § 326B.94 and Minnesota <br />Rules 5225.6000 through 5225.7200 govern <br />the requirements of boat owners and <br />operators carrying passengers for hire on <br />Minnesota's inland waters. These vessels <br />must have a permit to carry passengers for <br />hire. They must have an annual safety <br />inspection and a dry-dock inspection <br />performed by Minnesota Department of <br />Labor and Industry boiler inspection <br />personnel once every three years (or <br />annually if the hull is made of wood). The <br />vessels must also be operated by a licensed <br />master and must follow all Minnesota Dept. <br />of Natural Resources' boating and water <br />recreation regulations. <br />Party buses and boats -for -hire are <br />sometimes chartered for celebrations such as <br />weddings, proms, bachelor and bachelorette <br />parties, birthdays and tours. Party buses are <br />also popular for round trips to casinos and <br />sporting events, and personalized drop-offs <br />and pick-ups at various bars and nightclubs. <br />Additionally, both party buses and boats -for - <br />hire have become popular settings for adult <br />entertainment. <br />Cities have seen a sharp increase in the <br />number of party buses and boats -for -hire <br />being used as venues for illegal activities <br />such as underage drinking, drug use and sex <br />trafficking. The transient nature of party <br />buses and boats -for -hire presents unique <br />challenges to traditional city zoning, <br />permitting and law enforcement. While state <br />laws regulate requirements for the operation <br />of party buses and boats -for -hire, the law is <br />silent on enforcement, penalties, inspection <br />and liability related to illegal activities that <br />occur in party buses and on boats -for -hire. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports changes to state statutes <br />that would help reduce criminal activities <br />taking place on party buses and boats - <br />for -hire. Specifically, the League <br />supports: <br />a) creation of statutory definitions of <br />"party bus" and "boat -for -hire" that <br />contain permissible uses of the <br />vehicles; <br />b) prohibition on offering or allowing <br />"adult entertainment" as defined by <br />Minn. Stat. § 617.242, "sexual <br />conduct" as defined by Minn. Stat. § <br />617.241, or "nudity" as defined by <br />Minn. Stat. § 617.292, subd. 3, on <br />party buses and boats -for -hire; <br />c) explicit authority for peace officers to <br />investigate suspicious activities on <br />party buses and boats -for -hire and to <br />cite individuals on board who are <br />involved in illegal activities; and <br />d) requiring the appropriate authority to <br />utilize existing authority to impose <br />fines, or to deny, suspend, or revoke <br />permits or registration certificates <br />held by operators found to have adult <br />entertainment, drug, or underage <br />consumption violations. <br />SD -60. Environmental Protection <br />Issue: Cities demonstrate strong stewardship <br />for the protection and preservation of the <br />environment. Minnesota municipalities have <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2016 City Policies Page 36 <br />