Florida Senate - 2008 SB 2688

By Senator Aronberg

27-00569-08 20082688__

1

A bill to be entitled

2

An act relating to driving or boating under the influence;

3

providing a short title; amending s. 316.193, F.S.;

4

revising the applicability of sanctions; requiring a

5

specified period of imprisonment for a fourth or

6

subsequent conviction of driving under the influence;

7

prohibiting substitution of treatment alternatives in

8

certain circumstances; requiring impoundment or

9

immobilization of all vehicles owned by the defendant for

10

a specified period; providing for dismissal of an

11

impoundment order; requiring records of judgments of

12

guilty to include fingerprints; amending s. 327.35, F.S.;

13

revising the applicability of sanctions; requiring a

14

specified period of imprisonment for a fourth or

15

subsequent conviction of boating under the influence;

16

prohibiting substitution of treatment alternatives in

17

certain circumstances; requiring impoundment or

18

immobilization of the vessel operated by or in the actual

19

control of the defendant or any one vehicle registered in

20

the defendant's name at the time of impoundment or

21

immobilization for a specified period; providing for

22

dismissal of an order of impoundment or immobilization

23

under certain circumstances upon request of an owner who

24

was not operating the vessel; providing for dismissal of

25

an impoundment order; requiring records of judgments of

26

guilty to include fingerprints; providing an effective

27

date.

28

29

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

30

31

     Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Barry and Sydney

32

Mazer Act."

33

     Section 2.  Subsection (6) of section 316.193, Florida

34

Statutes, is amended, and subsection (13) is added to that

35

section, to read:

36

     316.193  Driving under the influence; penalties.--

37

     (6)  With respect to any person convicted of a violation of

38

this section subsection (1), regardless of any penalty imposed

39

pursuant to subsection (2), subsection (3), or subsection (4):

40

     (a)  For the first conviction, the court shall place the

41

defendant on probation for a period not to exceed 1 year and, as

42

a condition of such probation, shall order the defendant to

43

participate in public service or a community work project for a

44

minimum of 50 hours; or the court may order instead, that any

45

defendant pay an additional fine of $10 for each hour of public

46

service or community work otherwise required, if, after

47

consideration of the residence or location of the defendant at

48

the time public service or community work is required, payment of

49

the fine is in the best interests of the state. However, the

50

total period of probation and incarceration may not exceed 1

51

year. The court must also, as a condition of probation, order the

52

impoundment or immobilization of the vehicle that was operated by

53

or in the actual control of the defendant or any one vehicle

54

registered in the defendant's name at the time of impoundment or

55

immobilization, for a period of 10 days or for the unexpired term

56

of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 10 days. The

57

impoundment or immobilization must not occur concurrently with

58

the incarceration of the defendant. The impoundment or

59

immobilization order may be dismissed in accordance with

60

paragraph (e), paragraph (f), paragraph (g), or paragraph (h).

61

     (b)  For the second conviction for an offense that occurs

62

within a period of 5 years after the date of a prior conviction

63

for violation of this section, the court shall order imprisonment

64

for not less than 10 days. The court must also, as a condition of

65

probation, order the impoundment or immobilization of all

66

vehicles owned by the defendant at the time of impoundment or

67

immobilization, for a period of 30 days or for the unexpired term

68

of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 30 days. The

69

impoundment or immobilization must not occur concurrently with

70

the incarceration of the defendant and must occur concurrently

71

with the driver's license revocation imposed under s.

72

322.28(2)(a)2. The impoundment or immobilization order may be

73

dismissed in accordance with paragraph (e), paragraph (f),

74

paragraph (g), or paragraph (h). At least 48 hours of confinement

75

must be consecutive.

76

     (c) For the third or subsequent conviction for an offense

77

that occurs within a period of 10 years after the date of a prior

78

conviction for violation of this section, the court shall order

79

imprisonment for not less than 30 days. The court must also, as a

80

condition of probation, order the impoundment or immobilization

81

of all vehicles owned by the defendant at the time of impoundment

82

or immobilization, for a period of 90 days or for the unexpired

83

term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 90

84

days. The impoundment or immobilization may must not occur

85

concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant and shall

86

must occur concurrently with the driver's license revocation

87

imposed under s. 322.28(2)(a)3. The impoundment or immobilization

88

order may be dismissed in accordance with paragraph (e),

89

paragraph (f), paragraph (g), or paragraph (h). At least 48 hours

90

of confinement must be consecutive.

91

     (d)  The court must at the time of sentencing the defendant

92

issue an order for the impoundment or immobilization of a

93

vehicle. Within 7 business days after the date that the court

94

issues the order of impoundment or immobilization, the clerk of

95

the court must send notice by certified mail, return receipt

96

requested, to the registered owner of each vehicle, if the

97

registered owner is a person other than the defendant, and to

98

each person of record claiming a lien against the vehicle.

99

     (e)  A person who owns but was not operating the vehicle

100

when the offense occurred may submit to the court a police report

101

indicating that the vehicle was stolen at the time of the offense

102

or documentation of having purchased the vehicle after the

103

offense was committed from an entity other than the defendant or

104

the defendant's agent. If the court finds that the vehicle was

105

stolen or that the sale was not made to circumvent the order and

106

allow the defendant continued access to the vehicle, the order

107

must be dismissed and the owner of the vehicle will incur no

108

costs. If the court denies the request to dismiss the order of

109

impoundment or immobilization, the petitioner may request an

110

evidentiary hearing.

111

     (f)  A person who owns but was not operating the vehicle

112

when the offense occurred, and whose vehicle was stolen or who

113

purchased the vehicle after the offense was committed directly

114

from the defendant or the defendant's agent, may request an

115

evidentiary hearing to determine whether the impoundment or

116

immobilization should occur. If the court finds that either the

117

vehicle was stolen or the purchase was made without knowledge of

118

the offense, that the purchaser had no relationship to the

119

defendant other than through the transaction, and that such

120

purchase would not circumvent the order and allow the defendant

121

continued access to the vehicle, the order must be dismissed and

122

the owner of the vehicle will incur no costs.

123

     (g)  The court shall also dismiss the order of impoundment

124

or immobilization of the vehicle if the court finds that the

125

family of the owner of the vehicle has no other private or public

126

means of transportation.

127

     (h)  The court may also dismiss the order of impoundment or

128

immobilization of any vehicles that are owned by the defendant

129

but that are operated solely by the employees of the defendant or

130

any business owned by the defendant.

131

     (i)  All costs and fees for the impoundment or

132

immobilization, including the cost of notification, must be paid

133

by the owner of the vehicle or, if the vehicle is leased or

134

rented, by the person leasing or renting the vehicle, unless the

135

impoundment or immobilization order is dismissed. All provisions

136

of s. 713.78 shall apply.

137

     (j)  The person who owns a vehicle that is impounded or

138

immobilized under this paragraph, or a person who has a lien of

139

record against such a vehicle and who has not requested a review

140

of the impoundment pursuant to paragraph (e), paragraph (f), or

141

paragraph (g), may, within 10 days after the date that person has

142

knowledge of the location of the vehicle, file a complaint in the

143

county in which the owner resides to determine whether the

144

vehicle was wrongfully taken or withheld from the owner or

145

lienholder. Upon the filing of a complaint, the owner or

146

lienholder may have the vehicle released by posting with the

147

court a bond or other adequate security equal to the amount of

148

the costs and fees for impoundment or immobilization, including

149

towing or storage, to ensure the payment of such costs and fees

150

if the owner or lienholder does not prevail. When the bond is

151

posted and the fee is paid as set forth in s. 28.24, the clerk of

152

the court shall issue a certificate releasing the vehicle. At the

153

time of release, after reasonable inspection, the owner or

154

lienholder must give a receipt to the towing or storage company

155

indicating any loss or damage to the vehicle or to the contents

156

of the vehicle.

157

     (k)  A defendant, in the court's discretion, may be required

158

to serve all or any portion of a term of imprisonment to which

159

the defendant has been sentenced pursuant to this section in a

160

residential alcoholism treatment program or a residential drug

161

abuse treatment program. Any time spent in such a program must be

162

credited by the court toward the term of imprisonment.

163

     (l) For the fourth or subsequent conviction under

164

subparagraph (2)(b)3., the court shall order imprisonment for not

165

less than 2 years. Another punishment may not be substituted for

166

this minimum mandatory term of imprisonment with treatment

167

alternatives. However, the court may, with the consent of the

168

state, order the defendant to serve a minimum mandatory sentence

169

of 1 year and 1 day of incarceration followed by a period of

170

probation during which the defendant must attend and successfully

171

complete a residential alcohol treatment program or a residential

172

drug abuse treatment program or be placed on community control.

173

The court must also, as a condition of probation, order the

174

impoundment or immobilization of all vehicles owned by the

175

defendant at the time of impoundment or immobilization for a

176

period of 120 days or for the unexpired term of any lease or

177

rental agreement that expires within 120 days. The impoundment or

178

immobilization may not occur concurrently with the incarceration

179

of the defendant and shall occur concurrently with the driver's

180

license revocation imposed under s. 322.28. The impoundment or

181

immobilization order may be dismissed in accordance with

182

paragraph (e), paragraph (f), paragraph (g), or paragraph (h). At

183

least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive.

184

185

For the purposes of this section, any conviction for a violation

186

of s. 327.35; a previous conviction for the violation of former

187

s. 316.1931, former s. 860.01, or former s. 316.028; or a

188

previous conviction outside this state for driving under the

189

influence, driving while intoxicated, driving with an unlawful

190

blood-alcohol level, driving with an unlawful breath-alcohol

191

level, or any other similar alcohol-related or drug-related

192

traffic offense, is also considered a previous conviction for

193

violation of this section. However, in satisfaction of the fine

194

imposed pursuant to this section, the court may, upon a finding

195

that the defendant is financially unable to pay either all or

196

part of the fine, order that the defendant participate for a

197

specified additional period of time in public service or a

198

community work project in lieu of payment of that portion of the

199

fine which the court determines the defendant is unable to pay.

200

In determining such additional sentence, the court shall consider

201

the amount of the unpaid portion of the fine and the reasonable

202

value of the services to be ordered; however, the court may not

203

compute the reasonable value of services at a rate less than the

204

federal minimum wage at the time of sentencing.

205

     (13)(a) Notwithstanding s. 921.241, every judgment of

206

guilty with respect to any offense governed by this section shall

207

comply with this subsection. Each judgment shall be in writing,

208

signed by the judge, and recorded by the clerk of the circuit

209

court. The judge shall cause to be affixed to every such written

210

judgment of guilty, in open court and in the presence of such

211

judge, the fingerprints of the defendant against whom such

212

judgment is rendered. Such fingerprints shall be affixed beneath

213

the judge's signature to any such judgment. Beneath such

214

fingerprints shall be appended a certificate in substantially the

215

following form:

216

217

"I hereby certify that the above and foregoing

218

fingerprints are of the defendant, (name) , and that

219

they were placed thereon by said defendant in my

220

presence, in open court, this the ___ day of

221

_(month)_________ (year) ."

222

223

Such certificate shall be signed by the judge, whose signature

224

thereto shall be followed by the word "Judge."

225

     (b) Any such written judgment of guilty, or a certified

226

copy thereof, is admissible in evidence in the courts of this

227

state as prima facie evidence that the fingerprints appearing

228

thereon and certified by the judge are the fingerprints of the

229

defendant against whom such judgment of guilty was rendered.

230

     Section 3.  Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (6) of

231

section 327.35, Florida Statutes, are amended, paragraphs (j)

232

and (k) are added to that subsection, and subsection (11) is

233

added to that section, to read:

234

     327.35  Boating under the influence; penalties;

235

"designated drivers".--

236

     (6)  With respect to any person convicted of a violation

237

of subsection (1), regardless of any other penalty imposed:

238

     (a)  For the first conviction, the court shall place the

239

defendant on probation for a period not to exceed 1 year and,

240

as a condition of such probation, shall order the defendant to

241

participate in public service or a community work project for a

242

minimum of 50 hours. The court must also, as a condition of

243

probation, order the impoundment or immobilization of the

244

vessel that was operated by or in the actual control of the

245

defendant or any one vehicle registered in the defendant's name

246

at the time of impoundment or immobilization, for a period of

247

10 days or for the unexpired term of any lease or rental

248

agreement that expires within 10 days. The impoundment or

249

immobilization must not occur concurrently with the

250

incarceration of the defendant. The impoundment or

251

immobilization order may be dismissed in accordance with

252

paragraph (e) or paragraph (f). The total period of probation

253

and incarceration may not exceed 1 year.

254

     (c) For the third or subsequent conviction for an offense

255

that occurs within a period of 10 years after the date of a

256

prior conviction for violation of this section, the court shall

257

order imprisonment for not less than 30 days. The court must

258

also, as a condition of probation, order the impoundment or

259

immobilization of the vessel that was operated by or in the

260

actual control of the defendant or any one vehicle registered

261

in the defendant's name at the time of impoundment or

262

immobilization, for a period of 90 days or for the unexpired

263

term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 90

264

days. The impoundment or immobilization may must not occur

265

concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant. The

266

impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in

267

accordance with paragraph (e) or paragraph (f). At least 48

268

hours of confinement must be consecutive.

269

     (j) For the fourth or subsequent conviction under

270

subparagraph (2)(b)3., the court shall order imprisonment for

271

not less than 2 years. Another punishment may not be

272

substituted for this minimum mandatory term of imprisonment

273

with treatment alternatives. However, the court may, with the

274

consent of the state, order the defendant to serve a minimum

275

mandatory sentence of 1 year and 1 day of incarceration

276

followed by a period of probation during which the defendant

277

must attend and successfully complete a residential alcohol

278

treatment program or a residential drug abuse treatment program

279

or be placed on community control. The court must also, as a

280

condition of probation, order the impoundment or immobilization

281

of the vessel that was operated by or in the actual control of

282

the defendant or any one vehicle registered in the defendant's

283

name at the time of impoundment or immobilization for a period

284

of 120 days or for the unexpired term of any lease or rental

285

agreement that expires within 120 days. The impoundment or

286

immobilization may not occur concurrently with the

287

incarceration of the defendant. The impoundment or

288

immobilization order may be dismissed in accordance with

289

paragraph (e) or paragraph (f). At least 48 hours of

290

confinement must be consecutive.

291

     (k) A person who owns but was not operating the vessel

292

when an offense under this section occurred may request an

293

evidentiary hearing to determine whether the impoundment or

294

immobilization should occur. If the court finds that the owner

295

was unaware of the defendant's prior conviction and sentence

296

under paragraph (a), paragraph (b), paragraph (c), or paragraph

297

(j) or if the court finds that there are other mitigating

298

circumstances that should allow the owner of the vessel to

299

secure the release of the vessel to the owner's possession, the

300

court may do so by dismissing the order of impoundment or

301

immobilization with or without cost to the vessel owner.

302

303

For the purposes of this section, any conviction for a

304

violation of s. 316.193, a previous conviction for the

305

violation of former s. 316.1931, former s. 860.01, or former s.

306

316.028, or a previous conviction outside this state for

307

driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated, driving

308

with an unlawful blood-alcohol level, driving with an unlawful

309

breath-alcohol level, or any other similar alcohol-related or

310

drug-related traffic offense, is also considered a previous

311

conviction for violation of this section.

312

     (11)(a) Notwithstanding s. 921.241, every judgment of

313

guilty with respect to any offense governed by this section

314

shall comply with this subsection. Each judgment shall be in

315

writing, signed by the judge, and recorded by the clerk of the

316

circuit court. The judge shall cause to be affixed to every

317

such written judgment of guilty, in open court and in the

318

presence of such judge, the fingerprints of the defendant

319

against whom such judgment is rendered. Such fingerprints shall

320

be affixed beneath the judge's signature to any such judgment.

321

Beneath such fingerprints shall be appended a certificate in

322

substantially the following form:

323

324

"I hereby certify that the above and foregoing

325

fingerprints are of the defendant, (name) , and

326

that they were placed thereon by said defendant in

327

my presence, in open court, this the ___ day of

328

_(month)_________ (year)."

329

330

Such certificate shall be signed by the judge, whose signature

331

thereto shall be followed by the word "Judge."

332

     (b) Any such written judgment of guilty, or a certified

333

copy thereof, is admissible in evidence in the courts of this

334

state as prima facie evidence that the fingerprints appearing

335

thereon and certified by the judge are the fingerprints of the

336

defendant against whom such judgment of guilty was rendered.

337

     Section 4.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.