Senate Bill 1382c1

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382

    By the Committee on Criminal Justice and Senator Forman





    307-2159A-98

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the operation of vehicles or

  3         vessels while under the influence; amending s.

  4         316.193; providing for impoundment or

  5         immobilization of a vehicle; providing

  6         circumstances for dismissal of the impoundment

  7         or immobilization order; amending s. 327.35,

  8         F.S.; providing for impoundment or

  9         immobilization of a vessel; providing

10         circumstances for dismissal of a court's

11         impoundment or immobilization order; providing

12         an effective date.

13

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

15

16         Section 1.  Subsection (6) of section 316.193, Florida

17  Statutes, is amended to read:

18         316.193  Driving under the influence; penalties.--

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

20  violation of subsection (1), regardless of any penalty imposed

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

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

23  the defendant on probation for a period not to exceed 1 year

24  and, as a condition of such probation, shall order the

25  defendant to participate in public service or a community work

26  project for a minimum of 50 hours; or the court may order

27  instead, that any defendant pay an additional fine of $10 for

28  each hour of public service or community work otherwise

29  required, if, after consideration of the residence or location

30  of the defendant at the time public service or community work

31  is required, payment of the fine is in the best interests of

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
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  1  the state. However, the total period of probation and

  2  incarceration may not exceed 1 year. The court must also, as a

  3  condition of probation, order the impoundment or

  4  immobilization of the vehicle that was operated by or in the

  5  actual control of the defendant, or one vehicle registered in

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

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

  8  term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 10

  9  days. The impoundment or immobilization must not occur

10  concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant.  The

11  impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in

12  accordance with paragraph (e), paragraph (f), or paragraph

13  (g).

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

15  occurs within a period of 5 years after the date of a prior

16  conviction for violation of this section, the court shall

17  order imprisonment for not less than 10 days.  The court must

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

19  immobilization of the vehicle that was operated by or in the

20  actual control of the defendant, or one vehicle registered in

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

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

23  term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 30

24  days. The impoundment or immobilization must not occur

25  concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant.  The

26  impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in

27  accordance with paragraph (e), paragraph (f), or paragraph

28  (g).  At least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive.

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

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

31  of a prior conviction for violation of this section, the court

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
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  1  shall order imprisonment for not less than 30 days.  The court

  2  must also, as a condition of probation, order the impoundment

  3  or immobilization of the vehicle that was operated by or in

  4  the actual control of the defendant, or one vehicle registered

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

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

  7  term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 90

  8  days. The impoundment or immobilization must not occur

  9  concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant.  The

10  impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in

11  accordance with paragraph (e), paragraph (f), or paragraph

12  (g). At least 48 hours of confinement must be consecutive.

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

14  defendant issue an order for the impoundment or immobilization

15  of a vehicle. Within 7 business days after the date that the

16  court issues the order of impoundment or immobilization, and

17  once again 30 business days before the actual impoundment or

18  immobilization of the vehicle, the clerk of the court must

19  send notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to

20  the registered owner of each vehicle, if the registered owner

21  is a person other than the defendant, and to each person of

22  record claiming a lien against the vehicle.

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

24  vehicle when the offense occurred may submit to the court a

25  police report indicating that the vehicle was stolen at the

26  time of the offense or documentation of having purchased the

27  vehicle after the offense was committed from an entity other

28  than the defendant or the defendant's agent. If the court

29  finds that the vehicle was stolen or that the sale was not

30  made to circumvent the order and allow the defendant continued

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

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
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  1  owner of the vehicle will incur no costs. If the court denies

  2  the request to dismiss the order of impoundment or

  3  immobilization, the petitioner may request an evidentiary

  4  hearing.

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

  6  vehicle when the offense occurred, and whose vehicle was

  7  stolen or who purchased the vehicle after the offense was

  8  committed directly from the defendant or the defendant's

  9  agent, may request an evidentiary hearing to determine whether

10  the impoundment or immobilization should occur. If the court

11  finds that either the vehicle was stolen or the purchase was

12  made without knowledge of the offense, that the purchaser had

13  no relationship to the defendant other than through the

14  transaction, and that such purchase would not circumvent the

15  order and allow the defendant continued access to the vehicle,

16  the order must be dismissed and the owner of the vehicle will

17  incur no costs.

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

19  impoundment or immobilization of the vehicle if the court

20  finds that the family of the owner of the vehicle has no other

21  private means of transportation.

22         (d)  In addition to the penalty imposed under paragraph

23  (a), paragraph (b), or paragraph (c), the court shall also

24  order the impoundment or immobilization of the vehicle that

25  was driven by, or in the actual physical control of, the

26  offender, unless the court finds that the family of the owner

27  of the vehicle has no other public or private means of

28  transportation. The period of impoundment or immobilization is

29  10 days, or, for the second conviction within 3 years, 30

30  days, or, for the third conviction within 5 years, 90 days and

31  may not be concurrent with probation or imprisonment. If the

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
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  1  vehicle is leased or rented, the period of impoundment or

  2  immobilization may not extend beyond the expiration of the

  3  lease or rental agreement. Within 7 business days after the

  4  date that the court issues the order of impoundment or

  5  immobilization, the clerk of the court shall send notice by

  6  certified mail, return receipt requested, to the registered

  7  owner of the vehicle if the registered owner is a person other

  8  than the offender and to each person of record claiming a lien

  9  against the vehicle.

10         (h)  All costs and fees for the impoundment or

11  immobilization, including the cost of notification, must be

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

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

14  unless the impoundment or immobilization order is dismissed.

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

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

17  of record against such a vehicle and who has not requested a

18  review of the impoundment pursuant to paragraph (e), paragraph

19  (f), or paragraph (g), may, within 10 days after the date that

20  person has knowledge of the location of the vehicle, file a

21  complaint in the county in which the owner resides to

22  determine whether the vehicle was wrongfully taken or withheld

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

24  the owner or lienholder may have the vehicle released by

25  posting with the court a bond or other adequate security equal

26  to the amount of the costs and fees for impoundment or

27  immobilization, including towing or storage, to ensure the

28  payment of such costs and fees if the owner or lienholder does

29  not prevail. All sections of s. 713.78 shall apply. When the

30  bond is posted and the fee is paid as set forth in s. 28.24,

31  the clerk of the court shall issue a certificate releasing the

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
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  1  vehicle. At the time of release, after reasonable inspection,

  2  the owner or lienholder must give a receipt to the towing or

  3  storage company indicating any loss or damage to the vehicle

  4  or to the contents of the vehicle.

  5         (j)(e)  A defendant, in the court's discretion, may be

  6  required to serve all or any portion of a term of imprisonment

  7  to which the defendant has been sentenced pursuant to this

  8  section in a residential alcoholism treatment program or a

  9  residential drug abuse treatment program. Any time spent in

10  such a program must be credited by the court toward the term

11  of imprisonment.

12

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

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

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

16  s. 316.028; or a previous conviction outside this state for

17  driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated,

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

19  unlawful breath-alcohol level, or any other similar

20  alcohol-related or drug-related traffic offense, is also

21  considered a previous conviction for violation of this

22  section. However, in satisfaction of the fine imposed pursuant

23  to this section, the court may, upon a finding that the

24  defendant is financially unable to pay either all or part of

25  the fine, order that the defendant participate for a specified

26  additional period of time in public service or a community

27  work project in lieu of payment of that portion of the fine

28  which the court determines the defendant is unable to pay. In

29  determining such additional sentence, the court shall consider

30  the amount of the unpaid portion of the fine and the

31  reasonable value of the services to be ordered; however, the

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
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  1  court may not compute the reasonable value of services at a

  2  rate less than the federal minimum wage at the time of

  3  sentencing.

  4         Section 2.  Subsection (6) of section 327.35, Florida

  5  Statutes, is amended to read:

  6         327.35  Boating under the influence; penalties.--

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

  8  violation of subsection (1), regardless of any other penalty

  9  imposed:

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

11  the defendant on probation for a period not to exceed 1 year

12  and, as a condition of such probation, shall order the

13  defendant to participate in public service or a community work

14  project for a minimum of 50 hours.   The court must also, as a

15  condition of probation, order the impoundment or

16  immobilization of the vessel that was operated by or in the

17  actual control of the defendant, or a vessel registered in the

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

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

20  term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 10

21  days. The impoundment or immobilization must not occur

22  concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant.  The

23  impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in

24  accordance with paragraph (e) or paragraph (f). The total

25  period of probation and incarceration may not exceed 1 year.

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

27  occurs within a period of 5 years after the date of a prior

28  conviction for violation of this section, the court shall

29  order imprisonment for not less than 10 days.  The court must

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

31  immobilization of the vessel that was operated by or in the

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
    307-2159A-98




  1  actual control of the defendant, or a vessel registered in the

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

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

  4  term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 30

  5  days. The impoundment or immobilization must not occur

  6  concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant.  The

  7  impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in

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

  9  hours of confinement must be consecutive.

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

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

12  of a prior conviction for violation of this section, the court

13  shall order imprisonment for not less than 30 days.  The court

14  must also, as a condition of probation, order the impoundment

15  or immobilization of the vessel that was operated by or in the

16  actual control of the defendant, or a vessel registered in the

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

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

19  term of any lease or rental agreement that expires within 90

20  days. The impoundment or immobilization must not occur

21  concurrently with the incarceration of the defendant.  The

22  impoundment or immobilization order may be dismissed in

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

24  hours of confinement must be consecutive.

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

26  defendant issue an order for the impoundment or immobilization

27  of a vessel. Within 7 business days after the date that the

28  court issues the order of impoundment, and once again 30

29  business days before the actual impoundment or immobilization

30  of the vessel, the clerk of the court must send notice by

31  certified mail, return receipt requested, to the registered

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
    307-2159A-98




  1  owner of each vessel, if the registered owner is a person

  2  other than the defendant, and to each person of record

  3  claiming a lien against the vessel.

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

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

  6  report indicating that the vessel was stolen at the time of

  7  the offense or documentation of having purchased the vessel

  8  after the offense was committed from an entity other than the

  9  defendant or the defendant's agent. If the court finds that

10  the vessel was stolen or that the sale was not made to

11  circumvent the order and allow the defendant continued access

12  to the vessel, the order must be dismissed and the owner of

13  the vessel will incur no costs. If the court denies the

14  request to dismiss the order of impoundment or immobilization,

15  the petitioner may request an evidentiary hearing.

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

17  when the offense occurred, and whose vessel was stolen or who

18  purchased the vessel after the offense was committed directly

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

20  evidentiary hearing to determine whether the impoundment or

21  immobilization should occur. If the court finds that either

22  the vessel was stolen or the purchase was made without

23  knowledge of the offense, that the purchaser had no

24  relationship to the defendant other than through the

25  transaction, and that such purchase would not circumvent the

26  order and allow the defendant continued access to the vessel,

27  the order must be dismissed and the owner of the vessel will

28  incur no costs.

29         (d)  In addition to any other penalty imposed, the

30  court shall also order the impoundment or immobilization of

31  the vessel that was operated by, or in the actual physical

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
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  1  control of, the offender. The period of impoundment or

  2  immobilization is 10 days, or, for the second conviction

  3  within 3 years, 30 days, or, for the third conviction within 5

  4  years, 90 days and may not be concurrent with probation or

  5  imprisonment. If the vessel is leased or rented, the period of

  6  impoundment or immobilization may not extend beyond the

  7  expiration of the lease or rental agreement. Within 7 business

  8  days after the date that the court issues the order of

  9  impoundment or immobilization, the clerk of the court shall

10  send notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to

11  the registered owner of the vessel if the registered owner is

12  a person other than the offender and to each person of record

13  claiming a lien against the vessel.

14         (g)  All costs and fees for the impoundment or

15  immobilization, including the cost of notification, must be

16  paid by the owner of the vessel or, if the vessel is leased or

17  rented, by the person leasing or renting the vessel, unless

18  the impoundment or immobilization order is dismissed.

19         (h)  The person who owns a vessel that is impounded or

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

21  of record against such a  vessel and who has not requested a

22  review of the impoundment pursuant to paragraph (e) or

23  paragraph (f), may, within 10 days after the date that person

24  has knowledge of the location of the vessel, file a complaint

25  in the county in which the owner resides to determine whether

26  the vessel was wrongfully taken or withheld from the owner or

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

28  lienholder may have the vessel released by posting with the

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

30  the costs and fees for impoundment or immobilization,

31  including towing or storage, to ensure the payment of the

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
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  1  costs and fees if the owner or lienholder does not prevail.

  2  All sections of s. 713.78 shall apply. When the bond is posted

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

  4  court shall issue a certificate releasing the vessel. At the

  5  time of release, after reasonable inspection, the owner or

  6  lienholder must give a receipt to the towing or storage

  7  company indicating any loss or damage to the vessel or to the

  8  contents of the vessel.

  9         (i)(e)  A defendant, in the court's discretion, may be

10  required to serve all or any portion of a term of imprisonment

11  to which the defendant has been sentenced pursuant to this

12  section in a residential alcoholism treatment program or a

13  residential drug abuse treatment program. Any time spent in

14  such a program must be credited by the court toward the term

15  of imprisonment.

16

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

18  violation of s. 316.193, a previous conviction for the

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

20  s. 316.028, or a previous conviction outside this state for

21  driving under the influence, driving while intoxicated,

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

23  unlawful breath-alcohol level, or any other similar

24  alcohol-related or drug-related traffic offense, is also

25  considered a previous conviction for violation of this

26  section.

27         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

28  law.

29

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    Florida Senate - 1998                           CS for SB 1382
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  1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  2                         Senate Bill 1382

  3

  4  1.   Allows the court, at sentencing, to order the impoundment
         or immobilization of the vehicle or vessel that was
  5       involved in the DUI (driving under the influence) or BUI
         (boating under the influence), or one vehicle or vessel
  6       registered in the defendant's name at the time of the
         impoundment or immobilization.
  7
    2.   Deletes the provision requiring that a vessel operator be
  8       informed that failure to submit to lawful breath or urine
         testing will subject the operator to a $500 civil
  9       penalty.

10  3.   Provides that s. 713.78, F.S., relating to liens for
         recovering, towing, or storing vehicles applies to
11       impoundment or immobilization under s. 316.193, F.S.

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