Senate Bill 1316c1

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    Florida Senate - 1999                           CS for SB 1316

    By the Committee on Criminal Justice and Senator Webster





    307-2113-99

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to suspension of driver's

  3         licenses; amending s. 316.1937, F.S.; requiring

  4         the use of an ignition interlock device for

  5         persons convicted a second or subsequent time

  6         for driving under the influence; providing for

  7         a license suspension under certain

  8         circumstances; amending s. 322.2616, F.S.;

  9         clarifying the blood-alcohol and breath-alcohol

10         levels that are unlawful; prescribing a waiting

11         period before a temporary driving permit

12         becomes effective; providing notice

13         requirements with respect to the department's

14         decision to sustain, amend, or invalidate a

15         driver's license suspension; authorizing the

16         use of blood tests obtained pursuant to other

17         investigations for purposes of license

18         suspension under s. 322.2616, F.S.; prescribing

19         law enforcement officers' immunity from civil

20         liability; providing an effective date.

21

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

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24         Section 1.  Subsection (1) of section 316.1937, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         316.1937  Ignition interlock devices, requiring;

27  unlawful acts.--

28         (1)(a)  In addition to any other authorized penalties,

29  the court may require that any person who is convicted of

30  driving under the influence in violation of s. 316.193, and

31  who is granted probation, shall not operate a motor vehicle

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  1  during the period of probation unless that vehicle is equipped

  2  with a functioning ignition interlock device certified by the

  3  department as provided in s. 316.1938, and installed in such a

  4  manner that the vehicle will not start if the operator's blood

  5  alcohol level is in excess of 0.05 percent or as otherwise

  6  specified by the court. The court may require the use of an

  7  approved ignition interlock device for the period of

  8  probation, said period to be for not less than 6 months, if

  9  the person is permitted to operate a motor vehicle, whether

10  the privilege to operate a motor vehicle is restricted or not,

11  as determined by the court.

12         (b)  In addition to any other authorized penalties the

13  court shall require that any person who is convicted for a

14  second or subsequent violation of driving under the influence

15  in violation of s. 316.193 shall not operate a motor vehicle

16  for a period of not less than 1 year unless the vehicle is

17  equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device

18  certified by the department as provided in s. 316.1938 and

19  installed in such a manner that the vehicle will not start if

20  the operator's blood-alcohol level is in excess of 0.05

21  percent or otherwise as specified by the court. The court

22  shall provide that if the person who is so convicted of a

23  second or subsequent violation for driving under the influence

24  tampers with the ignition interlock device or, except as

25  provided in subsection (7), drives a motor vehicle without

26  such device in violation of the order of the court, such

27  person shall, in addition to any other authorized penalty,

28  have his or her driver's license suspended for a minimum term

29  of 1 year.

30         Section 2.  Section 322.2616, Florida Statutes, is

31  amended to read:

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  1         322.2616  Suspension of license; persons under 21 years

  2  of age; right to review.--

  3         (1)(a)  Notwithstanding s. 316.193, it is unlawful for

  4  a person under the age of 21 who has a blood-alcohol or

  5  breath-alcohol level of 0.02 percent or higher to drive or be

  6  in actual physical control of a motor vehicle.

  7         (b)  A law enforcement officer who has probable cause

  8  to believe that a motor vehicle is being driven by or is in

  9  the actual physical control of a person who is under the age

10  of 21 while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or who

11  has any blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level may lawfully

12  detain such a person and may request that person to submit to

13  a test to determine his or her breath-alcohol level.

14         (2)(a)  A law enforcement officer or correctional

15  officer shall, on behalf of the department, suspend the

16  driving privilege of such person if the person has a

17  blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level of 0.02 percent or

18  higher. The officer shall also suspend, on behalf of the

19  department, the driving privilege of a person who has refused

20  to submit to a test as provided by paragraph (b). The officer

21  shall take the person's driver's license and issue the person

22  a 10-day temporary driving permit if the person is otherwise

23  eligible for the driving privilege and shall issue the person

24  a notice of suspension.

25         (b)  The suspension under paragraph (a) must be

26  pursuant to, and the notice of suspension must inform the

27  driver of, the following:

28         1.a.  The driver refused to submit to a lawful breath

29  test and his or her driving privilege is suspended for a

30  period of 1 year for a first refusal or for a period of 18

31  months if his or her driving privilege has been previously

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  1  suspended as provided in this section as a result of a refusal

  2  to submit to a test; or

  3         b.  The driver was under the age of 21 and was driving

  4  or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while having

  5  a blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level of 0.02 percent or

  6  higher; and the person's driving privilege is suspended for a

  7  period of 6 months for a first violation, or for a period of 1

  8  year if his or her driving privilege has been previously

  9  suspended as provided in this section for driving or being in

10  actual physical control of a motor vehicle with a

11  blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level of 0.02 percent or

12  higher.

13         2.  The suspension period commences on the date of

14  issuance of the notice of suspension.

15         3.  The driver may request a formal or informal review

16  of the suspension by the department within 10 days after the

17  issuance of the notice of suspension.

18         4.  A temporary permit issued at the time of the

19  issuance of the notice of suspension shall not become

20  effective until after 12 hours have elapsed and will expire at

21  midnight of the 10th day following the date of issuance.

22         5.  The driver may submit to the department any

23  materials relevant to the suspension of his or her license.

24         (3)  The law enforcement officer shall forward to the

25  department, within 5 days after the date of the issuance of

26  the notice of suspension, a copy of the notice of suspension,

27  the driver's license of the person receiving the notice of

28  suspension, and an affidavit stating the officer's grounds for

29  belief that the person was under the age of 21 and was driving

30  or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle with any

31  blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level, and the results of any

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  1  blood or breath test or an affidavit stating that a blood or

  2  breath test was requested by a law enforcement officer or

  3  correctional officer and that the person refused to submit to

  4  such test. The failure of the officer to submit materials

  5  within the 5-day period specified in this subsection does not

  6  bar the department from considering any materials submitted at

  7  or before the hearing.

  8         (4)  If the department finds that the license of the

  9  person should be suspended under this section and if the

10  notice of suspension has not already been served upon the

11  person by a law enforcement officer or correctional officer as

12  provided in subsection (2), the department shall issue a

13  notice of suspension and, unless the notice is mailed under s.

14  322.251, a temporary driving permit that expires 10 days after

15  the date of issuance if the driver is otherwise eligible.

16         (5)  If the person whose license is suspended requests

17  an informal review under subparagraph (2)(b)3., the department

18  shall conduct the informal review by a hearing officer

19  employed by the department within 30 days after the request is

20  received by the department and shall issue such person a

21  temporary driving permit for business purposes only to expire

22  on the date that such review is scheduled to be conducted if

23  the person is otherwise eligible. The informal review hearing

24  must consist solely of an examination by the department of the

25  materials submitted by a law enforcement officer or

26  correctional officer and by the person whose license is

27  suspended, and the presence of an officer or witness is not

28  required.

29         (6)  After completion of the informal review, notice of

30  the department's decision sustaining, amending, or

31  invalidating the suspension of the driver's license must be

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  1  provided to the person. The notice must be mailed to the

  2  person at the last known address shown on the department's

  3  records, or to the address provided in the law enforcement

  4  officer's report if such address differs from the address of

  5  record, within 7 working days after completing the review.

  6         (7)(a)  If the person whose license is suspended

  7  requests a formal review, the department must schedule a

  8  hearing to be held within 30 days after the request is

  9  received by the department and must notify the person of the

10  date, time, and place of the hearing and shall issue such

11  person a temporary driving permit for business purposes only

12  to expire on the date that such review is scheduled to be

13  conducted if the person is otherwise eligible.

14         (b)  The formal review hearing must be held before a

15  hearing officer employed by the department, and the hearing

16  officer may administer oaths, examine witnesses and take

17  testimony, receive relevant evidence, issue subpoenas,

18  regulate the course and conduct of the hearing, and make a

19  ruling on the suspension.  The department and the person whose

20  license was suspended may subpoena witnesses, and the party

21  requesting the presence of a witness is responsible for paying

22  any witness fees and for notifying in writing the state

23  attorney's office in the appropriate circuit of the issuance

24  of the subpoena. If the person who requests a formal review

25  hearing fails to appear and the hearing officer finds the

26  failure to be without just cause, the right to a formal

27  hearing is waived and the suspension is sustained.

28         (c)  A party may seek enforcement of a subpoena under

29  paragraph (b) by filing a petition for enforcement in the

30  circuit court of the judicial circuit in which the person

31  failing to comply with the subpoena resides.  A failure to

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  1  comply with an order of the court constitutes contempt of

  2  court. However, a person may not be held in contempt while a

  3  subpoena is being challenged.

  4         (d)  The department must, within 7 working days after a

  5  formal review hearing, send notice to the person of the

  6  hearing officer's decision as to whether sufficient cause

  7  exists to sustain, amend, or invalidate the suspension.

  8         (8)  In a formal review hearing under subsection (7) or

  9  an informal review hearing under subsection (5), the hearing

10  officer shall determine by a preponderance of the evidence

11  whether sufficient cause exists to sustain, amend, or

12  invalidate the suspension.  The scope of the review is limited

13  to the following issues:

14         (a)  If the license was suspended because the

15  individual, then under the age of 21, drove with a

16  blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level of 0.02 percent or

17  higher:

18         1.  Whether the law enforcement officer had probable

19  cause to believe that the person was under the age of 21 and

20  was driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle

21  in this state with any blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level

22  or while under the influence of alcoholic beverages.

23         2.  Whether the person was under the age of 21.

24         3.  Whether the person had a blood-alcohol or

25  breath-alcohol level of 0.02 percent or higher.

26         (b)  If the license was suspended because of the

27  individual's refusal to submit to a breath test:

28         1.  Whether the law enforcement officer had probable

29  cause to believe that the person was under the age of 21 and

30  was driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle

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  1  in this state with any blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level

  2  or while under the influence of alcoholic beverages.

  3         2.  Whether the person was under the age of 21.

  4         3.  Whether the person refused to submit to a breath

  5  test after being requested to do so by a law enforcement

  6  officer or correctional officer.

  7         4.  Whether the person was told that if he or she

  8  refused to submit to a breath test his or her privilege to

  9  operate a motor vehicle would be suspended for a period of 1

10  year or, in the case of a second or subsequent refusal, for a

11  period of 18 months.

12         (9)  Based on the determination of the hearing officer

13  under subsection (8) for both informal hearings under

14  subsection (5) and formal hearings under subsection (7), the

15  department shall:

16         (a)  Sustain the suspension of the person's driving

17  privilege for a period of 1 year for a first refusal, or for a

18  period of 18 months if the driving privilege of the person has

19  been previously suspended, as provided in this section, as a

20  result of a refusal to submit to a test.  The suspension

21  period commences on the date of the issuance of the notice of

22  suspension.

23         (b)  Sustain the suspension of the person's driving

24  privilege for a period of 6 months for driving or being in

25  actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the age

26  of 21 with a blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level of 0.02

27  percent or higher, or for a period of 1 year if the driving

28  privilege of such person has been previously suspended under

29  this section as a result of driving a motor vehicle while

30  under the age of 21 with a breath-alcohol level of at least

31  0.02 percent but less than 0.08 percent. The suspension period

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  1  commences on the date of the issuance of the notice of

  2  suspension.

  3         (10)  A request for a formal review hearing or an

  4  informal review hearing shall not stay the suspension of the

  5  person's driver's license.  If the department fails to

  6  schedule the formal review hearing to be held within 30 days

  7  after receipt of the request therefor, the department shall

  8  invalidate the suspension. If the scheduled hearing is

  9  continued at the department's initiative, the department shall

10  issue a temporary driving permit that is valid until the

11  hearing is conducted if the person is otherwise eligible for

12  the driving privilege.  The permit shall not be issued to a

13  person who requested a continuance of the hearing. The permit

14  issued under this subsection authorizes driving for business

15  or employment use only.

16         (11)  A person whose driver's license is suspended

17  under subsection (2) or subsection (4) may apply for issuance

18  of a license for business or employment purposes only,

19  pursuant to s. 322.271, if the person is otherwise eligible

20  for the driving privilege. However, such a license may not be

21  issued until 30 days have elapsed after the expiration of the

22  last temporary driving permit issued under this section.

23         (12)  The formal review hearing may be conducted upon a

24  review of the reports of a law enforcement officer or

25  correctional officer, including documents relating to the

26  administration of a breath test or the refusal to take a test.

27  However, as provided in subsection (7), the driver may

28  subpoena the officer or any person who administered a breath

29  test.

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  1         (13)  The formal review hearing and the informal review

  2  hearing are exempt from chapter 120.  The department may adopt

  3  rules for conducting reviews under this section.

  4         (14)  A person may appeal any decision of the

  5  department sustaining a suspension of his or her driver's

  6  license by a petition for writ of certiorari to the circuit

  7  court in the county wherein such person resides or wherein a

  8  formal or informal review was conducted under s. 322.31.

  9  However, an appeal does not stay the suspension. This

10  subsection does not provide for a de novo appeal.

11         (15)  The decision of the department under this section

12  shall not be considered in any trial for a violation of s.

13  316.193, nor shall any written statement submitted by a person

14  in his or her request for departmental review under this

15  section be admissible into evidence against him or her in any

16  such trial. The disposition of any related criminal

17  proceedings shall not affect a suspension imposed under this

18  section.

19         (16)  By applying for and accepting and using a

20  driver's license, a person under the age of 21 years who holds

21  the driver's license is deemed to have expressed his or her

22  consent to the provisions of this section.

23         (17)  A breath test to determine breath-alcohol level

24  pursuant to this section may be conducted as authorized by s.

25  316.1932 or by a breath-alcohol preliminary alcohol screening

26  test device listed in the United States Department of

27  Transportation's conforming-product list of evidential

28  breath-measurement devices. The reading from such a device is

29  presumed accurate and is admissible in evidence in any

30  administrative hearing conducted under this section.

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  1         (18)  The result of a blood test obtained during an

  2  investigation conducted under s. 316.1932 or s. 316.1933 may

  3  be used to suspend the driving privilege of a person under

  4  this section.

  5         (19)  A law enforcement officer who acts in good faith

  6  and exercises due care in enforcing this section is immune

  7  from civil liability that otherwise might result by reason of

  8  his action.

  9         (20)(18)  A violation of this section is neither a

10  traffic infraction nor a criminal offense, nor does being

11  detained pursuant to this section constitute an arrest.  A

12  violation of this section is subject to the administrative

13  action provisions of this section, which are administered by

14  the department through its administrative processes.

15  Administrative actions taken pursuant to this section shall be

16  recorded in the motor vehicle records maintained by the

17  department.  This section does not bar prosecution under s.

18  316.193. However, if the department suspends a person's

19  license under s. 322.2615 for a violation of s. 316.193, it

20  may not also suspend the person's license under this section

21  for the same episode that was the basis for the suspension

22  under s. 322.2615.

23         Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1999.

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  1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  2                         Senate Bill 1316

  3

  4  1.    Adds that the court must require a person, who receives
          a second or subsequent driving under the influence
  5        conviction, to not operate a motor vehicle for a period
          of at least one year unless the vehicle is equipped with
  6        an ignition interlock device.

  7  2.    Adds that a court must require a person, who tampers
          with the device, or who drives a vehicle without the
  8        device, to have his or her driver's license suspended
          for at least one year.
  9
    3.    Adds that notice of the department's decision to
10        sustain, amend, or invalidate a driver's license
          suspension in certain circumstances must be sent to the
11        offender within 7 working days.

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