1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to driving without a valid license; |
3 | creating the "Deputy Michael Callin, Michael Haligowski, |
4 | and Deputy Ryan C. Seguin Memorial Traffic Safety Act"; |
5 | amending s. 318.14, F.S.; authorizing the court to |
6 | withhold adjudication of certain violations related to |
7 | driving without a valid license if the person cited meets |
8 | certain conditions; providing that the withholding of |
9 | adjudication is not a conviction under certain |
10 | circumstances; amending s. 322.03, F.S.; requiring a |
11 | written judgment signed by the judge and recorded by the |
12 | clerk for cases involving a violation of requirements to |
13 | possess a valid driver license; requiring defendant's |
14 | fingerprints and a certificate to be affixed to the |
15 | written judgment of conviction; providing for content of |
16 | the certificate; requiring the defendant's social security |
17 | number to be affixed to the written judgment of conviction |
18 | or the reason for its absence to be indicated; providing |
19 | that the written judgment constitutes prima facie evidence |
20 | that the fingerprints are the defendant's fingerprints; |
21 | amending s. 322.17, F.S.; providing for issuance of a |
22 | replacement driver license upon notification of a change |
23 | in the licensee's address; removing the fee for a change |
24 | of address; amending s. 322.251, F.S.; requiring |
25 | impoundment and immobilization information to be included |
26 | with notice to a person whose driver license or driving |
27 | privilege is being canceled, suspended, revoked, or |
28 | disqualified; requiring the Department of Highway Safety |
29 | and Motor Vehicles to make driver license status |
30 | information available to the public through the Internet |
31 | and a telephone hotline; requiring the department to |
32 | certify the date of availability of the information upon |
33 | request by certain persons; amending s. 322.34, F.S.; |
34 | providing for application of certain penalty provisions to |
35 | a person who does not have a valid driver license or whose |
36 | driver license or driving privilege has been disqualified; |
37 | revising penalties for driving without a valid license or |
38 | knowingly driving while driver license or driving |
39 | privilege is canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified |
40 | for specified alcohol-related or drug-related convictions |
41 | or refusal to submit to certain testing; revising |
42 | provisions for satisfaction of the element of knowledge; |
43 | requiring a cancellation, suspension, revocation, or |
44 | disqualification by the department or a uniform traffic |
45 | citation to contain a provision notifying the person that |
46 | his or her driver license or driving privilege has been |
47 | canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified; requiring |
48 | impoundment and immobilization information to be included |
49 | with notice to a person whose driver license or driving |
50 | privilege has been canceled, suspended, revoked, or |
51 | disqualified; revising penalty provisions for a habitual |
52 | offender driving while his or her license is revoked; |
53 | providing that a person who causes the death of or serious |
54 | bodily injury to another person by careless or negligent |
55 | operation of a motor vehicle while his or her license or |
56 | driving privilege is canceled, suspended, revoked, or |
57 | disqualified commits a felony of the third degree; |
58 | requiring a written judgment signed by the judge and |
59 | recorded by the clerk for cases involving a violation of |
60 | requirements to possess a valid driver license; requiring |
61 | defendant's fingerprints and a certificate to be affixed |
62 | to the written judgment of conviction; providing for |
63 | content of the certificate; requiring the defendant's |
64 | social security number to be affixed to the written |
65 | judgment of conviction or the reason for its absence to be |
66 | indicated; providing that the written judgment constitutes |
67 | prima facie evidence that the fingerprints are the |
68 | defendant's fingerprints; amending s. 322.34, F.S.; |
69 | requiring a law enforcement officer who determines that a |
70 | motor vehicle is being driven by or under the actual |
71 | physical control of a person whose driver license or |
72 | driving privilege is canceled, suspended, revoked, or |
73 | disqualified to impound or immobilize the motor vehicle; |
74 | providing for notice to the driver; providing for |
75 | impoundment and immobilization of the motor vehicle by the |
76 | department; providing for notice to registered owners of |
77 | the motor vehicle and lienholders; providing for the |
78 | department to commence impoundment or immobilization at |
79 | the scene where the motor vehicle was immobilized; |
80 | providing procedures; providing for release of the motor |
81 | vehicle; requiring department records to contain |
82 | impoundment and immobilization information; providing for |
83 | payment of costs; providing for certain fees and |
84 | distribution of moneys collected; requiring the department |
85 | to authorize release of the motor vehicle upon |
86 | satisfaction of all requirements; prohibiting operation of |
87 | an immobilized motor vehicle; providing for an immobilized |
88 | motor vehicle that is found being operated upon any street |
89 | or highway in this state before release from |
90 | immobilization to be seized and subject to forfeit; |
91 | authorizing the department to contract with vendors; |
92 | directing the department to inform the person whose driver |
93 | license or driving privilege has been canceled, suspended, |
94 | revoked, or disqualified that any motor vehicle driven by |
95 | or under the actual physical control of that person is |
96 | subject to impoundment and immobilization; requiring the |
97 | department to make driver license status information |
98 | available to the public through the Internet and a |
99 | telephone hotline; authorizing the department to adopt |
100 | rules; providing penalties for knowingly aiding a person |
101 | whose driver license or driving privilege is canceled, |
102 | suspended, revoked, or disqualified by providing a motor |
103 | vehicle or authorizing use of a motor vehicle; providing |
104 | for a rebuttable presumption of satisfaction of the |
105 | knowledge requirement; amending s. 322.341, F.S.; revising |
106 | penalty provisions for a person who drives a motor vehicle |
107 | when his or her driver license has been permanently |
108 | revoked; amending s. 932.701, F.S.; revising the |
109 | definition of "contraband article" to include certain |
110 | seized motor vehicles for purposes of the Florida |
111 | Contraband Forfeiture Act; directing the department to |
112 | inform drivers whose license or driving privilege has been |
113 | canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified and the |
114 | motoring public of the provisions for impoundment and |
115 | immobilization of motor vehicles under this act; providing |
116 | effective dates. |
117 |
|
118 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
119 |
|
120 | Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Deputy Michael |
121 | Callin, Michael Haligowski, and Deputy Ryan C. Seguin Memorial |
122 | Traffic Safety Act." |
123 | Section 2. Subsection (11) of section 318.14, Florida |
124 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
125 | 318.14 Noncriminal traffic infractions; exception; |
126 | procedures.-- |
127 | (11)(a) If adjudication is withheld for any person |
128 | pursuant to subsection (9) or subsection (10) charged or cited |
129 | under this section, such action is not a conviction. |
130 | (b) If a person is cited for a violation of s. |
131 | 322.34(2)(a) or (b) with a license that has been suspended |
132 | solely for failure to appear, failure to pay a civil penalty, or |
133 | failure to attend a driver improvement course pursuant to s. |
134 | 322.291 and such person provides to the court a valid or |
135 | reinstated driver's license and proper proof of maintenance of |
136 | security as required by s. 316.646, the court may withhold |
137 | adjudication pursuant to this subsection. If adjudication is |
138 | withheld for any person pursuant to this paragraph, such action |
139 | is not a conviction if adjudication has not been withheld under |
140 | this paragraph for a prior offense during the 3 years before the |
141 | date of the cited offense. |
142 | Section 3. Subsection (7) is added to section 322.03, |
143 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
144 | 322.03 Drivers must be licensed; penalties.-- |
145 | (7)(a) Every judgment for a violation of subsection (1), |
146 | regardless of whether adjudication is withheld, shall be in |
147 | writing, signed by the judge, and recorded by the clerk of the |
148 | circuit court. |
149 | 1. In open court and in the presence of the judge, the |
150 | judge shall cause the fingerprints of the defendant against whom |
151 | the judgment is rendered to be affixed beneath the judge's |
152 | signature to the written judgment of conviction. Beneath the |
153 | fingerprints shall be appended a certificate to the following |
154 | effect: |
155 |
|
156 | "I hereby certify that the above fingerprints are those of the |
157 | defendant, (name of defendant), and that they were placed |
158 | thereon by said defendant in my presence, in open court, this |
159 | the .... day of ...., (year)." |
160 | 2. The certificate shall be signed by the judge, whose |
161 | signature shall be followed by the word "Judge." |
162 | 3. At the time the defendant's fingerprints are taken, the |
163 | judge shall also cause the defendant's social security number to |
164 | be taken. The defendant's social security number shall be |
165 | affixed to every written judgment of conviction in open court, |
166 | in the presence of the judge, and at the time the judgment is |
167 | rendered. If the defendant is unable or unwilling to provide his |
168 | or her social security number, the reason for its absence shall |
169 | be indicated on the written judgment. |
170 | (b) Any such written judgment, or a certified copy |
171 | thereof, shall be admissible in evidence in the several courts |
172 | of this state as prima facie evidence that the fingerprints |
173 | appearing thereon and certified by the judge are the |
174 | fingerprints of the defendant against whom that judgment was |
175 | rendered. |
176 | Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 322.17, Florida |
177 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
178 | 322.17 Duplicate and replacement certificates.-- |
179 | (2) Upon the surrender of the original license and the |
180 | payment of a $10 replacement fee, the department shall issue a |
181 | replacement license to make a change in name, address, or |
182 | restrictions. Upon written request by the licensee and |
183 | notification of a change in address, and the payment of a $10 |
184 | fee, the department shall issue a replacement license an address |
185 | sticker which shall be affixed to the back of the license by the |
186 | licensee. Nine dollars of the fee levied in this subsection |
187 | shall go to the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund of the |
188 | department. |
189 | Section 5. Subsections (1) and (6) of section 322.251, |
190 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
191 | 322.251 Notice of cancellation, suspension, revocation, or |
192 | disqualification of license.-- |
193 | (1) All orders of cancellation, suspension, revocation, or |
194 | disqualification issued under the provisions of this chapter, |
195 | chapter 318, chapter 324, or ss. 627.732-627.734 shall be given |
196 | either by personal delivery thereof to the licensee whose |
197 | license is being canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified |
198 | or by deposit in the United States mail in an envelope, first |
199 | class, postage prepaid, addressed to the licensee at his or her |
200 | last known mailing address furnished to the department. Such |
201 | mailing by the department constitutes notification, and any |
202 | failure by the person to receive the mailed order will not |
203 | affect or stay the effective date or term of the cancellation, |
204 | suspension, revocation, or disqualification of the licensee's |
205 | driving privilege. Notification of cancellation, suspension, |
206 | revocation, or disqualification given by the department under |
207 | this section shall also inform the person whose license or |
208 | driving privilege has been canceled, suspended, revoked, or |
209 | disqualified that any motor vehicle driven by or under the |
210 | actual physical control of that person while the license or |
211 | driving privilege is canceled, suspended, revoked, or |
212 | disqualified is subject to impoundment and immobilization under |
213 | s. 322.34; however, any failure by the department to include the |
214 | impoundment and immobilization information with the notification |
215 | or any failure by the person to receive that information will |
216 | not affect or stay the effective date or term of the |
217 | cancellation, suspension, revocation, or disqualification of the |
218 | licensee's driving privilege and will not preclude, bar, or |
219 | otherwise affect the impoundment or immobilization of a motor |
220 | vehicle under s. 322.34. |
221 | (6)(a) Whenever a cancellation, suspension, revocation, or |
222 | disqualification occurs, the department shall enter the |
223 | cancellation, suspension, revocation, or disqualification order |
224 | on the licensee's driver file 20 days after the notice was |
225 | actually placed in the mail. Any inquiry into the file after the |
226 | 20-day period shall reveal that the license is canceled, |
227 | suspended, revoked, or disqualified and whether the license has |
228 | been received by the department. |
229 | (b)1. The department shall make available on its Internet |
230 | website the means to determine the status of a person's driver's |
231 | license by entering the person's driver's license number or the |
232 | person's name and date of birth and the last four digits of the |
233 | person's social security number. The department shall also |
234 | provide a telephone hotline to provide callers with the status |
235 | of a person's driver's license. The information provided on the |
236 | Internet website or via the telephone hotline under this |
237 | subparagraph shall include the date and time that information |
238 | was first made available to the public. |
239 | 2. Upon request from any law enforcement agency or officer |
240 | of the court, the department shall certify the date and time the |
241 | information was first made available to the public under |
242 | subparagraph 1. |
243 | Section 6. Effective October 1, 2007, subsections (1), |
244 | (2), (4), (5), and (6) of section 322.34, Florida Statutes, are |
245 | amended, and subsection (10) is added to that section, to read: |
246 | 322.34 Driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, |
247 | or disqualified.-- |
248 | (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) and s. 322.341, |
249 | any person whose driver's license or driving privilege has been |
250 | canceled, suspended, or revoked, or disqualified, except a |
251 | "habitual traffic offender" as defined in s. 322.264, who drives |
252 | a vehicle upon the highways of this state while such license or |
253 | privilege is canceled, suspended, or revoked, or disqualified |
254 | commits is guilty of a moving violation, punishable as provided |
255 | in chapter 318. |
256 | (2) Except as provided in s. 322.341, any person whose |
257 | driver's license or driving privilege has been canceled, |
258 | suspended, or revoked, or disqualified as provided by law, |
259 | except persons defined in s. 322.264, who, knowing of such |
260 | cancellation, suspension, or revocation, or disqualification, |
261 | drives any motor vehicle upon the highways of this state while |
262 | such license or privilege is canceled, suspended, or revoked, or |
263 | disqualified, or any person who drives any motor vehicle upon |
264 | the highways of this state without having a valid driver's |
265 | license as required under s. 322.03, upon: |
266 | (a) A first conviction is guilty of a misdemeanor of the |
267 | second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
268 | 775.083, except that any person whose driver's license or |
269 | driving privilege was canceled, suspended, revoked, or |
270 | disqualified under s. 322.2615 relating to unlawful blood- |
271 | alcohol level or breath-alcohol level or for refusal to submit |
272 | to a breath, urine, or blood test authorized by s. 316.1932, s. |
273 | 322.28(2)(a) for a violation of s. 316.193 or s. 316.1931 |
274 | prohibiting driving under the influence, s. 316.655(2) for an |
275 | alcohol-related or drug-related conviction, or s. 316.1939 for |
276 | refusal to submit to testing is guilty of a misdemeanor of the |
277 | first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
278 | 775.083, and the court must order imprisonment for not less than |
279 | 30 days. |
280 | (b) A second conviction is guilty of a misdemeanor of the |
281 | first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. |
282 | 775.083. |
283 | (c) A third or subsequent conviction is guilty of a felony |
284 | of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. |
285 | 775.083, or s. 775.084. |
286 |
|
287 | The element of knowledge is satisfied if the person has been |
288 | previously cited as provided in subsection (1); or the person |
289 | admits to knowledge of the cancellation, suspension, or |
290 | revocation, or disqualification; or the person received notice |
291 | as provided in subsection (4). There shall be a rebuttable |
292 | presumption that the knowledge requirement is satisfied if a |
293 | judgment or order or a cancellation, suspension, revocation, or |
294 | disqualification by the department as provided in subsection (4) |
295 | appears in the department's records for any case except for one |
296 | involving a suspension by the department for failure to pay a |
297 | traffic fine or for a financial responsibility violation. |
298 | (4) Any judgment or order rendered by a court or |
299 | adjudicatory body, any cancellation, suspension, revocation, or |
300 | disqualification by the department, or any uniform traffic |
301 | citation that cancels, suspends, or revokes, or disqualifies a |
302 | person's driver's license must contain a provision notifying the |
303 | person that his or her driver's license has been canceled, |
304 | suspended, or revoked, or disqualified and must inform the |
305 | person that any motor vehicle driven by that person while the |
306 | license is canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified shall |
307 | be impounded or immobilized pursuant to this section. |
308 | (5) Any person whose driver's license has been revoked |
309 | pursuant to s. 322.264 (habitual offender) and who drives any |
310 | motor vehicle upon the highways of this state while such license |
311 | is revoked commits is guilty of a felony of the third degree, |
312 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, |
313 | and the court must order imprisonment for not less than 60 days. |
314 | (6) Any person who operates a motor vehicle: |
315 | (a) Without having a driver's license as required under s. |
316 | 322.03; or |
317 | (b) While his or her driver's license or driving privilege |
318 | is canceled, suspended, or revoked, or disqualified pursuant to |
319 | s. 316.655, s. 322.26(8), s. 322.27(2), or s. 322.28(2) or (4), |
320 |
|
321 | and who by careless or negligent operation of the motor vehicle |
322 | causes the death of or serious bodily injury to another human |
323 | being, commits is guilty of a felony of the third degree, |
324 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
325 | (10)(a) With respect to any offense governed by the |
326 | provisions of this section, regardless of whether adjudication |
327 | is withheld, every judgment shall be in writing, signed by the |
328 | judge, and recorded by the clerk of the circuit court. |
329 | 1. In open court and in the presence of the judge, the |
330 | judge shall cause the fingerprints of the defendant against whom |
331 | the judgment is rendered to be affixed beneath the judge's |
332 | signature to the written judgment of conviction. Beneath the |
333 | fingerprints shall be appended a certificate to the following |
334 | effect: |
335 |
|
336 | "I hereby certify that the above fingerprints are those of the |
337 | defendant, (name of defendant), and that they were placed |
338 | thereon by said defendant in my presence, in open court, this |
339 | the .... day of ...., (year)." |
340 | 2. The certificate shall be signed by the judge, whose |
341 | signature shall be followed by the word "Judge." |
342 | 3. At the time the defendant's fingerprints are taken, the |
343 | judge shall also cause the defendant's social security number to |
344 | be taken. The defendant's social security number shall be |
345 | affixed to every written judgment of conviction in open court, |
346 | in the presence of the judge, and at the time the judgment is |
347 | rendered. If the defendant is unable or unwilling to provide his |
348 | or her social security number, the reason for its absence shall |
349 | be indicated on the written judgment. |
350 | (b) Any such written judgment, or a certified copy |
351 | thereof, shall be admissible in evidence in the several courts |
352 | of this state as prima facie evidence that the fingerprints |
353 | appearing thereon and certified by the judge are the |
354 | fingerprints of the defendant against whom that judgment was |
355 | rendered. |
356 | Section 7. Effective July 1, 2008, subsections (3) and (8) |
357 | of section 322.34, Florida Statutes, as amended by this act, are |
358 | amended, and subsection (11) is added to that section, to read: |
359 | 322.34 Driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, |
360 | or disqualified.-- |
361 | (3) In any proceeding for a violation of this section, a |
362 | court may consider evidence, other than that specified in |
363 | subsection (2) or subsection (11), that the person knowingly |
364 | violated this section. |
365 | (8)(a)1. If a law enforcement officer determines that a |
366 | motor vehicle is being driven by or is under the actual physical |
367 | control of a person whose driver's license or driving privilege |
368 | is canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified, the officer |
369 | shall immediately impound the motor vehicle or immobilize the |
370 | motor vehicle by installing an immobilization device on the |
371 | vehicle or removing the vehicle registration tag. The officer |
372 | shall serve notice of the impoundment or immobilization upon the |
373 | driver. The notice shall include the location where the motor |
374 | vehicle is being held and information on the procedures to have |
375 | the motor vehicle released from impoundment or immobilization by |
376 | a department-approved vendor. If the law enforcement officer |
377 | removes the vehicle registration tag, the tag shall be given to |
378 | the department or the department's agent and held until the |
379 | motor vehicle is released from impoundment or immobilization. A |
380 | law enforcement officer who proceeds in good faith to immobilize |
381 | or impound a vehicle under this section shall not be responsible |
382 | for any towing, immobilizing, or impounding fees. |
383 | 2. A law enforcement officer impounding or immobilizing a |
384 | motor vehicle under subparagraph 1. shall notify the department |
385 | or the department's agent within 24 hours to effect impoundment |
386 | or immobilization under this paragraph. The department or the |
387 | department's agent shall remove and impound or immobilize the |
388 | motor vehicle at another location. The motor vehicle may be |
389 | immobilized by installation of an immobilization device on the |
390 | vehicle or removal of the vehicle registration tag; however, the |
391 | impounding company shall not release the motor vehicle for |
392 | immobilization at another location without proof that the |
393 | immobilization vendor is approved by the department. The motor |
394 | vehicle shall remain in impound or immobilized until the owner |
395 | or lessee receives authorization from the department for release |
396 | of the motor vehicle under the provisions of this subsection. |
397 | The department is authorized to adopt by rule procedures for |
398 | removal and immobilization of the motor vehicle by a department- |
399 | approved vendor from the location where the motor vehicle was |
400 | impounded or immobilized by the law enforcement officer under |
401 | subparagraph 1. |
402 | 3. A motor vehicle impounded or immobilized under this |
403 | paragraph that, according to the records of the department, is |
404 | owned or leased by the person who was driving or in actual |
405 | physical control of the motor vehicle when it was stopped and |
406 | impounded or immobilized under subparagraph 1. shall remain |
407 | impounded or immobilized until the person's license and driving |
408 | privilege are reinstated and payment of the fees imposed under |
409 | paragraph (c) and all costs of towing, impoundment, |
410 | immobilization, and storage has been made. If department records |
411 | show a different owner or lessee, the motor vehicle shall be |
412 | released to that owner or lessee or the owner's or lessee's |
413 | agent upon payment of the fees imposed under paragraph (c) and |
414 | all costs of towing, impoundment, immobilization, and storage. |
415 | The department's records shall reflect that the motor vehicle is |
416 | immobilized or impounded. |
417 | (b) Within 7 business days after the date the law |
418 | enforcement agency or the department impounds or immobilizes the |
419 | motor vehicle under this subsection, the department shall send |
420 | notice of the impoundment or immobilization by certified mail, |
421 | return receipt requested, to any registered owners or coowners |
422 | of the motor vehicle other than the driver and to each person of |
423 | record claiming a lien against the motor vehicle. The notice |
424 | shall include the location where the motor vehicle is being held |
425 | and information on the procedures to have the motor vehicle |
426 | released from impoundment or immobilization by a department- |
427 | approved vendor. All costs and fees for the impoundment or |
428 | immobilization, including the cost of notification, must be paid |
429 | by the owner of the motor vehicle or, if the motor vehicle is |
430 | leased, by the person leasing the motor vehicle. |
431 | (c)1. The department shall collect a $30 processing fee |
432 | from the owner or lessee prior to release of any motor vehicle |
433 | immobilized or impounded under this subsection. Moneys collected |
434 | under this subparagraph shall be forwarded to the Department of |
435 | Revenue for deposit into the State Transportation Trust Fund |
436 | created under s. 206.46 to be used to carry out public transit |
437 | responsibilities of the Department of Transportation under s. |
438 | 341.041. |
439 | 2. The department shall charge a reasonable fee, not to |
440 | exceed $6, to the owner or lessee of the motor vehicle to cover |
441 | the operational costs of the program and the cost of |
442 | immobilizing or impounding the motor vehicle. Fees collected |
443 | under this subparagraph shall be deposited in the Operating |
444 | Trust Fund of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor |
445 | Vehicles. |
446 | (d) Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements under |
447 | this subsection for release of the motor vehicle, the department |
448 | shall authorize release of the motor vehicle to the owner or |
449 | lessee. |
450 | (e) A motor vehicle immobilized under this subsection may |
451 | not be operated in this state until released from immobilization |
452 | by the department or the department's agent. A motor vehicle |
453 | immobilized under this subsection that is found being operated |
454 | upon any street or highway in this state before being released |
455 | by the department or the department's agent shall be seized and |
456 | removed from the street or highway and may be forfeited pursuant |
457 | to ss. 932.701-932.704. |
458 | (f) The department may contract with vendors to carry out |
459 | the provisions of this subsection. |
460 | (g) Notification of cancellation, suspension, revocation, |
461 | or disqualification given by the department under s. 322.251 |
462 | shall also inform the person whose driver's license or driving |
463 | privilege has been canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified |
464 | that any motor vehicle driven by or under the actual physical |
465 | control of that person while the license or driving privilege is |
466 | canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified is subject to |
467 | impoundment and immobilization under this subsection; however, |
468 | failure to receive the information shall not preclude, bar, or |
469 | otherwise affect the impoundment or immobilization of a motor |
470 | vehicle under this subsection. |
471 | (h) The department shall make available on its Internet |
472 | website the means to determine the status of a person's driver's |
473 | license by entering the driver's license number or name and date |
474 | of birth of the licensee. The department shall also provide a |
475 | telephone hotline to provide callers with the status of a |
476 | person's driver's license. |
477 | (i) The department may adopt rules pursuant to ss. |
478 | 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this |
479 | subsection. Upon the arrest of a person for the offense of |
480 | driving while the person's driver's license or driving privilege |
481 | is suspended or revoked, the arresting officer shall determine: |
482 | 1. Whether the person's driver's license is suspended or |
483 | revoked. |
484 | 2. Whether the person's driver's license has remained |
485 | suspended or revoked since a conviction for the offense of |
486 | driving with a suspended or revoked license. |
487 | 3. Whether the suspension or revocation was made under s. |
488 | 316.646 or s. 627.733, relating to failure to maintain required |
489 | security, or under s. 322.264, relating to habitual traffic |
490 | offenders. |
491 | 4. Whether the driver is the registered owner or coowner |
492 | of the vehicle. |
493 | (b) If the arresting officer finds in the affirmative as |
494 | to all of the criteria in paragraph (a), the officer shall |
495 | immediately impound or immobilize the vehicle. |
496 | (c) Within 7 business days after the date the arresting |
497 | agency impounds or immobilizes the vehicle, either the arresting |
498 | agency or the towing service, whichever is in possession of the |
499 | vehicle, shall send notice by certified mail, return receipt |
500 | requested, to any coregistered owners of the vehicle other than |
501 | the person arrested and to each person of record claiming a lien |
502 | against the vehicle. All costs and fees for the impoundment or |
503 | immobilization, including the cost of notification, must be paid |
504 | by the owner of the vehicle or, if the vehicle is leased, by the |
505 | person leasing the vehicle. |
506 | (d) Either the arresting agency or the towing service, |
507 | whichever is in possession of the vehicle, shall determine |
508 | whether any vehicle impounded or immobilized under this section |
509 | has been leased or rented or if there are any persons of record |
510 | with a lien upon the vehicle. Either the arresting agency or the |
511 | towing service, whichever is in possession of the vehicle, shall |
512 | notify by express courier service with receipt or certified |
513 | mail, return receipt requested, within 7 business days after the |
514 | date of the immobilization or impoundment of the vehicle, the |
515 | registered owner and all persons having a recorded lien against |
516 | the vehicle that the vehicle has been impounded or immobilized. |
517 | A lessor, rental car company, or lienholder may then obtain the |
518 | vehicle, upon payment of any lawful towing or storage charges. |
519 | If the vehicle is a rental vehicle subject to a written |
520 | contract, the charges may be separately charged to the renter, |
521 | in addition to the rental rate, along with other separate fees, |
522 | charges, and recoupments disclosed on the rental agreement. If |
523 | the storage facility fails to provide timely notice to a lessor, |
524 | rental car company, or lienholder as required by this paragraph, |
525 | the storage facility shall be responsible for payment of any |
526 | towing or storage charges necessary to release the vehicle to a |
527 | lessor, rental car company, or lienholder that accrue after the |
528 | notice period, which charges may then be assessed against the |
529 | driver of the vehicle if the vehicle was lawfully impounded or |
530 | immobilized. |
531 | (e) Except as provided in paragraph (d), the vehicle shall |
532 | remain impounded or immobilized for any period imposed by the |
533 | court until: |
534 | 1. The owner presents proof of insurance to the arresting |
535 | agency; or |
536 | 2. The owner presents proof of sale of the vehicle to the |
537 | arresting agency and the buyer presents proof of insurance to |
538 | the arresting agency. |
539 |
|
540 | If proof is not presented within 35 days after the impoundment |
541 | or immobilization, a lien shall be placed upon such vehicle |
542 | pursuant to s. 713.78. |
543 | (f) The owner of a vehicle that is impounded or |
544 | immobilized under this subsection may, within 10 days after the |
545 | date the owner has knowledge of the location of the vehicle, |
546 | file a complaint in the county in which the owner resides to |
547 | determine whether the vehicle was wrongfully taken or withheld. |
548 | Upon the filing of a complaint, the owner may have the vehicle |
549 | released by posting with the court a bond or other adequate |
550 | security equal to the amount of the costs and fees for |
551 | impoundment or immobilization, including towing or storage, to |
552 | ensure the payment of such costs and fees if the owner does not |
553 | prevail. When the vehicle owner does not prevail on a complaint |
554 | that the vehicle was wrongfully taken or withheld, he or she |
555 | must pay the accrued charges for the immobilization or |
556 | impoundment, including any towing and storage charges assessed |
557 | against the vehicle. When the bond is posted and the fee is paid |
558 | as set forth in s. 28.24, the clerk of the court shall issue a |
559 | certificate releasing the vehicle. At the time of release, after |
560 | reasonable inspection, the owner must give a receipt to the |
561 | towing or storage company indicating any loss or damage to the |
562 | vehicle or to the contents of the vehicle. |
563 | (11) Any owner or lessee of a motor vehicle who knowingly |
564 | allows, permits, or authorizes a person whose driver's license |
565 | or driving privilege has been canceled, suspended, revoked, or |
566 | disqualified to drive the motor vehicle upon the streets or |
567 | highways of this state or knowingly gives, leases, lends, or |
568 | otherwise provides the motor vehicle to a person whose driver's |
569 | license or driving privilege has been canceled, suspended, |
570 | revoked, or disqualified while such license or privilege is |
571 | canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified commits a |
572 | misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. |
573 | 775.082 or s. 775.083. The element of knowledge is satisfied if |
574 | the owner or lessee has been previously charged under this |
575 | subsection for providing a motor vehicle to the same person; the |
576 | owner admits to knowledge of the cancellation, suspension, |
577 | revocation, or disqualification of the driver's license or |
578 | driving privilege of the driver; or the owner received notice as |
579 | provided in subsection (8) relating to the same driver. There |
580 | shall be a rebuttable presumption that the knowledge requirement |
581 | is satisfied if the cancellation, suspension, revocation, or |
582 | disqualification appears in the department's records and that |
583 | information is available to the public through the department's |
584 | Internet website or a telephone hotline. |
585 | Section 8. Effective October 1, 2007, section 322.341, |
586 | Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
587 | 322.341 Driving while license permanently revoked.--Any |
588 | person whose driver's license or driving privilege has been |
589 | permanently revoked pursuant to s. 322.26 or s. 322.28 and who |
590 | drives a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state commits |
591 | is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as |
592 | provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, and the court |
593 | must order imprisonment for not less than 90 days. |
594 | Section 9. Effective July 1, 2008, paragraph (a) of |
595 | subsection (2) of section 932.701, Florida Statutes, is amended |
596 | to read: |
597 | 932.701 Short title; definitions.-- |
598 | (2) As used in the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act: |
599 | (a) "Contraband article" means: |
600 | 1. Any controlled substance as defined in chapter 893 or |
601 | any substance, device, paraphernalia, or currency or other means |
602 | of exchange that was used, was attempted to be used, or was |
603 | intended to be used in violation of any provision of chapter |
604 | 893, if the totality of the facts presented by the state is |
605 | clearly sufficient to meet the state's burden of establishing |
606 | probable cause to believe that a nexus exists between the |
607 | article seized and the narcotics activity, whether or not the |
608 | use of the contraband article can be traced to a specific |
609 | narcotics transaction. |
610 | 2. Any gambling paraphernalia, lottery tickets, money, |
611 | currency, or other means of exchange which was used, was |
612 | attempted, or intended to be used in violation of the gambling |
613 | laws of the state. |
614 | 3. Any equipment, liquid or solid, which was being used, |
615 | is being used, was attempted to be used, or intended to be used |
616 | in violation of the beverage or tobacco laws of the state. |
617 | 4. Any motor fuel upon which the motor fuel tax has not |
618 | been paid as required by law. |
619 | 5. Any personal property, including, but not limited to, |
620 | any vessel, aircraft, item, object, tool, substance, device, |
621 | weapon, machine, vehicle of any kind, money, securities, books, |
622 | records, research, negotiable instruments, or currency, which |
623 | was used or was attempted to be used as an instrumentality in |
624 | the commission of, or in aiding or abetting in the commission |
625 | of, any felony, whether or not comprising an element of the |
626 | felony, or which is acquired by proceeds obtained as a result of |
627 | a violation of the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act. |
628 | 6. Any real property, including any right, title, |
629 | leasehold, or other interest in the whole of any lot or tract of |
630 | land, which was used, is being used, or was attempted to be used |
631 | as an instrumentality in the commission of, or in aiding or |
632 | abetting in the commission of, any felony, or which is acquired |
633 | by proceeds obtained as a result of a violation of the Florida |
634 | Contraband Forfeiture Act. |
635 | 7. Any personal property, including, but not limited to, |
636 | equipment, money, securities, books, records, research, |
637 | negotiable instruments, currency, or any vessel, aircraft, item, |
638 | object, tool, substance, device, weapon, machine, or vehicle of |
639 | any kind in the possession of or belonging to any person who |
640 | takes aquaculture products in violation of s. 812.014(2)(c). |
641 | 8. Any motor vehicle offered for sale in violation of s. |
642 | 320.28. |
643 | 9. Any motor vehicle used during the course of committing |
644 | an offense in violation of s. 322.34(8)(e) or (9)(a). |
645 | 10. Any photograph, film, or other recorded image, |
646 | including an image recorded on videotape, a compact disc, |
647 | digital tape, or fixed disk, that is recorded in violation of s. |
648 | 810.145 and is possessed for the purpose of amusement, |
649 | entertainment, sexual arousal, gratification, or profit, or for |
650 | the purpose of degrading or abusing another person. |
651 | 11. Any real property, including any right, title, |
652 | leasehold, or other interest in the whole of any lot or tract of |
653 | land, which is acquired by proceeds obtained as a result of |
654 | Medicaid fraud under s. 409.920 or s. 409.9201; any personal |
655 | property, including, but not limited to, equipment, money, |
656 | securities, books, records, research, negotiable instruments, or |
657 | currency; or any vessel, aircraft, item, object, tool, |
658 | substance, device, weapon, machine, or vehicle of any kind in |
659 | the possession of or belonging to any person which is acquired |
660 | by proceeds obtained as a result of Medicaid fraud under s. |
661 | 409.920 or s. 409.9201. |
662 | Section 10. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor |
663 | Vehicles shall inform the motoring public of the changes to s. |
664 | 322.34, Florida Statutes, made by this act relating to |
665 | impoundment or immobilization of a motor vehicle being driven by |
666 | a person whose driver license is canceled, suspended, revoked, |
667 | or disqualified and shall provide such information in newly |
668 | printed driver license educational materials after July 1, 2007, |
669 | and in public service announcements produced in cooperation with |
670 | the Florida Highway Patrol. |
671 | Section 11. During the period from July 1, 2007, to July |
672 | 1, 2008, the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles |
673 | shall notify by mail persons whose driver license or driving |
674 | privilege has been canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified |
675 | of the changes to s. 322.34, Florida Statutes, made by this act |
676 | relating to impoundment or immobilization of a motor vehicle |
677 | being driven by such person; however, failure to receive such |
678 | notification shall not preclude, bar, or otherwise affect the |
679 | impoundment or immobilization of a motor vehicle under s. |
680 | 322.34, Florida Statutes. |
681 | Section 12. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
682 | act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2007. |