THE 2012 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

A new year means a new legislative session. This year’s session will be short and most of the media attention will be on the Vikings stadium and bonding. There have been limited bills entered this year in the area of traffic safety and the list below includes some from  last year that directly concern the mission of Minnesotans for Safe Driving.  The following list will be added to as bills are submitted.

MINNESOTANS FOR SAFE DRIVING’s main bill of interest is HF 68 and SF 201 and Sen. DeKrief  & Rep. Garafolo are the chief authors. This bill calls for the enhancement of the penalty when a death or serious injury results from a negligent non-alcohol related traffic crash. The reason we support this important change is listed below

5 reasons to increase penalties for non- alcohol related crashes

• The change  will illustrate to the public the seriousness of negligent driving just as enhancing the penalties did with drunk driving in the 80’s.  Hopefully with the combination of stiffer penalties and more awareness as to the result and consequences of negligent driving; the number of deaths and serious injuries will decrease as the public accepts their personal responsibility to follow the laws of the road and keep their distractions to a minimum

This change will Save Lives

• The offender would be on probation longer,  with conditions given regulating  their driving  behavior and more penalties will be given such as jail time and fines
• The offender must appear in court and the prosecutor must be involved in the case unlike what can happen now.
• The change will help victims feel that the court system and the public perceive the seriousness of the crash that killed or seriously injured their loved one. It wasn’t a  “tragic accident” it was a preventable crash and the actions of the driver was criminal.
• Crimes committed in  Minnesota pertaining to property loss, injury or death of a person are enhanced based on the amount of property taken, or the seriousness of the injury except with non-alcohol related traffic deaths and injuries. If the crash was caused by negligence it should be treated as a crime.  It is time for a change!!

OTHER LEGISLATION
Some we are for and some we are against

• HF 2006 allow 18-20 year olds to drink alcohol in bars and restaurants  and allow 16 to 18 year olds to drink alcohol in public while with their parents Rep. Kahn
• HF 1719 use word “drug” instead of “hazardous substance”   Rep Nornes
• HF 1714  & HF 1632 & SF 1315 alcohol tax  2.5% for alcohol related issues (property taxes)  Rep Clark
• HF 1535/ SF 1240 Rep. Cornish--  Sen. Thompson
• ATV (off road) seized vehicles – police must leave a receipt with person or area where the vehicle was taken
• Bond by owner for getting possession back while court case is going on
• Petition for remission  provided for prosecuting authority to remit or mitigate forfeiture
• Change administration of forfeiture
• Require judicial determination to be held at the earliest practical date
• Change disposition of sales of forfeiture vehicles
• Amends the law to increase monetary limit of conciliation court to $15,000
• And some other changes in terms

• HF1109/SF 1082 Rep. Smith & Sen. Ingebrigtsen Applicability of implied consent revocation. Strikes a reference to clause (2) and restates the language using the term "twice the legal limit" (.16 BAC) instead of "aggravating factor" (.20 BAC). This provision is in line with changes made last year in chapter
• HF 1482 payment  For DL can include credit card Rep. Beard
• HF 1955 clarifying  “move over law”  allowing for the inability to move over a lane  Rep. Beard
• HF 2074 moving all 55 mph highways to 60 mph Rep. Fabian
• SF   18 no cell phone use Sen Wigen
• SF 1571 changing insurance requirement for limited license from 12 mos. To 6 mos. Sen Latz
• SF 1825 Sen. Nienow technical bill  Prior driving while impaired (DWI) drivers license revocations and convictions criminal penalty enhancements authority
• SF 471 Sen.Newman driver diversion program to include county programs

Follow the legislative procedure by going to the website of the Minnesota Legislature www.leg.state.mn.us

How a bill becomes law www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/howbill.asp

To find out who your legislator is go to www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/districtfinder.asp

If you are looking for traffic safety rules, regulations and laws go to www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169

And for alcohol and drug traffic laws www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=169A