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H05992018 Regular SessionSigned into law

Amends existing law to revise the penalties for driving without privileges.

DRIVING WITHOUT PRIVILEGES -- Amends existing law to revise the penalties for driving without privileges.

IntroducedIn CommitteeFloor VoteEnacted
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This legislation would reclassify driving without a license (49-301, Idaho Code) from a misdemeanor to a first and second offense infraction with third and subsequent violations remaining a misdemeanor. For certain driver's license suspensions, driving on a suspended license would be reduced to an infraction (18-8001(b), Idaho Code). For remaining misdemeanor violations for driving on a suspended license (18-8001(a), Idaho Code), the legislation would eliminate statutory mandatory minimum jail sentences. The legislation also would reinstate driving privileges for certain citizens previously suspended for no other reason than non-payment. This would reduce the caseload in the courts and the demand for public defense services. It would also have a potential reduction in demand on county jails as well as alleviating a cycle of indigent citizens being unable to pay fines in one case, resulting in further charges being filed against them, resulting in a greater inability to pay. Under current law, fines levied as part of misdemeanor violations are sent to dedicated funds while infraction fines are distributed differently. The proposed legislation includes provisions that keep moneys from infraction fines paid under this revision going to the same places to which the misdemeanor fines are currently routed.

house Chamber· Mar 1, 2018

House Third Reading

✓ Passed
69 Yea
0 Nay
1 absentPassed by 69 votes
Republican
58 yea/0 nay
Democrat
11 yea/0 nay
Show all 69 voter names

ABSENT / NOT VOTING (1)

Reported Signed by Governor on March 27, 2018 Session Law Chapter 298 Effective: 07/01/2018

Session
2018
Chamber
house
Status date
Mar 27, 2018
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