HCSHB346--DIVERSIONPROGRAMS
SPONSOR: Roberts
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonCrimePreventionandPublicSafetybyavoteof14to
6.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
346.
Thisbillcreatesacriminalcasediversionprogramspecifically
forcasesinvolvingdrivingundertheinfluence. Insuchcases,
thecurrentdiversionprogramavailabletoprosecutorswillnot
apply;instead,theprovisionsofthisbillshallapply.A
prosecutormaydivertacriminalcaseinvolvingdrivingunderthe
influenceifcertainrequirements,specifiedinthebill,aremet
andthedefendantconsents. Suchdiversionmaycontinueforupto
twoyears,andthedefendantmaybeorderedtocomplywith
appropriateterms,conditionsorprograms. Onesuchrequirementis
theinstallationofanignitioninterlockdeviceforaperiodofno
lessthan12monthsonanyvehiclethedefendantoperates,andthe
defendantwillbeprohibitedfromoperatingavehiclethatisnot
equippedwithanignitioninterlockdevice.Theinstallerofthe
ignitioninterlockdevicemustnotifytheDepartmentofRevenueif
thedeviceisremovedorindicatesthatapersonhasattemptedto
remove,bypass,ortamperwiththedevice;ifthepersonfails
threeormoretimestocomplywithanyrequirementforthe
maintenanceorcalibrationofthedevice;orifthedevice
registersafailedstart.Ifthepersonhasafailedstartwithin
thelast90daysoftherequiredperiodofinstallationofthe
device,thetermwillbeextendedfor90days.
Ifthedefendantcomplieswiththetermsandconditionsofthe
diversionprogram,theactionagainstthedefendantwillbe
dismissed,thedismissalwillberecorded,andtherecordwillbe
transmittedtotheDepartmentofRevenue. Ifthedefendantdoes
notcomplywiththetermsandconditions,ahearingwillbeheld
afternoticetothedefendanttodeterminewhetherthecriminal
proceedingswillbereinstated. Anydefendantfoundguiltyofan
intoxication-relatedtrafficoffenseandwhohaspreviously
utilizedtheDWIdiversionprogramwillbeconsideredaprior
offenderasdefinedinSection577.001,RSMo,iftheprioroffense
occurredwithinfiveyearsoftheintoxication-relatedoffensefor
whichthepersonischarged. Finally,forthelimitedpurposeof
determiningwhetheradefendantisachronic,habitual,persistent,
orprioroffenderunderSection577.001,acriminalcasediverted
toaDWIdiversionprogramwillbecountedasoneintoxication-
relatedtrafficoffense. Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisisadiversionprogramfor
DWIoffenses. Apersonwhowouldbedivertedtosuchaprogram
wouldhavetomeetcertainqualifications toqualifyforthe
diversionprogram. Thisisdifferentfromthecurrentprogram
becausethisrequiresanignitioninterlockdevice.Thiswouldbe
attheexpenseofthepersoncompletingtheprogram. Drunkdriving
deathsnationallyhaveincreased14%andtherewasa32%increase
inMissourisince2020.Diversionprogramshavebenefitsto
society. Thisbillhastherequirementofvictimimpactpanels,
whichhavehadlotsofsuccessandleadtoareductionin
recidivism. Ignitioninterlockdevicesarecurrentlytheonly
thingproventostoppeoplefromdrivingdrunk.Theonlyfee
associatedwiththedevicethatgoestothemanufacturerendsup
beingapproximately$3perday.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Roberts;Cody
Carlson,CoalitionofIgnitionInterlockManufacturers; andJerod
L.Breit,MothersAgainstDrunkDriving.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythattheysupport
diversioncourtbuttheconcernwiththebillissome
constitutional issuesandpracticalissues.Wecanalreadydothis
underSection557.014. AprosecutormaycurrentlysetupaDWI
courtbutyoucannotdoitforsomeonewithacommerciallicense.
Thebillalsodoesnotgivethedefendantanysortofchoice.
Therehastobeawayforthedefendanttooptout.Evenifa
personcompletestheprogram,theyareconsideredaprioroffender.
Iftheignitioninterlockmalfunctions,itisheldagainstthe
defendant,notthemanufacturer.Thepointoftheprogramisto
meetthepersonwhereheorsheissothatheorshecanbe
divertedfromthecourtsystem.Thatwaytheycanseewhatthe
specificpersonneeds.Therearenegativeconsequencesto
completionoftheprogramastheywouldbeconsideredprior
offenders. UnderSection557.014,theycangothroughthe
diversionprogramandnotbeconsideredaprioroffender.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereMissouriAssociationof
CriminalDefenseLawyers;andMissouriStatePublicDefender
System.
OTHERS:OtherstestifyingonthebillsayMissourihasahorrific
recordfortrafficfatalitiesandwegetafailinggradeonour
trafficlaws.AAAgenerallyopposesdiversionprogramsbutthey
broadlysupporttheefficacyofignitioninterlockdevicesbecause thereisavalueinthetremendoussuccesstheyhaveinslowing
downimpaireddrivingandreducingrecidivism. Itisimportantfor
courtstobeabletoseetherecordsandknowthattherewasa
previousoffensethere.Diversionprogramsshouldbeavailable
onlytofirst-timeoffendersandnottoanyonewhohascommitted
somethingseriouslikekillingsomeoneinadrunkdrivingaccident.
TestifyinginpersononthebillwasAAAAutoClubofMissouri.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.