HB273--DIVERSIONPROGRAMFORDWIOFFENSES
SPONSOR: Roberts
Thisbillestablishesacriminalcasediversionprogram
specificallyforcasesinvolvingdrivingwhileintoxicated. In
suchcases,thecurrentdiversionprogramavailabletoprosecutors
willnotapply;instead,theprovisionsofthisbillwillapply.A
defendantcanrequesttobedivertedtotheprogrambysubmittinga
requesttotheprosecutingorcircuitattorneyandsendingacopy
oftherequesttotheDepartmentofRevenuewithin15daysofhis
orherarrest.Aprosecutormaydivertacriminalcaseinvolving
drivingwhileintoxicatedifcertainrequirements,specifiedinthe
bill,aremet.Suchdiversionmaycontinueforuptotwoyears,
andthedefendantmaybeorderedtocomplywithappropriateterms,
conditionsorprograms.
Onesuchrequirementistheinstallationofanignitioninterlock
deviceforaperiodofnolessthan12monthsonanyvehiclethe
defendantoperates,andthedefendantwillbeprohibitedfrom
operatingavehiclethatisnotequippedwithanignitioninterlock
device.Theinstalleroftheignitioninterlockdevicemustnotify
theDepartmentofRevenueifthedeviceisremovedorindicates
thatapersonhasattemptedtoremove,bypass,ortamperwiththe
device;ifthepersonfailsthreeormoretimestocomplywithany
requirementforthemaintenanceorcalibrationofthedevice;orif
thedeviceregistersafailedstart.Ifthepersonhasafailed
startwithinthelast90daysoftherequiredperiodof
installationofthedevice,thetermwillbeextendedfor90days.
Ifthedefendantcomplieswiththetermsandconditionsofthe
diversionprogram,theactionagainstthedefendantwillbe
dismissed,thedismissalwillberecorded,andtherecordwillbe
transmittedtotheDepartmentofRevenue. Ifthedefendantdoes
notcomplywiththetermsandconditions,ahearingwillbeheld
afternoticetothedefendanttodeterminewhetherthecriminal
proceedingswillbereinstated. Anydefendantfoundguiltyofan
intoxication-relatedtrafficoffensewhohaspreviouslyutilized
theDWIdiversionprogramwillbeconsideredaprioroffenderas
definedinSection577.001,RSMo,iftheprioroffenseoccurred
withinfiveyearsoftheintoxication-relatedoffenseforwhichthe
personischarged. Finally,forthelimitedpurposeofdetermining
whetheradefendantisachronic,habitual,persistent,orprior
offenderunderSection577.001,acriminalcasedivertedtoaDWI
diversionprogramwillbecountedasoneintoxication-related
trafficoffense.
ThisbillissimilartoHB1654(2024).