HOUSE BILL NO. 1996 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE IRWIN.
3895H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To repeal sections 302.309 and 302.341, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to driver's licenses, with a delayed effective date.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Sections 302.309 and 302.341, RSMo, are repealed and two new sections 2 enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 302.309 and 302.341, to read as follows: 302.309. 1. Whenever any license is suspended pursuant to sections 302.302 to 2 302.309, the director of revenue shall return the license to the operator immediately upon the 3 termination of the period of suspension and upon compliance with the requirements of 4 chapter 303. 5 2. Any operator whose license is revoked pursuant to [these sections] sections 6 302.302 to 302.309, upon the termination of the period of revocation, shall apply for a new 7 license in the manner prescribed by law. 8 3. (1) All circuit courts, the director of revenue, or a commissioner operating under 9 section 478.007 shall have jurisdiction to hear applications and make eligibility 10 determinations granting limited driving privileges, except as provided under subdivision 11 (8) of this subsection. Any application may be made in writing to the director of revenue and 12 the person's reasons for requesting the limited driving privilege shall be made therein. 13 (2) When any court of record having jurisdiction or the director of revenue finds that 14 an operator is required to operate a motor vehicle in connection with any of the following: 15 (a) A business, occupation, or employment; 16 (b) Seeking medical treatment for such operator; 17 (c) Attending school or other institution of higher education;
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 1996 2
18 (d) Attending alcohol- or drug-treatment programs; 19 (e) Seeking the required services of a certified ignition interlock device provider; [or] 20 (f) Attending a place of worship; 21 (g) Traveling to and from essential businesses including, but not limited to, 22 grocery stores, supermarkets, hardware stores, convenience and discount stores, 23 pharmacies, post offices and other shipping outlets, and gas stations; or 24 (h) Any other circumstance the court or director finds would create an undue hardship 25 on the operator, 26 27 the court or director may grant such limited driving privilege as the circumstances of the case 28 justify if the court or director finds undue hardship would result to the individual, and while 29 so operating a motor vehicle within the restrictions and limitations of the limited driving 30 privilege the driver shall not be guilty of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license. 31 (3) An operator may make application to the proper court in the county in which such 32 operator resides or in the county in which is located the operator's principal place of business 33 or employment. Any application for a limited driving privilege made to a circuit court shall 34 name the director as a party defendant and shall be served upon the director prior to the grant 35 of any limited privilege, and shall be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's driving record 36 as certified by the director. Any applicant for a limited driving privilege shall have on file 37 with the department of revenue proof of financial responsibility as required by chapter 303. 38 Any application by a person who transports persons or property as classified in section 39 302.015 may be accompanied by proof of financial responsibility as required by chapter 303, 40 but if proof of financial responsibility does not accompany the application, or if the applicant 41 does not have on file with the department of revenue proof of financial responsibility, the 42 court or the director has discretion to grant the limited driving privilege to the person solely 43 for the purpose of operating a vehicle whose owner has complied with chapter 303 for that 44 vehicle, and the limited driving privilege must state such restriction. When operating such 45 vehicle under such restriction the person shall carry proof that the owner has complied with 46 chapter 303 for that vehicle. 47 (4) No limited driving privilege shall be issued to any person otherwise eligible under 48 the provisions of subdivision (6) of this subsection if such person has a license denial under 49 paragraph (a) or (b) of subdivision (8) of this subsection or on a license revocation resulting 50 from a conviction under subdivision (9) of subsection 1 of section 302.302, or a license 51 revocation under subdivision (2) of subsection 2 of section 302.525, or section 302.574 or 52 577.041, until the applicant has filed proof with the department of revenue that any motor 53 vehicle operated by the person is equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock 54 device as a required condition of limited driving privilege. The ignition interlock device HB 1996 3
55 required for obtaining a limited driving privilege under paragraph (a) or (b) of subdivision (8) 56 of this subsection shall have a photo identification technology feature, and a court may 57 require a global positioning system feature for such device. 58 (5) The court order or the director's grant of the limited or restricted driving privilege 59 shall indicate the termination date of the privilege, which shall be not later than the end of the 60 period of suspension or revocation. The court order or the director's grant of the limited or 61 restricted driving privilege shall also indicate whether a functioning, certified ignition 62 interlock device is required as a condition of operating a motor vehicle with the limited 63 driving privilege. A copy of any court order shall be sent by the clerk of the court to the 64 director, and a copy shall be given to the driver which shall be carried by the driver whenever 65 such driver operates a motor vehicle. The director of revenue upon granting a limited driving 66 privilege shall give a copy of the limited driving privilege to the applicant. The applicant 67 shall carry a copy of the limited driving privilege while operating a motor vehicle. A 68 conviction which results in the assessment of points pursuant to section 302.302, other than a 69 violation of a municipal stop sign ordinance where no accident is involved, against a driver 70 who is operating a vehicle pursuant to a limited driving privilege terminates the privilege, as 71 of the date the points are assessed to the person's driving record. If the date of arrest is prior 72 to the issuance of the limited driving privilege, the privilege shall not be terminated. Failure 73 of the driver to maintain proof of financial responsibility, as required by chapter 303, or to 74 maintain proof of installation of a functioning, certified ignition interlock device, as 75 applicable, shall terminate the privilege. The director shall notify by ordinary mail the driver 76 whose privilege is so terminated. 77 (6) Except as provided in subdivision (8) of this subsection, no person is eligible to 78 receive a limited driving privilege whose license at the time of application has been 79 suspended or revoked for the following reasons: 80 (a) A conviction of any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle was used 81 and such conviction occurred within the five-year period prior to the date of application. 82 However, any felony conviction for leaving the scene of an accident under section 577.060 83 shall not render the applicant ineligible for a limited driving privilege under this section; 84 (b) Ineligibility for a license because of the provisions of subdivision (1), (2), (4), (5), 85 (6), (7), (8), (9), or (10) of subsection 1 of section 302.060; or 86 (c) Due to a suspension pursuant to subdivision (8) or (10) of subsection 1 of section 87 302.302 or subsection 2 of section 302.525. 88 (7) No person who possesses a commercial driver's license shall receive a limited 89 driving privilege issued for the purpose of operating a commercial motor vehicle if such 90 person's driving privilege is suspended, revoked, [cancelled] canceled, denied, or 91 disqualified. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the issuance of a limited driving HB 1996 4
92 privilege for the purpose of operating a noncommercial motor vehicle provided that pursuant 93 to the provisions of this section, the applicant is not otherwise ineligible for a limited driving 94 privilege. 95 (8) (a) Provided that pursuant to the provisions of this section, the applicant is not 96 otherwise ineligible for a limited driving privilege, a circuit court or the director may, in the 97 manner prescribed in this subsection, allow a person who has had such person's license to 98 operate a motor vehicle revoked where that person cannot obtain a new license for a period of 99 ten years, as prescribed in subdivision (9) of subsection 1 of section 302.060, to apply for a 100 limited driving privilege pursuant to this subsection. Such person shall present evidence 101 satisfactory to the court or the director that such person's habits and conduct show that the 102 person no longer poses a threat to the public safety of this state. A circuit court shall grant a 103 limited driving privilege to any individual who otherwise is eligible to receive a limited 104 driving privilege, has filed proof of installation of a certified ignition interlock device, and has 105 had no alcohol-related enforcement contacts since the alcohol-related enforcement contact 106 that resulted in the person's license denial. 107 (b) Provided that pursuant to the provisions of this section, the applicant is not 108 otherwise ineligible for a limited driving privilege or convicted of acting with criminal 109 negligence while driving while intoxicated to cause the death of another person, a circuit 110 court or the director may, in the manner prescribed in this subsection, allow a person who has 111 had such person's license to operate a motor vehicle revoked where that person cannot obtain 112 a new license for a period of five years because of two convictions of driving while 113 intoxicated, as prescribed in subdivision (10) of subsection 1 of section 302.060, to apply for 114 a limited driving privilege pursuant to this subsection. Such person shall present evidence 115 satisfactory to the court or the director that such person's habits and conduct show that the 116 person no longer poses a threat to the public safety of this state. Any person who is denied a 117 license permanently in this state because of an alcohol-related conviction subsequent to a 118 restoration of such person's driving privileges pursuant to subdivision (9) of subsection 1 of 119 section 302.060 shall not be eligible for limited driving privilege pursuant to the provisions of 120 this subdivision. A circuit court shall grant a limited driving privilege to any individual who 121 otherwise is eligible to receive a limited driving privilege, has filed proof of installation of a 122 certified ignition interlock device, and has had no alcohol-related enforcement contacts since 123 the alcohol-related enforcement contact that resulted in the person's license denial. 124 (9) A DWI docket or court established under section 478.007 may grant a limited 125 driving privilege to a participant in or graduate of the program who would otherwise be 126 ineligible for such privilege under another provision of law. 127 4. Any person who has received notice of denial of a request of limited driving 128 privilege by the director of revenue may make a request for a review of the director's HB 1996 5
129 determination in the circuit court of the county in which the person resides or the county in 130 which is located the person's principal place of business or employment within thirty days of 131 the date of mailing of the notice of denial. Such review shall be based upon the records of the 132 department of revenue and other competent evidence and shall be limited to a review of 133 whether the applicant was statutorily entitled to the limited driving privilege. 134 5. The director of revenue shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry 135 out the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in 136 section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become 137 effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if 138 applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the 139 powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the 140 effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then 141 the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, 142 shall be invalid and void. 302.341. 1. If a Missouri resident charged with a moving traffic violation of this state 2 or any county or municipality of this state fails to dispose of the charges of which the resident 3 is accused through authorized prepayment of [fine] fines and court costs and fails to appear 4 on the return date or at any subsequent date to which the case has been continued, or without 5 good cause fails to pay any fine or court costs assessed against the resident for any such 6 violation within the period of time specified or in such installments as approved by the court 7 or as otherwise provided by law, any court having jurisdiction over the charges shall within 8 ten days of the failure to comply inform the defendant by ordinary mail at the last address 9 shown on the court records that the court [will] shall order the director of revenue to suspend 10 the defendant's driving privileges if the charges are not disposed of and fully paid within 11 thirty days from the date of mailing. Thereafter, if the defendant fails to timely act to dispose 12 of the charges and fully pay any applicable fines and court costs, the court shall notify the 13 director of revenue of such failure and of the pending charges against the defendant. Upon 14 receipt of this notification, the director shall suspend the license of the driver, effective 15 immediately, and provide notice of the suspension to the driver at the last address for the 16 driver shown on the records of the department of revenue. Such suspension shall remain in 17 effect until the court with the subject pending charge requests setting aside the noncompliance 18 suspension pending final disposition, or satisfactory evidence of disposition of pending 19 charges and payment of [fine] fines and court costs, if applicable, is furnished to the director 20 by the individual. The filing of financial responsibility with the [bureau of safety 21 responsibility,] department of revenue[,] shall not be required as a condition of reinstatement 22 of a driver's license suspended solely under the provisions of this [section] subsection. HB 1996 6
23 2. The provisions of subsection 1 of this section shall not apply to minor traffic 24 violations as defined in section 479.350; however, minor traffic violations shall be subject 25 to subsection 3 of this section. 26 3. If a Missouri resident charged with a minor traffic violation of this state or 27 any county or municipality of this state fails to dispose of the charges of which the 28 resident is accused through authorized prepayment of fines and court costs and fails to 29 appear on two return dates, or without good cause fails to pay any fine or court costs 30 assessed against the resident for any such violation within the period of time specified or 31 in such installments as approved by the court or as otherwise provided by law, any court 32 having jurisdiction over the charges shall, within ten days of the failure to comply, 33 inform the defendant by ordinary mail at the last address shown on the court records 34 that the court shall issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant or the court shall 35 order the director of revenue to suspend the defendant's driving privileges if the charges 36 are not disposed of and fully paid within thirty days from the date of mailing. 37 Thereafter, if the defendant fails to timely act to dispose of the charges and fully pay any 38 applicable fines and court costs, the court shall issue such arrest warrant or notify the 39 director of revenue of such failure and of the pending charges against the defendant. 40 Upon receipt of this notification, the director shall provide notice of the suspension to 41 the driver at the last address for the driver shown on the records of the department of 42 revenue. The director shall, thirty-three days after mailing the suspension notice, 43 suspend the driving privileges of the defendant. Such suspension shall remain in effect 44 until the court with the subject pending charge requests setting aside the noncompliance 45 suspension pending final disposition, or satisfactory evidence of disposition of pending 46 charges and payment of fines and court costs, if applicable, is furnished to the director 47 by the individual. The filing of financial responsibility with the department of revenue 48 shall not be required as a condition of reinstatement of a driver's license suspended 49 solely under the provisions of this subsection. 50 4. Subsection 3 of this section shall not be retroactive. Section B. The repeal and reenactment of sections 302.309 and 302.341 of this act 2 shall become effective on January 1, 2027. ✔
Statutes affected: