Enrolled SB 53: Relating to disposition of a traffic offense involving the death of a person; providing for the revocation of driving privileges by a court for a driver convicted of a violation of traffic laws in connection with a fatal motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle accident; amending Rules 43 and 43.1, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date.
00Enrolled SB 53 01 Relating to disposition of a traffic offense involving the death of a person; providing for the 02 revocation of driving privileges by a court for a driver convicted of a violation of traffic laws 03 in connection with a fatal motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle accident; amending 04 Rules 43 and 43.1, Alaska Rules of Administration; and providing for an effective date. 05 _______________ 06 * Section 1. AS 28.05.151 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 07 (e) The supreme court, in establishing scheduled amounts of bail under this 08 section, and each municipality that establishes or has established a fine schedule under 09 this section may not allow for the disposition of an offense without court appearance 10 for a person who is cited for violation of the traffic laws in connection with a motor 11 vehicle accident if the accident resulted in the death of a person. In this subsection, 12 "traffic laws" has the meaning given in AS 28.15.261.
01 * Sec. 2. AS 28.15 is amended by adding a new section to read: 02 Sec. 28.15.182. Court revocation of license for accident causing death. (a) 03 A court convicting a person for a violation of the traffic laws may revoke the driver's 04 license, privilege to drive, or privilege to obtain a license of a person if the court finds 05 by clear and convincing evidence that 06 (1) the person was operating a motor vehicle or commercial motor 07 vehicle that was involved in an accident; 08 (2) the accident caused the death of another person; and 09 (3) the violation of traffic laws by the person was a significant 10 contributing cause of the accident. 11 (b) The license revocation imposed under (a) of this section may be for a 12 period of up to three years. This period is concurrent with any other period of 13 revocation under AS 28.15.165 or 28.15.181, or any other action imposed by the 14 department or court in connection with the accident. 15 (c) A court revoking a person's driver's license, privilege to drive, or privilege 16 to obtain a license under (a) of this section may consider a request for a limited license 17 by the person. A court may not grant a limited license if another statute prohibits a 18 limited license for violation of its provisions. A court shall require a certification of 19 employment to prove any claim based on the person's employment and a certification 20 of need by a licensed health care practitioner to prove a claim based on care for 21 another person. After a review has been made of the person's driving record and other 22 relevant information, the court may grant limited license privileges for all or part of 23 the period of revocation if the court finds that a limitation can be placed on the license 24 that will enable the person to drive without danger to the public and that, without a 25 limited license, 26 (1) the person's ability to earn a livelihood would be severely impaired; 27 or 28 (2) the person would be severely impaired in acting as the primary 29 caregiver for someone with a debilitating physical or mental condition. 30 (d) When imposing a limitation under (c) of this section, the court shall 31 (1) require the surrender of the driver's license; and
01 (2) issue to the person a certificate valid for the duration of the 02 limitation specifying the terms of the limited license. 03 (e) A representative of the family of a person who died under circumstances as 04 described in (a) of this section may testify at a hearing addressing a driver's license 05 revocation under (a) of this section or a request for a limited license under (c) of this 06 section. 07 (f) In this section, "traffic laws" has the meaning given in AS 28.15.261. 08 * Sec. 3. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 09 read: 10 INDIRECT COURT RULE AMENDMENT. (a) AS 28.05.151(e), added by sec. 1 of 11 this Act, has the effect of amending Rules 43 and 43.1, Alaska Rules of Administration, by 12 not allowing for the disposition of an offense without a court appearance for certain violations 13 of traffic laws in connection with a motor vehicle accident or a commercial motor vehicle 14 accident resulting in the death of a person. 15 (b) Section 1 of this Act takes effect only if (a) of this section receives the two-thirds 16 majority vote of each house required by art. IV, sec. 15, Constitution of the State of Alaska. 17 * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 18 read: 19 APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to actions taken regarding a motor vehicle or 20 commercial motor vehicle accident that caused the death of a person and that occurred on or 21 after the effective date of this Act. 22 * Sec. 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.