1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to driver's licenses; permitting courts to 
  1.3             stay adjudication of certain driving after suspension, 
  1.4             revocation, and cancellation cases on condition that 
  1.5             the driver obtain reinstatement of driving privileges; 
  1.6             amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 171.24, by 
  1.7             adding a subdivision. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 171.24, is 
  1.10  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 8.  [STAY OF ADJUDICATION.] (a) Notwithstanding 
  1.12  section 609.132, when a person is found guilty or enters a 
  1.13  guilty plea for driving after suspension, revocation, or 
  1.14  cancellation of driving privileges in violation of subdivision 
  1.15  1, 2, or 3, in a case not involving a commercial motor vehicle, 
  1.16  the court may, without entering a judgment of guilty, stay 
  1.17  adjudication of the offense if: 
  1.18     (1) the person has not previously received a stay of 
  1.19  adjudication for a violation of subdivision 1, 2, or 3; 
  1.20     (2) the court determines that the person has the present 
  1.21  ability to obtain reinstatement of driving privileges by 
  1.22  remedying the circumstance for which the person's driving 
  1.23  privileges originally were suspended or revoked or by complying 
  1.24  with section 171.29; 
  1.25     (3) the person agrees to seek reinstatement of driving 
  1.26  privileges; and 
  2.1      (4) the court schedules a sentencing hearing within 90 
  2.2   days, which time may be extended for good cause shown, to review 
  2.3   whether the person's driving privileges have been reinstated. 
  2.4      (b) At the hearing, if the court determines that the 
  2.5   person's driving privileges have been reinstated, the court may 
  2.6   dismiss the proceedings against the person, discharge the person 
  2.7   without adjudicating the person guilty of violating subdivision 
  2.8   1, 2, or 3, or set additional probationary conditions.  If the 
  2.9   court determines that the person has failed to obtain 
  2.10  reinstatement of driving privileges, or if the person fails to 
  2.11  appear at the hearing, the court may enter a judgment of guilty 
  2.12  for the violation of subdivision 1, 2, or 3. 
  2.13     (c) The court shall notify the commissioner of public 
  2.14  safety when it dismisses the proceedings against a person or 
  2.15  discharges the person without an adjudication of guilt as 
  2.16  authorized in paragraph (b).  The commissioner shall record this 
  2.17  fact on the person's driver's record. 
  2.18     (d) This subdivision does not apply to persons whose 
  2.19  driving privileges were suspended, revoked, or canceled for an 
  2.20  impaired driving offense under chapter 169A. 
  2.21     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.22     Section 1 is effective August 1, 2001, and applies to 
  2.23  proceedings conducted on or after that date.