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SF 3327

3rd Engrossment - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 05/05/2016 09:07am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 03/29/2016
1st Engrossment Posted on 04/06/2016
2nd Engrossment Posted on 04/11/2016
3rd Engrossment Posted on 04/25/2016

Current Version - 3rd Engrossment

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A bill for an act
relating to impaired driving; requiring ignition interlock for repeat offenders to
reinstate driving privileges; extending certain time periods to request reviews
in DWI-related proceedings; providing that DWI offenders are not required to
take a specified examination as a condition of driver's license reinstatement;
prohibiting the application of the DWI Forfeiture Law to motor vehicles operated
by persons who enter the ignition interlock program; modifying the DWI
forfeiture laws innocent owner defense; amending Minnesota Statutes 2014,
sections 97B.066, subdivision 8; 169A.53, subdivision 2; 169A.55, subdivisions
2, 4; 169A.60, subdivision 10; 169A.63, subdivision 7, by adding a subdivision;
171.29, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 169A.53,
subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 97B.066, subdivision 8, is amended to read:


Subd. 8.

Judicial review.

(a) Within deleted text begin 30deleted text end new text begin 60new text end days following receipt of a notice and
order imposing sanctions under this section, a person may petition the court for review.
The petition must be filed with the district court administrator in the county where the
incident occurred giving rise to the test demand and refusal, together with proof of service
of a copy on the commissioner and the prosecuting authority for misdemeanor offenses
for the jurisdiction in which the incident occurred. A responsive pleading is not required
of the commissioner of natural resources, and court fees may not be charged for the
appearance of the representative of the commissioner in the matter.

(b) The petition must be captioned in the name of the person making the petition as
petitioner and the commissioner as respondent. The petition must state specifically the
grounds upon which the petitioner seeks rescission of the order imposing sanctions.

(c) The filing of the petition does not stay the revocation or prohibition against
hunting. However, the filing of a petition stays imposition of the civil penalty. The judicial
review shall be conducted according to the Rules of Civil Procedure.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169A.53, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Petition for judicial review.

(a) Within deleted text begin 30deleted text end new text begin 60new text end days following receipt of a
notice and order of revocation or disqualification pursuant to section 169A.52 (revocation
of license for test failure or refusal), a person may petition the court for review. The
petition must be filed with the district court administrator in the county where the alleged
offense occurred, together with proof of service of a copy on the commissioner, and
accompanied by the standard filing fee for civil actions. Responsive pleading is not
required of the commissioner, and court fees must not be charged for the appearance of
the commissioner in the matter.

(b) The petition must:

(1) be captioned in the full name of the person making the petition as petitioner and
the commissioner as respondent;

(2) include the petitioner's date of birth, driver's license number, and date of the
offense; and

(3) state with specificity the grounds upon which the petitioner seeks rescission of
the order of revocation, disqualification, or denial.

(c) The filing of the petition does not stay the revocation, disqualification, or denial.
The reviewing court may order a stay of the balance of the revocation or disqualification if
the hearing has not been conducted within 60 days after filing of the petition upon terms
the court deems proper.

(d) Judicial reviews must be conducted according to the Rules of Civil Procedure,
except that prehearing discovery is mandatory and is limited to:

(1) the notice of revocation;

(2) the test record or, in the case of blood or urine tests, the certificate of analysis;

(3) the peace officer's certificate and any accompanying documentation submitted by
the arresting officer to the commissioner; and

(4) disclosure of potential witnesses, including experts, and the basis of their
testimony.

Other types of discovery are available only upon order of the court.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2015 Supplement, section 169A.53, subdivision 3, is
amended to read:


Subd. 3.

Judicial hearing; issues, order, appeal.

(a) A judicial review hearing
under this section must be before a district judge in any county in the judicial district
where the alleged offense occurred. The hearing is to the court and may be conducted at
the same time and in the same manner as hearings upon pretrial motions in the criminal
prosecution under section 169A.20 (driving while impaired), if any. The hearing must be
recorded. The commissioner shall appear and be represented by the attorney general or
through the prosecuting authority for the jurisdiction involved. The hearing must be held
at the earliest practicable date, and in any event no later than 60 days following the filing
of the petition for review. The judicial district administrator shall establish procedures to
ensure efficient compliance with this subdivision. To accomplish this, the administrator
may, whenever possible, consolidate and transfer review hearings among the locations
within the judicial district where terms of district court are held.

(b) The scope of the hearing is limited to the issues in clauses (1) to (11):

(1) Did the peace officer have probable cause to believe the person was driving,
operating, or in physical control of a motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle in
violation of section 169A.20 (driving while impaired)?

(2) Was the person lawfully placed under arrest for violation of section 169A.20?

(3) Was the person involved in a motor vehicle accident or collision resulting in
property damage, personal injury, or death?

(4) Did the person refuse to take a screening test provided for by section 169A.41
(preliminary screening test)?

(5) If the screening test was administered, did the test indicate an alcohol
concentration of 0.08 or more?

(6) At the time of the request for the test, did the peace officer inform the person
of the person's rights and the consequences of taking or refusing the test as required by
section 169A.51, subdivision 2?

(7) Did the person refuse to permit the test?

(8) If a test was taken by a person driving, operating, or in physical control of a
motor vehicle, did the test results indicate at the time of testing:

(i) an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more; or

(ii) the presence of a controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II or its metabolite,
other than marijuana or tetrahydrocannabinolsnew text begin , unless the person proves the controlled
substance was used according to the terms of a prescription issued for that person
according to sections 152.11 and 152.12
new text end ?

(9) If a test was taken by a person driving, operating, or in physical control of a
commercial motor vehicle, did the test results indicate an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or
more at the time of testing?

(10) Was the testing method used valid and reliable and were the test results
accurately evaluated?

(11) Did the person prove the defense of necessity?

(c) It is an affirmative defense for the petitioner to prove that, at the time of the
refusal, the petitioner's refusal to permit the test was based upon reasonable grounds.

(d) Certified or otherwise authenticated copies of laboratory or medical personnel
reports, records, documents, licenses, and certificates are admissible as substantive
evidence.

(e) The court shall order that the revocation or disqualification be either rescinded or
sustained and forward the order to the commissioner. The court shall file its order within 14
days following the hearing. If the revocation or disqualification is sustained, the court shall
also forward the person's driver's license or permit to the commissioner for further action by
the commissioner if the license or permit is not already in the commissioner's possession.

(f) Any party aggrieved by the decision of the reviewing court may appeal the
decision as provided in the Rules of Appellate Procedure.

(g) The civil hearing under this section shall not give rise to an estoppel on any
issues arising from the same set of circumstances in any criminal prosecution.

(h) It is an affirmative defense for the petitioner to prove a necessity.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169A.55, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

Reinstatement of driving privileges; notice.

Upon expiration of a period
of revocation under section 169A.52 (license revocation for test failure or refusal) or
169A.54 (impaired driving convictions and adjudications; administrative penalties), the
commissioner shall notify the person of the terms upon which driving privileges can be
reinstated, and new registration plates issued, which terms are: (1) deleted text begin successful completion
of an examination and
deleted text end proof of compliance with any terms of alcohol treatment or
counseling previously prescribed, if any; and (2) any other requirements imposed by
the commissioner and applicable to that particular case. The commissioner shall notify
the owner of a motor vehicle subject to an impoundment order under section 169A.60
(administrative impoundment of plates) as a result of the violation of the procedures for
obtaining new registration plates, if the owner is not the violator. The commissioner
shall also notify the person that if driving is resumed without reinstatement of driving
privileges or without valid registration plates and registration certificate, the person will
be subject to criminal penalties.

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169A.55, subdivision 4, is amended to read:


Subd. 4.

Reinstatement of driving privileges; multiple incidents.

(a)new text begin A person
whose driver's license has been revoked as a result of an offense listed under clause (1) or
(2) shall not be eligible for reinstatement of driving privileges without an ignition interlock
restriction until the commissioner certifies that either: during the applicable revocation
period, and based on records available to the commissioner and on the person's attestation
under penalty of perjury, the person has neither owned nor leased a vehicle, nor committed
a violation of chapter 169A or 171; or the person has used the ignition interlock device
and complied with section 171.306 for a period of not less than:
new text end

new text begin (1) one year, for a person whose driver's license was revoked for:
new text end

new text begin (i) an offense occurring within ten years of a qualified prior impaired driving
incident; or
new text end

new text begin (ii) an offense occurring after two qualified prior impaired driving incidents; or
new text end

new text begin (2) two years, for a person whose driver's license was revoked for:
new text end

new text begin (i) an offense occurring under clause (1), and where the test results indicated an
alcohol concentration of twice the legal limit; or
new text end

new text begin (ii) an offense occurring under clause (1), and where the current offense is for a
violation of section 169A.20, subdivision 2 (test refusal).
new text end

new text begin (b)new text end A person whose driver's license has been canceled or denied as a result of three
or more qualified impaired driving incidents shall not be eligible for reinstatement of
driving privileges without an ignition interlock restriction until the person:

(1) has completed rehabilitation according to rules adopted by the commissioner or
been granted a variance from the rules by the commissioner; and

(2) has submitted verification of abstinence from alcohol and controlled substances
new text begin under paragraph (c)new text end , as evidenced by the person's use of an ignition interlock device or
other chemical monitoring device approved by the commissioner.

deleted text begin (b)deleted text end new text begin (c)new text end The verification of abstinence must show that the person has abstained from
the use of alcohol and controlled substances for a period of not less than:

(1) three years, for a person whose driver's license was canceled or denied for an
offense occurring within ten years of the first of two qualified prior impaired driving
incidents, or occurring after three qualified prior impaired driving incidents;

(2) four years, for a person whose driver's license was canceled or denied for an
offense occurring within ten years of the first of three qualified prior impaired driving
incidents; or

(3) six years, for a person whose driver's license was canceled or denied for an
offense occurring after four or more qualified prior impaired driving incidents.

deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (d)new text end The commissioner shall establish performance standards and a process for
certifying chemical monitoring devices. The standards and procedures are not rules and
are exempt from chapter 14, including section 14.386.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective April 1, 2018, and applies to offenses
committed on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169A.60, subdivision 10, is amended to read:


Subd. 10.

Petition for judicial review.

(a) Within deleted text begin 30deleted text end new text begin 60new text end days following receipt of
a notice and order of impoundment under this section, a person may petition the court
for review. The petition must include proof of service of a copy of the petition on the
commissioner. The petition must include the petitioner's date of birth, driver's license
number, and date of the plate impoundment violation, as well as the name of the violator
and the law enforcement agency that issued the plate impoundment order. The petition
must state with specificity the grounds upon which the petitioner seeks rescission of the
order for impoundment. The petition may be combined with any petition filed under
section 169A.53 (administrative and judicial review of license revocation).

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the judicial review and hearing are
governed by section 169A.53 and must take place at the same time as any judicial review
of the person's license revocation under section 169A.53. The filing of the petition does
not stay the impoundment order. The reviewing court may order a stay of the balance of
the impoundment period if the hearing has not been conducted within 60 days after filing
of the petition upon terms the court deems proper. The court shall order either that the
impoundment be rescinded or sustained, and forward the order to the commissioner. The
court shall file its order within 14 days following the hearing.

(c) In addition to the issues described in section 169A.53, subdivision 3 (judicial
review of license revocation), the scope of a hearing under this subdivision is limited to:

(1) if the impoundment is based on a plate impoundment violation described in
subdivision 1, paragraph (d), clause (3) or (4), whether the peace officer had probable
cause to believe the violator committed the plate impoundment violation and whether the
evidence demonstrates that the plate impoundment violation occurred; and

(2) for all other cases, whether the peace officer had probable cause to believe the
violator committed the plate impoundment violation.

(d) In a hearing under this subdivision, the following records are admissible in
evidence:

(1) certified copies of the violator's driving record; and

(2) certified copies of vehicle registration records bearing the violator's name.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169A.63, subdivision 7, is amended to read:


Subd. 7.

Limitations on vehicle forfeiture.

(a) A vehicle is presumed subject to
forfeiture under this section if:

(1) the driver is convicted of the designated offense upon which the forfeiture is based;

(2) the driver fails to appear for a scheduled court appearance with respect to the
designated offense charged and fails to voluntarily surrender within 48 hours after the
time required for appearance; or

(3) the driver's conduct results in a designated license revocation and the driver
fails to seek judicial review of the revocation in a timely manner as required by section
169A.53, subdivision 2, (petition for judicial review), or the license revocation is judicially
reviewed and sustained under section 169A.53, subdivision 2.

(b) A vehicle encumbered by a security interest perfected according to section
168A.17, subdivision 2, or subject to a lease that has a term of 180 days or more, is subject
to the interest of the secured party or lessor unless the party or lessor had knowledge of or
consented to the act upon which the forfeiture is based. However, when the proceeds of the
sale of a seized vehicle do not equal or exceed the outstanding loan balance, the appropriate
agency shall remit all proceeds of the sale to the secured party after deducting the agency's
costs for the seizure, tow, storage, forfeiture, and sale of the vehicle. If the sale of the
vehicle is conducted in a commercially reasonable manner consistent with the provisions
of section 336.9-610, the agency is not liable to the secured party for any amount owed on
the loan in excess of the sale proceeds. The validity and amount of a nonperfected security
interest must be established by its holder by clear and convincing evidence.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), the secured party's or lessor's interest in a vehicle
is not subject to forfeiture based solely on the secured party's or lessor's knowledge of
the act or omission upon which the forfeiture is based if the secured party or lessor
demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the party or lessor took reasonable
steps to terminate use of the vehicle by the offender.

(d) A motor vehicle is not subject to forfeiture under this section if new text begin any of new text end its
deleted text begin ownerdeleted text end new text begin ownersnew text end can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the owner did not
have actual or constructive knowledge that the vehicle would be used or operated in
any manner contrary to law or that the owner took reasonable steps to prevent use of
the vehicle by the offender. If the offender is a family or household member of new text begin any of
new text end the deleted text begin ownerdeleted text end new text begin owners petitioning the courtnew text end and has three or more prior impaired driving
convictions, deleted text begin thedeleted text end new text begin anynew text end owner is presumed to know of any vehicle use by the offender that is
contrary to law. "Vehicle use contrary to law" includes, but is not limited to, violations
of the following statutes:

(1) section 171.24 (violations; driving without valid license);

(2) section 169.791 (criminal penalty for failure to produce proof of insurance);

(3) section 171.09 (driving restrictions; authority, violations);

(4) section 169A.20 (driving while impaired);

(5) section 169A.33 (underage drinking and driving); and

(6) section 169A.35 (open bottle law).

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2016, and applies to
forfeiture actions occurring on or after that date.
new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 169A.63, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 13. new text end

new text begin Exception. new text end

new text begin (a) This section does not apply if the driver who committed the
designated offense or whose conduct resulted in the designated license revocation becomes
a program participant in the ignition interlock program under section 171.306 within 60
days following service of the Notice of Seizure and Intent to Forfeit under this section.
new text end

new text begin (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the program participant described in paragraph
(a) subsequently operates the motor vehicle to commit a designated offense or in a manner
that results in a designated license revocation, the vehicle must be seized and summarily
forfeited.
new text end

new text begin (c) Paragraph (b) applies only if the described subsequent vehicle operation occurs
before the participant has been restored to full driving privileges or within three years of
the original designated offense or designated license revocation, whichever occurs latest.
new text end

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2014, section 171.29, subdivision 1, is amended to read:


Subdivision 1.

Examination required.

new text begin (a) new text end No person whose driver's license has
been revoked by reason of conviction, plea of guilty, or forfeiture of bail not vacated,
under section 169.791, 169.797, 171.17, or 171.172, or revoked under section 169.792 deleted text begin or
169A.52
deleted text end shall be issued another license unless and until that person shall have successfully
passed an examination as required by the commissioner of public safety. This subdivision
does not apply to an applicant for early reinstatement under section 169.792, subdivision 7a.

new text begin (b) The requirement to successfully pass the examination described in paragraph
(a) does not apply to a person whose driver's license has been revoked because of an
impaired driving offense.
new text end