SF 984

as introduced - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to motor vehicles; establishing a system for 
  1.3             notification, recording, and collecting of delinquent 
  1.4             traffic offense fines; prohibiting license plate or 
  1.5             license plate tab renewal if delinquent traffic fines 
  1.6             are not paid; imposing a fee; motivating drivers to be 
  1.7             validly licensed and insured by allowing first-time 
  1.8             driving-after-suspension violators to avoid further 
  1.9             suspension by promptly obtaining reinstatement, by 
  1.10            allowing first-time no-insurance violators to avoid 
  1.11            license revocation or suspension by promptly obtaining 
  1.12            insurance, and by terminating nonpayment-of-fines 
  1.13            license suspension when the person pays the fines and 
  1.14            the reinstatement fee; appropriating money; amending 
  1.15            Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 169.792, subdivision 
  1.16            7, and by adding a subdivision; 169.797, subdivision 
  1.17            4a, and by adding a subdivision; 169.95; 169.99, 
  1.18            subdivision 1; 171.16, subdivision 3; and 171.24, by 
  1.19            adding a subdivision; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.20            Minnesota Statutes, chapters 168; and 169.  
  1.21  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.22                             ARTICLE 1
  1.23      PAYMENT OF DELINQUENT TRAFFIC OFFENSE FINES REQUIRED FOR
  1.24               LICENSE PLATE OR LICENSE TABS RENEWAL
  1.25     Section 1.  [168.135] [LICENSE PLATE OR LICENSE TABS 
  1.26  RENEWAL; DELINQUENT TRAFFIC FINES.] 
  1.27     Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSE.] As used in 
  1.28  this section, "traffic offense" means a violation of a law 
  1.29  relating to the operation or parking of a motor vehicle that is 
  1.30  punishable as a petty misdemeanor or a misdemeanor. 
  1.31     Subd. 2.  [APPLICATION; NOTICE.] When a person applies for 
  1.32  any motor vehicle license plates or license plate tabs, the 
  1.33  commissioner or deputy registrar receiving the application shall 
  2.1   search the computerized records system established under 
  2.2   subdivision 3 to determine whether the vehicle has been involved 
  2.3   in a traffic offense for which the records collected or 
  2.4   information reported under section 169.95 indicate a delinquent 
  2.5   fine is owed.  The commissioner or deputy registrar shall base 
  2.6   the determination of the existence of a delinquent fine upon a 
  2.7   notation to that effect on the current notice of motor vehicle 
  2.8   registration renewal sent to the owner of the vehicle or, if the 
  2.9   applicant does not present the notice, upon the computerized 
  2.10  records system established under subdivision 3.  If a delinquent 
  2.11  fine is indicated, the commissioner or deputy registrar shall 
  2.12  notify the applicant as to the court to which payment of the 
  2.13  fine is due and the amount of each fine.  
  2.14     (b) This section applies to an application subsequent to a 
  2.15  transfer of ownership of the vehicle only if no sales tax was 
  2.16  paid upon the transfer of ownership. 
  2.17     Subd. 3.  [COMPUTERIZED RECORDS SYSTEM; ACCESS.] (a) The 
  2.18  commissioner shall install, administer, and maintain in the 
  2.19  department of public safety an efficient, computerized database 
  2.20  records system dedicated solely as the repository for reports of 
  2.21  delinquent traffic offense fines.  The commissioner shall 
  2.22  provide and specify equipment and interconnection 
  2.23  specifications, programming requirements, and training materials 
  2.24  needed to provide courts and deputy registrars access to this 
  2.25  system. 
  2.26     (b) This system must be designed to allow each court to 
  2.27  report and update by electronic communication directly with the 
  2.28  system's computer database those delinquent fines that remain 
  2.29  owing to the court.  The system must be designed to allow access 
  2.30  by a deputy registrar to the system upon transmittal of the 
  2.31  deputy registrar's access code as assigned by the commissioner. 
  2.32     (c) On complying with these specifications, providing the 
  2.33  requisite database-accessing equipment and programming, and 
  2.34  providing the specified interconnection equipment, the 
  2.35  commissioner shall allow each deputy registrar direct computer 
  2.36  inquiry of this system.  The system must allow electronic and 
  3.1   toll-free telephone access by deputy registrars as necessary to 
  3.2   perform their responsibilities under subdivision 4.  The 
  3.3   commissioner shall not assess a deputy registrar transaction or 
  3.4   user costs, fees, or charges for inquiries required or necessary 
  3.5   to discharge the duties of a deputy registrar under this section.
  3.6      (d) Access must include the records required by this 
  3.7   section and exclude only those records restricted by governing 
  3.8   state or federal data privacy laws.  
  3.9      (e) Before mailing a motor vehicle license plate or license 
  3.10  plate tabs renewal notice to the vehicle's owner, the 
  3.11  commissioner shall search the delinquent fine data base to 
  3.12  determine whether there are any delinquent fines on record.  The 
  3.13  commissioner shall record any delinquent fines on the renewal 
  3.14  notice. 
  3.15     Subd. 4.  [DEPUTY REGISTRARS' RESPONSIBILITIES.] (a) On 
  3.16  receiving an application for license plates or license plate 
  3.17  tabs, the commissioner or a deputy registrar shall examine the 
  3.18  motor vehicle license plate or license plate tabs renewal notice 
  3.19  or access the computerized records system to discover whether 
  3.20  the vehicle has been involved in a traffic offense for which a 
  3.21  delinquent traffic fine is owed.  On gaining access to the 
  3.22  system, the deputy registrar shall identify and communicate the 
  3.23  license plate number for which the information is requested.  
  3.24     (b) Neither the commissioner nor a deputy registrar may 
  3.25  issue license plates or license plate tabs if the renewal notice 
  3.26  or the response from the records system indicates that there is 
  3.27  a delinquent fine arising from a traffic offense involving the 
  3.28  vehicle for which the license plate was issued.  A deputy 
  3.29  registrar may rely conclusively upon the renewal notice or the 
  3.30  response of the records system to the inquiry.  
  3.31     (c) An applicant may register the vehicle after paying or 
  3.32  otherwise satisfactorily disposing of all delinquent fines as 
  3.33  follows: 
  3.34     (1) by reapplying after paying the outstanding fines to the 
  3.35  appropriate courts and after each court's files of delinquent 
  3.36  fines have been recorded and updated in the commissioner's 
  4.1   computerized system; 
  4.2      (2) by presenting court receipts or statements certifying 
  4.3   that all delinquent fines have been paid or otherwise disposed 
  4.4   of to the satisfaction of all applicable courts; or 
  4.5      (3) by paying all outstanding delinquent fines, as recorded 
  4.6   in the commissioner's computerized records system, by 
  4.7   satisfactory payment to the deputy registrar, but only if the 
  4.8   particular deputy registrar elects to provide this service.  A 
  4.9   deputy registrar electing to accept payments for fines under 
  4.10  this clause shall transmit all payments to the commissioner 
  4.11  including all fees, other than the deputy registrar fees, 
  4.12  collected as a result of the transaction.  The commissioner 
  4.13  shall transmit the fines to the applicable courts on a monthly 
  4.14  basis. 
  4.15     (d) A deputy registrar may rely conclusively upon any 
  4.16  receipt or certified statement issued under paragraph (c), 
  4.17  clause (2), and purporting to be that of the court named in the 
  4.18  receipt or statement that the fines owed to that court have been 
  4.19  paid or otherwise satisfied. 
  4.20     Subd. 5.  [IMPLEMENTATION; PHASE-IN; 
  4.21  APPROPRIATION.] Implementation, phase-in, effective dates, and 
  4.22  appropriation for subdivisions 1 to 4 are as provided in section 
  4.23  169.95, subdivision 6. 
  4.24     Sec. 2.  [169.945] [DEFINITION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSE.] 
  4.25     As used in sections 169.95 to 169.955, "traffic offense" 
  4.26  means a violation of a law relating to the operation or parking 
  4.27  of a motor vehicle that is punishable as a petty misdemeanor or 
  4.28  a misdemeanor. 
  4.29     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.95, is 
  4.30  amended to read: 
  4.31     169.95 [COURTS TO KEEP SEPARATE COURT RECORDS AND REPORTS 
  4.32  OF VIOLATIONS AND DELINQUENT FINES.] 
  4.33     Subdivision 1.  [RECORDS.] Every court administrator shall 
  4.34  keep a full record of every case in which a person is charged 
  4.35  with a violation of any law or ordinance, regulating the 
  4.36  operation or parking of vehicles on highways. 
  5.1      Subd. 2.  [REPORTS OF VEHICLE VIOLATIONS.] (a) Within ten 
  5.2   days after the conviction or forfeiture of bail of a person upon 
  5.3   a charge of violating any provisions of any law or ordinance, 
  5.4   regulating the operation of vehicles on highways, the court 
  5.5   administrator of the court in which the conviction was had or 
  5.6   bail was forfeited, shall immediately forward to the department 
  5.7   of public safety an abstract of the record of the court covering 
  5.8   the case in which the person was convicted or forfeited bail.  
  5.9   The abstract must be certified by the person required to prepare 
  5.10  it to be true and correct. 
  5.11     (b) The abstract must be made upon a form furnished by the 
  5.12  department of public safety, and shall include the name and 
  5.13  address of the party charged, the driver's license number of the 
  5.14  person involved, the nature of the offense, the date of hearing, 
  5.15  the plea, the judgment, or whether bail was forfeited, and the 
  5.16  amount of the fine or forfeiture, as the case may be. 
  5.17     (c) Every court shall also forward a report to the 
  5.18  department of public safety reporting the conviction of any 
  5.19  person of manslaughter or other felony in the commission of 
  5.20  which a vehicle was used. 
  5.21     The failure, refusal, or neglect of any judicial officer to 
  5.22  comply with any of the requirements of this section shall 
  5.23  constitute misconduct in the office and shall be grounds for 
  5.24  removal. 
  5.25     Subd. 3.  [REPORTS OF DELINQUENT FINES.] Every court 
  5.26  administrator shall report delinquent fines imposed for traffic 
  5.27  offenses to the department of public safety's computerized 
  5.28  records system established under section 168.135.  The court 
  5.29  administrator shall report within 30 days after the date that 
  5.30  the payment of a fine is due.  The report must be made to the 
  5.31  commissioner of public safety as prescribed in section 168.135 
  5.32  and and must contain the following information: 
  5.33     (a) the license plate number of the motor vehicle involved 
  5.34  in the offense; 
  5.35     (b) the number of delinquent fines; 
  5.36     (c) the amount of the fine for each citation or conviction; 
  6.1   and 
  6.2      (d) the date the citation was issued. 
  6.3      Subd. 4.  [NOTICE AND REPORT BY COURT.] (a) At least 15 
  6.4   days before any information on delinquent fines is transmitted 
  6.5   to the department's computerized records system, the court shall 
  6.6   mail a notice containing the following information to the last 
  6.7   known address of the registered owner of the motor vehicle 
  6.8   involved in the traffic offense:  
  6.9      (1) the nature of the violation; 
  6.10     (2) the amount of the fine; 
  6.11     (3) where the fine should be paid; and 
  6.12     (4) the resulting consequences concerning license plate or 
  6.13  license plate tabs renewal if the fine is not paid. 
  6.14     (b) If the fine is not paid or otherwise disposed of to the 
  6.15  satisfaction of the court or if a court appearance has not been 
  6.16  scheduled, the court shall transmit the information to the 
  6.17  department's computerized records system.  The court may impose 
  6.18  costs and assess penalties to the defendant to recover any 
  6.19  expense incurred by the court in administering the notice and 
  6.20  reporting requirements of this section.  The costs and penalties 
  6.21  are payable to the court. 
  6.22     Subd. 5.  [PAYMENT OF DELINQUENT FINE.] When a delinquent 
  6.23  fine has been paid or otherwise disposed of to the court's 
  6.24  satisfaction, the court shall: 
  6.25     (a) issue the violator a receipt of payment or statement 
  6.26  certifying that the delinquent fine has been paid or otherwise 
  6.27  disposed of to the court's satisfaction; and 
  6.28     (b) update its listing of outstanding delinquent fines to 
  6.29  be recorded in the records system established in section 
  6.30  168.135, subdivision 3 (license plate renewal applications). 
  6.31     Subd. 6.  [IMPLEMENTATION; PHASE-IN; APPROPRIATION.] (a) By 
  6.32  January 1, 1998, the commissioner of public safety shall select 
  6.33  one or more cities, counties, or districts in which to implement 
  6.34  subdivisions 3 to 5 and section 168.135 on a pilot project basis 
  6.35  in advance of their statewide effective date.  The commissioner 
  6.36  shall include an evaluation of this pilot project in the report 
  7.1   the commissioner is required to submit under paragraph (b). 
  7.2      (b) The commissioner, in cooperation with the commissioner 
  7.3   of administration and the chief justice of the supreme court, or 
  7.4   designees thereof, shall submit a report to the legislature by 
  7.5   January 15, 1999, making recommendations related to the 
  7.6   statewide implementation of subdivisions 3 to 5 and section 
  7.7   168.135.  The report shall make recommendations regarding: 
  7.8      (1) equipment, training, and necessary personnel; 
  7.9      (2) system design, interconnection, programming, and the 
  7.10  most efficient means of information exchange; 
  7.11     (3) uniform ticket identification methodology for all 
  7.12  system users; 
  7.13     (4) most effective means of inputting district court 
  7.14  information into the system; 
  7.15     (5) any additional or amendatory legislation appropriate to 
  7.16  fully implement the system or improve thereon, including any 
  7.17  legislation that may be appropriate if license plates or license 
  7.18  plate tabs are erroneously issued to persons with delinquent 
  7.19  traffic fines; and 
  7.20     (6) required appropriations. 
  7.21     (c) $....... is appropriated from the general fund to the 
  7.22  commissioner of public safety for the fiscal biennium ending 
  7.23  June 30, 1999, to be used to implement subdivisions 3 to 5 and 
  7.24  section 168.135 on a pilot project basis and to perform the 
  7.25  reporting requirements of paragraph (b).  
  7.26     (d) Subdivisions 3 to 5 and section 168.135 are effective 
  7.27  January 1, 1998, in those portions of the state included in the 
  7.28  commissioner of public safety's pilot project under this 
  7.29  subdivision.  Subdivisions 3 to 5 and section 168.135 are 
  7.30  effective statewide July 1, 1999. 
  7.31     Sec. 4.  [169.953] [TRAFFIC OFFENSE SURCHARGE; 
  7.32  APPROPRIATION.] 
  7.33     Subdivision 1.  [SURCHARGE ON TRAFFIC OFFENSE 
  7.34  VIOLATIONS.] An additional fee of $1 is imposed on all 
  7.35  convictions for traffic offenses.  Courts, violation bureaus, or 
  7.36  other entities that collect fines for these offenses shall 
  8.1   transmit the proceeds of the fee to the commissioner of public 
  8.2   safety monthly.  The commissioner shall deposit the proceeds in 
  8.3   the general fund.  
  8.4      Subd. 2.  [APPROPRIATION TO REIMBURSE DEPUTY 
  8.5   REGISTRARS.] Of the proceeds collected under subdivision 1, a 
  8.6   sum sufficient is annually appropriated to the commissioner of 
  8.7   public safety to reimburse deputy registrars for their actual, 
  8.8   documented telephone transaction costs, mailing costs, and other 
  8.9   expenses necessarily incurred to comply with their duties 
  8.10  required under section 168.135. 
  8.11     Sec. 5.  [169.955] [CERTAIN ARREST WARRANTS PROHIBITED.] 
  8.12     A court shall not issue an arrest warrant because of 
  8.13  nonpayment of a fine for a petty misdemeanor traffic offense if 
  8.14  the traffic offense involved a vehicle registered in Minnesota. 
  8.15     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.99, 
  8.16  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  8.17     Subdivision 1.  [FORM.] (a) Except as provided in 
  8.18  subdivision 3, there shall be a uniform ticket issued throughout 
  8.19  the state by the police and peace officers or by any other 
  8.20  person for violations of this chapter and ordinances in 
  8.21  conformity thereto.  Such uniform traffic ticket shall be in the 
  8.22  form and have the effect of a summons and complaint.  Except as 
  8.23  provided in paragraph (b), the uniform ticket shall state that 
  8.24  if the defendant fails to appear in court in response to the 
  8.25  ticket, an arrest warrant may be issued.  The uniform traffic 
  8.26  ticket shall consist of four parts, on paper sensitized so that 
  8.27  copies may be made without the use of carbon paper, as follows: 
  8.28     (1) the complaint, with reverse side for officer's notes 
  8.29  for testifying in court, driver's past record, and court's 
  8.30  action, printed on white paper; 
  8.31     (2) the abstract of court record for the department of 
  8.32  public safety, which shall be a copy of the complaint with the 
  8.33  certificate of conviction on the reverse side, printed on yellow 
  8.34  paper; 
  8.35     (3) the police record, which shall be a copy of the 
  8.36  complaint and of the reverse side of copy (1), printed on pink 
  9.1   paper; 
  9.2      (4) the summons, with, on the reverse side, such 
  9.3   information as the court may wish to give concerning the traffic 
  9.4   violations bureau, and a plea of guilty and waiver, printed on 
  9.5   off-white tag stock.  
  9.6      (b) If the offense is a petty misdemeanor, the uniform 
  9.7   ticket must state that a failure to appear will be considered a 
  9.8   plea of guilty and waiver of the right to trial, unless the 
  9.9   failure to appear is due to circumstances beyond the person's 
  9.10  control. 
  9.11     (c) The copy of the uniform traffic ticket provided to the 
  9.12  violator must include a notice specifying the consequences 
  9.13  regarding license plate or license plate tabs renewal that may 
  9.14  result if the violator fails to respond to the ticket or, if 
  9.15  convicted of a traffic offense, if the violator fails to pay any 
  9.16  fine imposed. 
  9.17     Sec. 7.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  9.18     This article is effective January 1, 1998. 
  9.19                             ARTICLE 2
  9.20       MOTIVATING DRIVERS TO BE PROPERLY LICENSED AND INSURED
  9.21     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.792, is 
  9.22  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  9.23     Subd. 6a.  [AVOIDANCE OF REVOCATION; IMPOSITION OF 
  9.24  FEE.] The commissioner shall not revoke the person's driver's 
  9.25  license under subdivision 7 if all of the following requirements 
  9.26  are satisfied: 
  9.27     (a) The commissioner's records must show that within the 
  9.28  prior ten years: 
  9.29     (1) the person has not previously been convicted under 
  9.30  section 169.791 or 169.797; and 
  9.31     (2) the person's driver's license has not been suspended 
  9.32  under section 169.797. 
  9.33     (b) Before the effective date of the revocation required 
  9.34  under subdivision 7, the person must provide the commissioner 
  9.35  with: 
  9.36     (1) proof establishing that the vehicle involved in the 
 10.1   violation has been forfeited for nonpayment of towing or storage 
 10.2   fees; or 
 10.3      (2) proof of insurance or other verifiable insurance 
 10.4   information, as determined by the commissioner, establishing 
 10.5   that the person currently has insurance coverage satisfactory to 
 10.6   the commissioner.  This proof must include: 
 10.7      (i) proof that the insurance covers a period of: 
 10.8      (A) at least six months; or 
 10.9      (B) at least one month, in which event the person must 
 10.10  submit periodic reports showing that insurance is maintained for 
 10.11  six months or, if the person fails to submit these reports, the 
 10.12  revocation under subdivision 7 may proceed; and 
 10.13     (ii) if required by the commissioner, proof of insurance 
 10.14  for all vehicles owned by the person and required to be insured 
 10.15  under section 65B.48.  
 10.16     (c) Before the effective date of the revocation required 
 10.17  under subdivision 7, the person also must pay the reinstatement 
 10.18  fee required by section 171.29, subdivision 2, paragraph (a). 
 10.19     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.792, 
 10.20  subdivision 7, is amended to read: 
 10.21     Subd. 7.  [LICENSE REVOCATION.] (a) Upon receiving the 
 10.22  notification under subdivision 6 or notification of a conviction 
 10.23  for violation of section 169.791, the commissioner shall revoke 
 10.24  the person's driver's license or permit to drive.  The 
 10.25  revocation shall be effective beginning no sooner than 14 days 
 10.26  after the date of notification by the district court 
 10.27  administrator or officer to the department of public safety.  In 
 10.28  order to be revoked, The commissioner shall mail notice must 
 10.29  have been mailed to the person by the commissioner at least ten 
 10.30  days before the effective date of the revocation.  If the 
 10.31  person, before the effective date of the revocation, provides 
 10.32  the commissioner with the proof of insurance or other verifiable 
 10.33  insurance information as determined by the commissioner, 
 10.34  establishing that the required insurance covered the vehicle at 
 10.35  the time of the original demand, the revocation must not become 
 10.36  effective.  Revocation based upon receipt of a notification 
 11.1   under subdivision 6 must be carried out regardless of the status 
 11.2   or disposition of any related criminal charge.  
 11.3      (b) The person's driver's license or permit to drive shall 
 11.4   be revoked for the longer of:  (i) the period provided in 
 11.5   section 169.797, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), including any 
 11.6   rules adopted under that paragraph, or (ii) until the driver or 
 11.7   owner files proof of insurance with the department of public 
 11.8   safety satisfactory to the commissioner of public safety.  A 
 11.9   license must not be revoked more than once based upon the same 
 11.10  demand for proof of insurance.: 
 11.11     (1) 30 days if the person has no previous driver's license 
 11.12  revocation or suspension under this section or section 169.797 
 11.13  within the preceding five years; or 
 11.14     (2) for a longer period determined by the commissioner if 
 11.15  the person has one or more previous revocations or suspensions 
 11.16  under this section or section 169.797 within the preceding five 
 11.17  years. 
 11.18     (c) After the designated period of revocation, the person 
 11.19  is eligible for reinstatement of the person's driver's license 
 11.20  upon compliance with the requirements of subdivision 10. 
 11.21     Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.797, 
 11.22  subdivision 4a, is amended to read: 
 11.23     Subd. 4a.  [REGISTRATION REVOCATION AND LICENSE 
 11.24  SUSPENSION.] The commissioner of public safety shall revoke the 
 11.25  registration of any vehicle and, except as provided in 
 11.26  subdivision 4b, may suspend the driver's license of any 
 11.27  operator, without preliminary hearing upon a showing by 
 11.28  department records, including accident reports required to be 
 11.29  submitted by section 169.09, or other sufficient evidence that 
 11.30  security required by section 65B.48 has not been provided and 
 11.31  maintained.  Before reinstatement of the registration, there 
 11.32  shall be filed with the commissioner of public safety the 
 11.33  written certificate of an insurance carrier authorized to do 
 11.34  business in the state stating that security has been provided as 
 11.35  required by section 65B.48.  The commissioner of public safety 
 11.36  may require the certificate of insurance provided to satisfy 
 12.1   this subdivision to be certified by the insurance carrier to be 
 12.2   noncancelable for a period not to exceed one year.  The 
 12.3   commissioner of public safety may also require a certificate of 
 12.4   insurance to be filed with respect to all vehicles required to 
 12.5   be insured under section 65B.48 and owned by any person whose 
 12.6   driving privileges have been suspended or revoked as provided in 
 12.7   this section before reinstating the person's driver's license. 
 12.8      Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 169.797, is 
 12.9   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 12.10     Subd. 4b.  [AVOIDANCE OF SUSPENSION; IMPOSITION OF 
 12.11  FEE.] The commissioner shall not suspend the person's driver's 
 12.12  license if all of the following requirements are satisfied: 
 12.13     (a) The license suspension under subdivision 4a must not be 
 12.14  based upon evidence that shows that the vehicle was involved in 
 12.15  a traffic accident. 
 12.16     (b) Within the prior ten years, the person's driver's 
 12.17  license must not have been: 
 12.18     (1) revoked under section 169.792; or 
 12.19     (2) suspended under this section. 
 12.20     (c) Before the effective date of the suspension ordered 
 12.21  under subdivision 4a, the person must provide the commissioner 
 12.22  with proof of insurance or other verifiable insurance 
 12.23  information, as determined by the commissioner, establishing 
 12.24  that the person currently has insurance coverage satisfactory to 
 12.25  the commissioner.  This proof must include: 
 12.26     (1) proof that the insurance covers a period of: 
 12.27     (i) at least six months; or 
 12.28     (ii) at least one month, in which event the person must 
 12.29  submit periodic reports showing that insurance is maintained for 
 12.30  six months or, if the person fails to submit these reports, the 
 12.31  suspension under subdivision 4a may proceed; and 
 12.32     (2) if required by the commissioner, proof of insurance for 
 12.33  all vehicles owned by the person and required to be insured 
 12.34  under section 65B.48. 
 12.35     (d) Before the effective date of the suspension ordered 
 12.36  under subdivision 4a, the person also must pay the fee required 
 13.1   by section 171.29, subdivision 2, paragraph (a). 
 13.2      Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 171.16, 
 13.3   subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
 13.4      Subd. 3.  [SUSPENSION FOR FAILURE TO PAY FINE.] (a) The 
 13.5   commissioner shall suspend a person's driver's license when any 
 13.6   court reports to the commissioner that a the person: 
 13.7      (1) has been convicted of violating a law of this state or 
 13.8   an ordinance of a political subdivision which that regulates the 
 13.9   operation or parking of motor vehicles,; 
 13.10     (2) has been sentenced to the payment of a fine or had a 
 13.11  penalty assessment levied against that person, or sentenced to a 
 13.12  fine upon which a penalty assessment was levied,; and 
 13.13     (3) has refused or failed to comply with that the sentence 
 13.14  or to pay the penalty assessment, notwithstanding the fact that 
 13.15  the court has determined court's determination that the person 
 13.16  has the ability is able to pay the fine or penalty assessment,. 
 13.17     (b) The commissioner shall suspend the driver's license of 
 13.18  such person for 30 days for a refusal or failure to pay or until 
 13.19  notified by suspension under this section ends when: 
 13.20     (1) the court that notifies the commissioner of the payment 
 13.21  of the fine or penalty assessment, or both if a fine and penalty 
 13.22  assessment both previously were not paid; and 
 13.23     (2) the reinstatement fee under section 171.20, subdivision 
 13.24  4, has been paid. 
 13.25     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 171.24, is 
 13.26  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
 13.27     Subd. 8.  [ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS FOR FIRST-TIME DRIVING 
 13.28  AFTER SUSPENSION.] If the commissioner receives notification of 
 13.29  a conviction for a violation of subdivision 1 that was not 
 13.30  committed within three years after a previous conviction under 
 13.31  this section and the person's license has been reinstated, no 
 13.32  additional withdrawal of driving privileges shall result from 
 13.33  the conviction.  If the person's license is still under 
 13.34  suspension when the commissioner receives notification of the 
 13.35  conviction under subdivision 1, the commissioner shall issue a 
 13.36  notice of suspension as provided for under section 171.18 and 
 14.1   the rules issued by the commissioner.  If within the time period 
 14.2   provided for in section 171.18 the person satisfies all 
 14.3   requirements for reinstatement of the person's driver's license, 
 14.4   then the notice of suspension shall be withdrawn and no 
 14.5   additional withdrawal of license privileges shall result from 
 14.6   the conviction. 
 14.7      Sec. 7.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 14.8      This article is effective January 1, 1998.