TallyIDAHOLegislative Tracker
H05992018 Regular Session

Amends existing law to revise the penalties for driving without privileges.

DRIVING WITHOUT PRIVILEGES -- Amends existing law to revise the penalties for driving without privileges.

DRIVING WITHOUT PRIVILEGES

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

This legislation would reclassify driving without a license (49-301, Idaho Code) from a misdemeanor to a first and second offense infraction with third and subsequent violations remaining a misdemeanor. For certain driver's license suspensions, driving on a suspended license would be reduced to an infraction (18-8001(b), Idaho Code). For remaining misdemeanor violations for driving on a suspended license (18-8001(a), Idaho Code), the legislation would eliminate statutory mandatory minimum jail sentences. The legislation also would reinstate driving privileges for certain citizens previously suspended for no other reason than non-payment. This would reduce the caseload in the courts and the demand for public defense services. It would also have a potential reduction in demand on county jails as well as alleviating a cycle of indigent citizens being unable to pay fines in one case, resulting in further charges being filed against them, resulting in a greater inability to pay. Under current law, fines levied as part of misdemeanor violations are sent to dedicated funds while infraction fines are distributed differently. The proposed legislation includes provisions that keep moneys from infraction fines paid under this revision going to the same places to which the misdemeanor fines are currently routed.

HOW THEY VOTED

house Chamber· Mar 1, 2018

House Third Reading

✓ Passed
69 Yea
0 Nay
1 absentPassed by 98.57 votes

ABSENT / NOT VOTING (1)

LATEST ACTION

Reported Signed by Governor on March 27, 2018 Session Law Chapter 298 Effective: 07/01/2018

BILL INFO

Session
2018
Chamber
house
Status date
Mar 27, 2018

LINKS

View on Idaho Legislature ↗