HCS/SB 696 - Currently, a person who causes physical injury or death to another person by failing to yield the right-of-way is subject to additional monetary penalties and driver's license suspensions. This act increases the maximum penalty from $200 to $1,000, and requires a minimum penalty of $500 to be assessed. In the case of serious physical injury this act increases the maximum penalty from $500 to $3,000, and requires a minimum penalty of $1,000 to be assessed. The act further makes the 90-day suspension period mandatory rather than discretionary in the case of serious physical injury. This act increases the maximum penalty for a person who causes the death of another person by failing to yield the right-of-way from $1,000 to $10,000, and requires a minimum of $5,000 to be assessed. The act also requires the court to issue an order of suspension for a minimum of 6 months up to one year. In addition, the person who causes a fatality by failing to yield the right-of-way must successfully complete a driver-improvement program. This act also exempts sales of motorcycles and motorized vehicles sold by powersports dealers, including motortricycles, motorized bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-highway vehicles, utility vehicles, and personal watercraft, from the prohibition of motor vehicles sales on Sundays. Dealers of motorcycles and powersports motor vehicle dealers would not be subject to criminal penalties for selling motorcycles and powersports motor vehicles on a Sunday.
This act also allows for a special license plate for a person who has received the Korea Defense Service Medal. To obtain the plate, a person must submit an application to the Director of the Department of Revenue and furnish proof of eligibility for the plates as the department director may require. The applicant will be charged an additional $15 fee for each set of plates. The plates are not transferable to any other person, but in the event of the death of a qualified person, a registered co-owner of the vehicle must be entitled to operate the vehicle with the plates until they expire.
Currently, a petition for a trial de novo on an order suspending or revoking a driver's license is prohibited from resulting in a stay of the order. This act specifies that the petition must result in a stay, and that the Department of Revenue shall issue a temporary driving permit which must be valid until a final order is issued following the date of the disposition of the petition for a trial de novo.
This act contains provisions identical to HB 1797 (2014), HB 1082 (2014), and HBs 1735 & 1618 (2014).
MICHELA BIRK