>> [GAVEL]
>> CHAIR MARIANI: THE CHAIR CALLS THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND CANNOT JUSTICE REFORM COMMITTEE TO ORDER. REPRESENTATIVE
CHRISTIANSEN WOULD YOU BE SO KIND TO MOVE THE MINUTES OF
FEBRUARY 14 >>
REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTENSEN: I APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM
FEBRUARY 14 >> CHAIR MARIANI:
REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTIANSEN WAS ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 14. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY; AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES.] OPPOSED; SAME SIGN.
>> [GAVEL] >>
CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTIANSEN.
REPRESENTATIVE GETTING
YOU HAVE FILED YOU HAVE FILED 10 001.
SPIRIT IN
WHATEVER ORDER YOU PREFER TO CHOOSE TO
>> REPRESENTATIVE I MOVE HOUSE
FILE 1001
>> CHAIR MARIANI:
REPRESENTATIVE PINTO MOOSE FOR HOUSE
PINTO MOOSE FOR HOUSE FILE 1001B BE LAID OVER FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION.
REPRESENTATIVE PINTO
BE PINTO THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR.
THIS BILL 1001 AND THE NEXT ONE 1002
BOTH BILLS THAT CAME OUT OF THE DWI
TASK FORCE. I'VE DAVID
BERNSTEIN [INAUDIBLE] WHOSE ASSISTANT MINNEAPOLIS CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE T
O TALK ABOUT THE BILL. YOU'LL FIND IN
YOUR PACKET LETTERS FROM THE
TASK FORCE IN SUPPORT OF EACH OF THE BILLS WITH THE ONE IN FRONT OF YOU
RIGHT NOW AND ONE THAT WILL BE IN FRONT OF YOU SHORTLY AND I THINK MR. CHAIR; FIRST-TIME SAY; ALTERNATE OVER TO
MR. BERNSTEIN TO DESCRIBE
THIS BILL AND THE NEXT ONE. >>
CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU. WELCOME TO
THE COMMITTEE. LET ME JUST A THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK IN PROVIDING LEADERSHIP
FOR DWI TASK FOR GOOD AFFORD YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY. PLEASE BEGIN STEADY NAME FOR THE RECORD AND PROCEED
>> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS DAVID BERNSTEIN CHAIR OF THE MANY MINNESOTA
DWI TASK FORCE. FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE DWI TASK FORCE IS A
VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION. WE ARE NOT FUNDED. WERE NOT AFFILIATED WE
ARE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS TO
MEET MONTHLY
TO YOUR REGARDING ALL
THINGS DWI. WE GO OVER CASE FILES BUT
WE DISCUSSED DWI IN THE MEDIA AND WE DO OVER
LEGISLATION OCCASIONALLY LOBBYING FOR LEGISLATION AND
ALSO SUPPORTING OPPOSING OR MANY NEUTRAL ON LEGISLATION. MEMBERS OF THE
TASK FORCE APPEAR IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITIES BUT THAT YOU BRING A UNIQUE KNOWLEDGE OF DWI
LAWS. THE TASK FORCE CONSISTS OF JUDGES; PROSECUTORS;
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS PROBATION OFFICERS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE OF TRAFFIC SAFETY
MINNESOTANS FOR SAFE DRIVING MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING; PRIVATE BUSINESSES
; AND OTHERS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST
IN DWI. SO WE HAVE A
UNIQUE SETOF VARIETY OF KNOWLEDGE THAT ATTEND
OUR MEETINGS. THE TASK FORCE TO DISCUSS HOUSE
FILE 1001 AND WE VOTED TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.
WE INITIALLY PROPOSE THIS BILL
BACK IN 2015
. ESSENTIALLY; THIS BILL IS A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL IT ALLOWS FOR
LICENSE PLATE EMPOWERMENT TO BE AFFECTED BY IT
AFFIXING A PERMANENT STICKER UPON THE
LICENSE PLATE. INSERT DWI -RELATED CASES; THE LICENSE PLATE IS ACTUALLY REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH IS BISON
PLATE EMPOWERMENT IS MEANT TO BE A MEASURE FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY THIS CAN PRESENT PROBLEMS TO
LAW ENFORCEMENT
IT OCCASIONALLY; THE LICENSE PLATES CAN BE RUSTY OR DIRTY
BUT IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT AND TIME-CONSUMING TO REMOVE LICENSE PLATES FROM THE VEHICLE
ROADSIDE. SO PART OF THE
REASON FOR THIS BILL IS TO ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT TO AFFIX A PERMANENT STICKER
WHICH EFFECTUATES THE EMPOWERMENT
. TAKES MUCH LESS TIME BUT IT'S MUCH LESS DANGEROUS
THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
REMAINING ROADSIDE AND ALLOWS THE OFFICER TO RESPOND TO OTHER CALLS
BUT IT IS STILL EFFECTUATES THE LICENSE
PLATE EMPOWERMENT. IN ADDITION; THIS BILL INCREASES
THE TEMPORARY LICENSE FROM
7 DAYS SPEAKING 14 DAYS OR IN
CASES INVOLVING BLOOD
OR URINE TEST FOR
45 DAYS. THERE'S A FEW REASONS FOR THIS PROPOSAL
THE FIRST 7 DAYS IS A SHORT PERIOD
OF TIME
FOR INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS
FOR TRANSPORTATION. IN ADDITION
TO THAT INCREASE
TO 40 DAYS WOULD ALLOW INDIVIDUALS MORE TIME TO TRY AND GET
THE IGNITION INTERLOCK AND TO DRIVE LEGALLY.
WITH RESPECT TO THE 45 DAYS
IN THE CAS
ES OF BLOOD OR URINE TESTS THOSE SAMPLES ARE SENT TO THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL APPREHENSION FOR TESTING
TYPICALLY; THOSE TEST RESULTS DON'T COME BACK FOR AT LEAST
45 DAYS. SO RATHER
THAN IMMEDIATELY REVOKE
THE LICENSE THIS GIVES A PERSON A PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THOSE RESULTS
COME BACK OR AT LEAST
A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL THE CASE IS
CHARGED OUT.SO THE TASK FORCE
POLICE THIS BILL IS FAIR AND TO THE INTEREST OF
PUBLIC SAFETY.
FOR THOSE REASONS THE DWI TASK FORCE DOES SUPPORT HOUSE FILEAND ASKED TO B
E COUP INCLUDED IN THE OMNIBUS BILL. WITH THAT I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THE COMMITTEE HAS >> CHAIR MARIANI: IN
C. YOU. REPRESENTATIVE PINTO TO HAVE
ANY OTHER TESTIFIERS? >> REPRESENTATIVE PINTO: NO
MR. CHAIR. >> CHAIR MARIANI: ARE
YOU WELL. ISRAEL WAS WISHING TO TESTIFY ON
THIS BILL? IF NOT; WE DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON. >> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON: CHAIR MARIANI; REPRESENTATIVE PINTO MAYBE YOU CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION FOR ME. I MYSELF
FILLED OUT A NUMBER OF
EMPOWERMENT PLATES AND REMOVE THE PLATES. EVEN GREATER MINNESOTA GENERALLY DON'T HAVE
A PROBLEM
PULLING THE PLATES OFF WHILE WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK
TO ARRIVE BUT THE QUESTION I
HAVE IS; ON A FORM WE ALSO HAVE TO LIST ALL VEHICLES THE REGISTERED TO
THE DRIVER. H
OW DOES THIS BILL DEAL WITH THE
OTHER VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT THERE
AND INSTEAD OF REQUIRING THE PEOPLE TO BRING THEM INTO THE AFTER
BRING THE PLATE IN OUT TO FIX THE CISCO OR DO WE HAVE TO FIND
OTHER VEHICLES? >> REPRESENTATIVE PINTO: ALL HAVE MR. BERNSTEIN RESPOND
TO THAT.
>> TESTIFIER: MR. CHAIR;
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON; I THIN
K THE PROCEDURE WILL BE SIMILAR IN THAT THEY WOULD LIST THE
OTHER VEHICLES. I DON'T KNOW IS A PROCEDURE IN PLACE TO AF
FIX THE STICKERS. HOWEVER; SIMILARLY; I DON'T KNOW IS A PROCEDURE IN PLACE
TO REMOVE LICENSE PLATES FROM OTHER VEHICLES. I DON'T THINK
THIS BILL WOULD CHANGE THAT PROCEDURE IN
ANY WAY. >> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON:
CHAIR MARIANI PEOPLE ARE REQUIRED TO BRING THOSE LICENSE PLATES INTO
THE DEPARTMENT. THEN THEY ARE GIVING THEIR
SPIRIT AND I
BELIEVE THOSE VEHICLES ARE
LONGER; TEMPORARYSTICKER..
BUT ALSO AM WONDERING ON
THE 45 CHANGING IT TO THAT 45 DAYS
FOR THE BLOOD AND URINE TEST COME I KNOW FOR MYSELF IN MY DEPARTMENT
IF WE DID A BLOOD OR
URINE TEST WE WOULD NOT DO THE EMPOWERMENT UNTIL AFTER WE GOT THE INFORMATION BACK FROM
THE STATE. WE DON'T HAVE A TEST IN
THE TEST RESULTS WE WERE NOT IMPOUND THE PLATES UNTIL AFTER
WE GOT THE VERIFIED INFORMATION UNLESS THE PERSON REFUSE
THE TEST.
>> TESTIFIER: MR. CHAIR;
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON; I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT. I DO THINK THEY
MIGHT HANDLE THAT DIFFERENTLY
AND I DO THINK THAT SOME
AGENCIES
HAVE IMPOUNDED THE PLATES WITH BLOOD OR URINE TEST
INVOLVED. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. SO THEY
WOULD ALLOW FOR A 45
DAY TEMPORARY PERMIT IN THOSE CASES.
>> CHAI
R MARIANI: REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON >> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON: I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYBODY FROM
LAW ENFORCEMENT CRITICS WHEN A PROCEDURE FOR THE BLOOD AND URINE TESTS AND HOW THEY DO THE EMPOWERMENT
>> CHAIR MARIANI: IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE AUDIENCE THAT CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE? PLEASE; COME FORWARD; SIR.
WELCOME TO
THE COMMITTEE. WELCOME TO
THE COMMITTEE. PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME FOR
THE RECORD AND I THINK YOU HEARD THE QUESTION IF NOT WE CAN HAVE
IT REPEATED. >> TESTIFIER: GOOD AFTERNOON MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS. MY NAME
IS JEFF-I'M A POLICE CHIEF IN THE CITY
OF SHAKOPEE. I'M A MEMBER OF THE MINNESOTA
POLICE OF CHIEFS ASSOCIATION. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. MR.
CHAIR; REPRESENTATIVE; IF WE HAVE
A VEHICLE
INDIVIDUAL THAT WE ARREST FOR GROSS MISDEMEAN
OR AND WE A PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL SEIZE THE PLATES AT THAT TIME.
WHETHER IT'S BLOOD; URINE
OR [INAUDIBLE].
>> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON: THANK YOU >> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU.
IS
THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT POLICY OR ARE YOU SWALLOWING STATE POLICY? >> TESTIFIER: MR. CHAIR; REPRESENTATIVE I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT
2. EMPOWERMENT THE PLATE AT
THAT TIME.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: SO CAN ACHIEVE THIS A POLICY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN SHAKOPEE?
>> TESTIFIER: MR.
CHAIR; REPRESENTATIVE IS WHAT WE DO IN
SCOTT COUNTY. THAT'S WHAT
OURDIRECTION IS IN
SCOTT COUNTY. >> CHAIR MARIANI: VERY WELL; THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON >> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON:
THIS LEADS ME TO ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE MR. CHAIR. IF YOU DO THAT
BEFORE YOU HAVE THE TEST
RESULTS BACK AND IT
COMES BACK AT THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT
LEGALLY INTOXICATED AND THEY'RE NOT UNDER THE REQUIREMENTS
OF THE FORFEITURE LAW DOES
THE DEPARTMENT PAY FOR THE RENEWED
NEW LICENSE PLATE TO THE INDIVIDUAL STILL RESPONSIBLE
FOR THAT?
>> TESTIFIER: MR.
CHAIR; REPRESENTATIVE; WE DO NOT PAY FOR THAT; NO.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU;
JAY. REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDINE
OKAY VER
Y WELL. THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS THAN REPRESENTATIVE PINTO RENEWS HIS MOTION AYES AND ACTUALLY
I'M SORRY. IS THERE SOMETHING
REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL; PLEASE >> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: FOR THE AUTHOR OR TESTIFIER;
WE ALSO FOR THE CHIEF
AS WELL; WHERE DOES THE CHIEFS OF
POLICE ASSOCIATION
SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION AND THE
TROOPER STAND AS FAR AS THIS
POSSIBLE CHANGE?
>> REPRESENTATIVE PINTO: I DON'T KNOW. I'M NOT
AWARE OF IT TAKEN A POSITION ON THE
BILL MR. BERNSTEIN OR THE CHIEF MAY KNOW
SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >> TESTIFIER: MR. CHAIR;
REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL DWI
TASK FORCE HAS MEMBERS FROM THE
STATE PATROL FROM THE CHIEFS
OF POLICE. MANY INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES. WHILE THEY DON'T REPRESENT THEIR AGENCIES
; THEY DO BRING THIS INFORMATION BACK TO THEIR AGENCIES AND BRING
ME FEEDBACK AND THE FEEDBACK I
HAVE RECEIVED UNIVERSALLY IS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT
DOES SUPPORT
THIS BILL. >>
CHAIR MARIANI: VERY WELL. WITH THAT REPRESENTATIVE PINTO
LAST WORDS >> REPRESENTATIVE PINTO: NO; THANKS MEMBERS THANK YOU
MR. CHAIR
>> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE PINTO WITH THAT THE CHAIR WILL LAY HOUSE
FILE 1001
FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION IN THE OMNIBUS. THANK YOU CHIEF AND THANK YOU MR. BERNSTEIN >> [GAVEL] >>
>> CHAIR MARIANI:
REPRESENTATIVE PINTO YOU HAVE HOUSE FILE 1002 AND I BELIEVE YOUR MOTION IS TO MOVE IT TO
HOUSE
FILE 1002. REPRESENTATIVE PINTO SO MOVES AND
REPRESENTATIVE PINTO I SEE YOU
HAVE A
>> REPRESENTATIVE WAGENIUS: A - ONE AMENDMENT
>> REPRESENTATIVE PINTO: INDEED; YOU MR. CHAIR THAT THIS WILL GET THE BILL IN
THE SHAPE I WOULD LIKE IT TO. YOU
ALSO MATCH IT'S MOVING IN THE
OTHER BODY FOR
MEMBERS APPROVAL I HAVE THE A -
ONE AMENDMENT >> CHAIR MARIANI: VERY WELL.
REPRESENTATIVE PINTO MOVES THE A -
ONE AMENDMENT TO GET THE BILL IN
THE SHAPE YOU WOULD LIKE IT BEFORE US. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY; AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES.] THE SAME SIGN
THE MOTION PREVAILS. >> [GAVEL] >> [ADJOURNMENT] >> CHAIR MARIANI:
REPRESENTATIVE PINTO >> REPRESENTATIVE PINTO: THIS IS THE 2ND BILL FROM THE DWI TASK FORCE IT IS A LETTER AGAIN FROM THE TASK FORCE THAT DISCUSSES AND
DESCRIBES IT TO TURN THINGS OVER
TO MR. BERNSTEIN TO BRIEFLY DESCRIBE
THE BILL. THIS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE CHANGES I HOPE WILL MEET MEMBERS OF SATISFACTION.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: PLEASE RESTATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD MR. BERNSTEIN >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR
MEMBERS COMMITTEE MY NAME IS DAVID PRANCING AND
THE CHAIR
MINNESOTA'S DWI TASK FORCE. THE DWI
TASK FORCE SUPPORTS HOUSE FILE 100
2 THIS ANOTHER BILL THAT WE
PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED AND
EVEN 2015. WITH THIS BILL ESSENTIALLY
DOES IS WHENEVER A DWI OFFENDER IS TRYING TO GET THEIR
LICENSE REINSTATED THEY
ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE A DWI WRITTEN TEST. THIS WRITTEN TEST IS PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.. MY UNDERSTANDING IS
[INAUDIBLE] THE OFFENDER NEED TO TRANSPORT THEMSELVES
TO THE TESTING CENTER IN ORDER TO TAKE THIS
WRITTEN TEST AND ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET THEIR LICENSE BACK. THIS BILL ELIMINATES
THE CLIENT HAS TO TAKE THE DWI WRITTEN TEST. I WANT TO STRESS THAT THE DUI TEST FORCE
WANTS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN MINNESOTA ROADWAYS AND SO THIS BILL MIGHT
SEEM COUNTERINTUITIVE
BUT ESSENTIALLY; IT IS DUPLICATIVE AND N
OT NECESSARY. WHENEVER AN OFFENDER IS CHARGED WITH A DWI
OR ACTUALLY CONVICTED OF A DWI MINNESOTA STATUTES REQUIRE A CHEMICAL
DEPENDENCY EVALUATION. THAT CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY EVALUATION EVALUATES
THE INDIVIDUAL.
AND WHAT LEVEL OF EDUCATION OR TREATMENT THAT INDIVIDUAL MIGHT NEED. THE DWI
TAS
K FORCE SUPPORTS EDUCATION IS MORE FOCUSED ON THE INDIVIDUAL AS OPPOSED TO
THE GROUP. SO SOME CHEMICAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS WILL REQUIRE AN 8 HOUR CLASS. SOME WILL REQUIRE A 16 HOUR CLASS. SOME REQUIRE CLASSES TAKEN OVER THE COURSE OF MULTIPLE WEEKS BUT THE LEVEL
OF EDUCATION IS TAILORED FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL. THE TASK FORCE BELIEVES THAT IS A BETTE
RO APPROA.. AS A
MATTER FACT" REQUIRE THAT THE
INDIVIDUALS TAKE A CLASS. IN HENNEPIN COUNTY; FOR EXAMPLE; THERE'S HENNEPIN COUNTY WHEN THEY
DWI PROGRAM THAT'S REQUIRED OF ALL FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS THAT IT'S AN 8 HOUR CLASS. IT'S MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE DEEP
YOU ARE DWI WRITTEN TEST
PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. SO THE TEST FORCE FEELS THIS REQUIREMENT IS REDUNDANT AND NOT NECESSARY. MORE IMPORTANTLY; THIS IS
A VERY BARRIER TOWARDS OBTAINING A VALID LICENSE. THERE'S MULTIPLE STEPS NECESSARY IN A TASK FORCE
HAS RECEIVED
FEEDBACK THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS CHOOSE TO
DRIVE ILLEGALLY
RATHER THAN TAKE THE STEPS TO OBTAIN A VALID DRIVERS LICENSE. ONE OF THE BARRIERS
IS THE DWI WRITTEN TEST
. SOME PEOPLE IN RURAL MINNESOTA ARE NOT ABLE TO TRANSPORT THEMSELVES TO THE TESTING CENTER IN ORDER TO TAKE THE TEST. IN PLACES WHERE
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS NOT
AS AVAILABLE
THEY CAN GET A RIDE. THEY HAVE A REVOKED LICENSE OF THE
CONTRACT THEMSELVES. SO THEY CONTINUE DRIVING ILLEGALLY
AGAIN
AFTER DRIVING AGAINST REVOCATION IN THE SYSTEM TO
MANY PEOPLE WHO
DRIVE ILLEGALLY ALSO DON'T DRY WITH
INSURANCE. SO
IF AN INDIVIDUAL IS ABLE TO OBTAIN A VALID
DRIVERS LICENSE
HAVE IT LEGALLY AND HAVE A CHANCE THAT'S SAFER FOR MINNESOTA'S ROADWAYS. IT ALSO ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS AN EASIER TIME TO GET TO THE INTERMISSION INTERLOCKED WITH THE DWI TEST FOR SUPPORT AND ALSO IMPROVES PUBLIC SAFETY.
I MINNESOTA'S ROADS. SO FOR THOSE REASONS THAT HAS FOR SUPPORT HOUSE FIL
E 1002 RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT IT BE INCLUDED IN THE
OMNIBUS BILL.
AGAIN I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THE QUESTION JACKET >> CHAIR MARIANI: VERY WELL MR. BERNSTEIN. AND HE WAS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO TESTIFY ON THIS BILL? IF NOT THEN REPRESENTATIVE PINTO
WILL OPEN FOR QUESTIONS THAT MEMBERS OF >> REPRESENTATIVE PINTO: INDEED; MR. CHAIR OPEN TO QUESTIONS. >> CHAIR MARIANI: REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL >> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: SAME TIME AS LAST
TIME REPRESENTATIVE. SINC
E YOU JUST HAVE THE CONSENSUS OF
A FEW ON THE BOARD WOULD YOU BE
WILLING TO CHECK WITH THOSE AGENCIES
; SEE WHERE
THEIR STANCES ON BOTH THESE BILLS IF YOU BE
SO KIND? >> RE
PRESENTATIVE PINTO: THANK YOU; MR
. CHAIR REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL I'LL BE GLAD TO DO THAT REPRESENTATIVE
GROSSELL I'LL CHECK WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU REFERENCED. THANK YOU. >> CHAIR MARIANI:
THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON >> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON: MR.
CHAIR REPRESENTATIVE PINTO DO KNOW IF THE [INAUDIBLE]
SUPPORTS THIS? >> REPRESENTATIVE PINTO: THE
SAME THING
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON I THINK YOU SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE SAME THING I'M
NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR
THAT MR.
BERNSTEIN MAY HAVE IT I THINK FOLKS ON THE TASK FORCE AND MAYBE 70 REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE TASK FORCE AS WELL BUT I'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO HIM
TO ANSWER.
>> TESTIFIER: CORRECT. MEMBERS.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON
; AGAIN INDIVIDUALS DON'T REPRESENT THEIR AGENCIES BUT THE FEEDBACK I RECEIVED IS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY DOES SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE
THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE
OFFICIALLY TAKEN THAT STANCE BUT THE FEEDBACK
I'VE RECEIVEDIS THAT THEY DO SUPPORT
THIS BILL. >> CHAIR MARIANI:
VERY WELL. REPRESENTATIVE PINTO YOU GET THE LAST WORD >> REPRESENTATIVE PINTO: THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR MEMBERS.
>> CHAIR MARIANI:
VERY WELL. REPRESENTATIVE PINTO MOVES HOUSE
FILE 1002 AS AMENDED BE LAID OVER FOR POSSIBLE INCLUSION
BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE
ON TRANSPORTATION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY; AYE. [CHORUS
OF AYES.]
THE MESSAGE IS SIGNED; CAL R. LUDEMAN; SECRETARY OF THE SENATE. AND MOTION PREVAILS. >> [GAVEL] >> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE PINTO AND MR. BERNSTEIN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY TODAY AND ALSO
FOR YOUR CITIZEN VOLUNTEER WORK ON THE DWI TASK FORCE. >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU >> CHAIR MARIANI: CHAIR LESCH;
WE HAVE HOUSE FILE 1061..
CHAIR LESCH I BELIEVE YOUR MOTION IS TO HAVE HOUSE FILE 106
0 1B RE-REFERRED TO THE
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE LESCH: YES MR. CHAIR THAT IS MY MOTION >> CHAIR MARIANI: VERY WELL.
REPRESENTATIVE LESCH YOUR BILL IS BEFORE US. THE MOTION
TO BE REFERRED TO
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
REPRESENTATIVE LESCH >> REPRESENTATIVE LESCH: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR.I THINK
MY TESTIFIERTO THIS
MUCH BETTER THAN I CAN. HOWEVER; I WOULD
NOTE THAT THIS BILL
STOPS DRIVERS
LICENSE SUSPENSION WHEN THE ONLY VIOLATION IS
TRAFFIC TICKETS AND ILLUMINATES THE ADDITIONAL SUSPENSION PERIOD
[INAUDIBLE
] OF PEOPLE WHO PAY THEIR FINES CAN YOU BACK TO WORK AND MAINTAINS A COLLECTION PROCESS. IT ALSO I
WOULD NOTE DOES NOT IMPACT SUSPENSIONS FOR DWI RECKLESS DRIVING OR
HABITUAL OFFENDERS.
BUT NOTING THAT MY TESTIFIERS CAN SPEAK IS BETTER
THAN ME I WOULD ASK YOU TO
PUT THEM TO SPEAK TO THIS. >> CHAIR MARIANI: VERY WELL CHAIR LESCH. WEBER WANTS TO START BEGIN JUST
INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR
THE RECORD AND BEGIN
YOUR TESTIMONY. >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS LEAH JACKSON.
[INAUDIBLE] I LIVE
IN MINNEAPOLIS. I'M A SERVER BARTENDER AND OURS DAN
CE INSTRUCTOR.. THANK FOR THE CHANCE FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS DRIVING SUSPENSION
HAVE CAUSED
SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ME BOTH FINANCIALLY AND OCCUPATIONAL. SO BACK IN 2014 IN OCTOBER I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN AT A GREEN LIGHT
AND I PULLED OUT INTO
THE INTERSECTION LIKE I WAS TAUGHT HOW
TO DO AND I WAS WAITING FOR THE
BREAKING TRAFFIC GIVING ME THE TIME TO TURN
BUT AS THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW EVERYONE STARTED SPEED UP AND DID NOT GIVE ME THAT TIME. SO WHEN I WAS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GO. WHEN THE LIGHT WAS
ALREADY READ. I WAS PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND I WAS
TOLD THAT THAT WAS ILLEGAL.
I WAS GIVEN A TICKET FOR OBSTRUCTING TRAFFIC AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE SQUARE BOX.
ORIGINALLY THAT WAS $135 TICKET WAS 20 AT
THE TIME. I JUST GOT A
NEW JOB AS A STORE MANAGER
. I WAS ACTUALLY IN ROCHESTER ON TRAINING. SO I WASN'T EVEN HOME. I WAS
DRIVING BACK TO THE HOTEL WHEN IT HAPPENED AND I JUST MOVED INTO MY VERY OWN APARTMENT FOR THE
FIRST TIME.
I HAD NOT GOT THE FIRST PAYCHECK YET AND I HAD TO PAY FOR RENT IT A LOT
MORE RESPONSIBILITY THAN I HAD EVER BEEN USED TOO.
I WAS GOING TO WAIT A LITTLE TO BE MY TICKET
TO JUST GET MY FEET ON
THE GROUND.. I DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WAS A TIME LIMIT
ON IT. SO THE
FOLLOWING FEBRUARY WAS PULLED OVER AND TOLD THAT MY LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED. I HAVE
BEEN GIVEN A
SUSPENSION TICKET. IF I REMEMBER IT
WAS LIKE 280 SOMETHING OTHER THAN I ENDED UP PAYING A LOT LESS
THAT THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN. THEN I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THAT
SUSPENSION. SINCE THEN COME I
JUST MOVED
[INAUDIBLE] MY DRIVERS LICENSE WAS AT MY PARENTS ADDRESS BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY
MAILING ADDRESS AND I NEVER GOT NOTIFICATION.
SO I HAD NO IDEA I WAS SUSPENDED UNTIL I WAS
PULLED OVER. NOW ABOUT $500
IN FINES; BY MIDDLE
OF FEBRUARY WHEN I GET MY TAX RETURN THAT'S ONE OF THE PAY EVERYTHING BACK
I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO GO
-- ACTUALLY CAN HOL
D ON >> TESTIFIER: IF AND I STILL HAD TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY SO I KEPT DRIVING.
PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES AT WORK
IS THE STORE MANAGER WAS BANK RUNS THAT I HAD A COUPLE
DIFFERENT DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITIES THAT
I HAD
AS A TUXEDO AND FROM STORE. SO WITHIN ABOUT 2 WEEKS OF THAT
FIRST DRIVING TICKET I GOT 2 MORE
THAN ONE FOR DRIVING TO THE BANK AND ONE FOR DRIVING TO MY
2ND JOB AS A DANCE INSTRUCTOR. SO AT
THAT POINT I HAD TO ASK FRIENDS TO DRIVE ME TO THE BANKUNITED TO ASK FRIENDS TO JOIN ME TO WORK
JUST BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THAT MUCH TIME BETWEEN JOBS TO
TAKE BUSES
LIKE A 2 HOUR BUS DR. SO THAT WAS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME AT THE TIME. THEN; ON DAYS WHEN
I WASN'T A STORE MANAGER IT WAS
VERY STRESSFUL.I COULD NEVER REALLY VISIT MY FAMILY
WHICH WAS ABOUT 45 MINUTES AWAY. FINALLY WITH MY TAX RETURN CAME BACK I ACTUALLY WENT
TO COURT AND TALK TO MY HEARING OFFICER
AND 3 DRIVING AFTER
SUSPENSION [INAUDIBLE] WENT FROM 900 SPEAK TO 2 600S WAS GRATEFUL FOR THAT AT THE TIME BUT I PAID IT OFF AND WAS ABLE TO GET MY LICENSE BACK. BUT THAT'S
NOT WHERE THE PROBLEMS
AND APPEARED [INAUDIBLE] MY AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY HAD DROPPED TO ME
IT IS A CLIENT AND AFTER COMEDIES
AND COMPANIES
ARE TRYING TO GET QUOTES AND STUFF;
THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT ME AT ALL OR NOTHING LESS FOR $1000 A MONTH.
SO LUCKILY NOW
THIS TIME I WAS A SERVICE OF IS
CONNECTED THROUGH A BROKER THROUGH A CUSTOMER
ACTUALLY AN INSURANCE BROKER. HE WAS ABLE TO GET ME INSURANCE
FOR 350 WHICH I WAS VERY HAPPY AT THE
TIME BECAUSE THAT WAS 3 AND 50 LESSON OF WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT
NOW IT'S 4.5 YEARS LATER. I FINALLY
GOT IT DOWN TO $200
A MONTH. WHICH TO ME IS ACTUALLY PRETTY
GREAT CONSIDERING 650 WAS WHAT I WAS PAIN AT THE TIME. NOW AFTER THESE 4.5 YEARS
ALL OF THE FEES AND FINES ARE PAID AND ALL
THE INSURANCE THAT
ARE PAID IT'S JUST UNDER $16;000.
I PAID JUST BECAUSE OF THAT ONE TICKET THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF I HAD A LITTLE TIME TO PAY IT.
THANK YOU.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU
MS. JACKSON FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY. I DON'T THINK
FRANCE KAFKA GOOD WRITTEN A MORE
[INAUDIBLE] WORST TALE OF YOURS.
>> [LAUGHING]
REPRESENTATIVE LESCH
CHAIR LESCH >> REPRESENTATIVE LESCH:
>> TESTIFIER: MR. MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE ON
THE MINNEAPOLIS CRIMINAL DEPUTY
IN ANNAPOLIS
[INAUDIBLE]; MISDEMEANOR PROSECUTOR FOR 21 YEARS BUT I SAW THE OFFICE
1997 AND OUR OFFICE WE ALWAYS DO MISDEMEANOR
PROSECUTIONS ADULTS COUNTY ATTORNEY DOES NOT ONLY SEND YOU WORK AND I'M HERE
TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF MY OFFICE AND
I'VE HAD MEDICATIONS WITH THE ST. PAUL CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AS WELL AND I KNOW THEY SUPPORT THIS BILL
AND HAVE WORKED WITH US
IN PARTNER BUT I'M HERE TO TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF
THIS BILL. I CAN JUST TELL YOU FROM MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
THAT TYING
DRIVING PRIVILEGES TO
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS CONSISTENTLY DOES NOT WORK.
WE HAVE GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT
ARE SIMPLY NO MATTER WHAT
WE DO THEY ARE JUST NOT GONNA TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR TICKETS AND YES; THIS IS GOING TO ASSIST THEM BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT
WE ENCOUNTER; BUT THE TRUTH IS; THAT WE ENCOUNTER A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT SIMPLY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO DO IT
AND TRAFFIC TICKETS; IF YOU ARE NOT REALLY FAMILIAR WITH THE SYSTEM; AS YOU CAN SEE FROM
LEAH STRAIGHT NOT ONLY CAN BE REALLY DAUNTING AND CONFUSING AND
COMPLICATED PROCESS; BUT THEY CAN ADD A VERY VERY QUICKLY.
WE ARE A PR
OUD PARTNER OF THE DRIVERS DIVISION PROGRAM WHICH WE USE FOR MANY MANY YEARS NOW 12 PEOPLE LIKE
LEO GET THEIR LICENSE BACK BY PAYING OFF THEIR TICKETS AND I'VE SEEN PEOPLE APPLY FOR
THE PROGRAM WHO HAVE 8; $10;000 WORTH OF
OUTSTANDING TICKETS GOOD ONE TICKET CAN QUICKLY BALLOON IN THE NORMAL FIND OF A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS INTO
7; $800 BY THE TIME YOU TACK ON THE FEES DELINQUENCIES;
COLLECTION FEES. ALL THE WHILE PEOPLE LOVE TO CONTINUE TO
DRIVE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GET TO WORK IN ORDER TO
MAKE MONEY
TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY AND PAY OFF
THEIR FINES. WE JUST CREATED THIS VICIOUS
VICIOUS CYCLE AND THE OTHER THING I'VE LEARNED IS THAT WHEN SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE A VALID DRIVERS LICENSE THEY OFTEN DON'T HAVE VALID INSURANCE.
FOR ME AS A PROSECUTOR WOULD I WANT ON THE ROADS ARE VALID
LICENSE GOOD DRIVERS AND RIGHT NOW;
WE HAVE
THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS THAT ARE DRIVING AROUND UNLICENSED
AND UNINSURED
AND THIS LOT DOES NOT DO ANYTHING
TO PEOPLE OUT THERE DRIVING RECKLESSLY DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE WHO CONTINUE TO VIOLATE LAWS HABITUALLY. I FULLY SUPPORT
REVOKING AND SUSPENDING LICENSES
FOR CONDUCT TO WHAT I CANNOT SUPPORT ANYMORE IS SIMPLY SUSPENDING LICENSES
FOR PEOPLE SIMPLY ARE JUST TOO POOR
TO PAY AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE TO MAKE THE ROADS SAFER
. IN
MY OFFICE; 20-30% OF OUR CASELOAD IS SPENT ON PEOPLE COMING INTO COURT AND DRIVING AFTER SUSPENSION; DRIVING AFTER
REVOCATION TICKETS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S
A VERY GOOD USE OF OUR
LEGAL RESOURCES THAT WE
HAVE OTHER CASES TO REPEAT DRUNK DRIVERS THE HIT AND RUN THE DOMESTIC ASSAULT WEAPONS CASE; THOSE ARE THE CASES I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY ATTORNEYS FOCUS THEIR TIME ON.
NOT THE PERSON WHO'S DRIVING
TO THEIR 2ND JOB BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT WORKS WELL FOR THEIR SCHEDULE
SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY COULD AFFORD TO PAY OFF ONE TRAFFIC TICKET THAT
THEY GOT. SO I FULLY SUPPORT THIS BILL. I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE THIS CHANGE AND I THINK IT WILL IN FACT MAKE THE
ROADS SAFER. THANK YOU. >> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU
DEPUTY AT CITY ATTORNEY.
I BELIEVE WE ALSO OF
JEANETTE BRUNER. >> TESTIFIER:
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY APOLOGIZE FOR SOME YOU ALREADY HEARD THIS LAST WEEK SO IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE REDUNDANT BUT
MY NAME IS JEANETTE BERNARD IS IN TACOMA THE FIRST OF SENATE
[INAUDIBLE] IN HENNEPIN COUNTY. THE PUBLIC
DEFENDERS OFFICE MR. MINNESOTA
IS THE LARGEST
CRIMINAL DEFENSE FIRM IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
WE REPRESENT 57% OF ALL CRIMINAL DEFENSE CASES IN
THE STATE AT APPROXIMATELY 61%
OF THEM IN HENNEPIN COUNTY.
PUBLIC
DEFENDER CLIENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE OUR CLIENTS WHO ARE CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL
OFFENSES AND FALL BELOW THE FEDERAL
POVERTY GUIDELINES. FOR A FAMILY OF 4 THAT'S A $24;000
INCOME. FOR
AN INDIVIDUAL IT'S A 12;000 OUR
ANNUAL INCOME. THE REALITY IS THAT OUR CLIENTS
LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THAT FOR THE MOST PART. MANY OF
THE PEOPLE WHO I REPRESENTED IN MY 25 YEARS OF PRACTICE
ARE HOMELESS OR
BETWEEN HOUSING ARE UNEMPLOYED OR BETWEEN EMPLOYMENT AND ARE FRANKLY
JUST DESTITUTE. THE REALITY
IS THAT IN THE STATE PARTICULARLY IN OUT STATE MINNESOTA; YOU NEED TO HAVE A LICENSE TO BE ABLE TO WORK
; TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY. I THINK
IN THE TWIN CITIES WE ARE MORE FORTUNATE IN THAT WE HAVE A PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THE ABILITY TO QUICKLY USE
UBER OR TO LIFT WITH THE
CAMPY USE FOR OUT
STATE MINNESOTA AND THE CLIENTS THE
Y SERVE. IF YOU ARE POOR THE SUSPENSION IS DRAMATIC
. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
YOU OWE IS
MORE MONEY THAN YOU CAN GET IN A MONTH TO PROVIDE FOR YOUR FAMILY.
MOST OF THE TICKETS AS INDICATED;
ARE ABOUT $130 AND WE ARE
NOT GOING INTO ALL THE OVER SURCHARGES FINES
AND FEES. AS I INDICATED IN MY
CLIENT
YVONNE LESS THAN THAT A WEEK. I THINK IT CREATES A TREMENDOUS DISPARITY BETWEEN PEOPLE
WHO HAVE MEANS AND WHO PEOPLE WHO DO NOT; AND IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THIS HAS
A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. IT
GETS PRETTY WELL KNOWN THAT YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO
BE STOPPED BY A LAW ENFORCEMENT IF YOUR LICENSE
IS SUSPENDED.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF HOURS THAT WE SPEND
AND MS. -- INDICATED ON THE
SUSPENSION CASES AND
PUBLIC DEFENDERS WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO DEDICATE THEIR TIME
TO MORE SERIOUS CASES. I THINK YOU ARE WELL AWARE; I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD FROM MR.
WARD AND MR. -- BUT OUR CASELOADS IN OUR FUNDING AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS OUR TIME AND ENERGY ON CASES THAT REQUIRE
OUR TIME
AND ENERGY. THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE DISMISS THESE CASES AND WE DON'T CARE. WE DO BUT TO MAKES
IT A BONUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES AND IF YOU HEARD
HER NUMBERS THE CASE THAT
COME INTO THE SYSTEM WE ARE PARALLELING A REPRESENTATION ON THOSE CASES.
I WOULD CONCLUDE BY TELLING YOU THAT THIS IS A NATIONWIDE;;
NATIONAL TREND. WE ARE
SORT OF LAST A LOT TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS.
IN WASHINGTON THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
. SUSPENDING DRIVERS LICENSE FOR
UNPAID TICKETS IN 2012. IN CALIFORNIA
THEY STOPPED
IN 2017. MISSISSIPPI STOPPED SUSPENDING THE DRIVERS LICENSE FOR THESE TICKETS IN DECEMBER OF
MISSISSIPPI STOPPED SUSPENDING THE DRIVERS LICENSE FOR THESE TICKETS IN DECEMBER 2017.
MOST RECENTLY; THE TENNESSEE
FEDERAL COURT FOLLOWED SUIT
AND DECLARED THAT CORRECTING DEBT FROM INDIGENT DEBTOR IS NOT A
RATIONAL BASIS
FOR REVOKING A LICENSE. THE RATIONAL CREDITOR ONCE A DEBTOR TO
BE SIDELINED FROM PRODUCTIVE ECONOMIC LIFE WERE LESS ABLE TO HOLD
A JOB OR COVER OTHER COMPUTING
LIVING EXPENSES.
THEY CONCLUDE; THE LOSS OF
ONE ABILITY TO DRIVE COMPROMISES A PERSON'S CAPACITY
FOR ECONOMIC
SELF-SUFFICIENCY. YOU CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF A
DRIVERS LICENSE IN OUR SOCIETY AND AM HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU PUBLIC DEFENDER. WE DO HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS. THERE ALSO
IS A A - ONE AMENDMENT. WE'LL SEE IF SOMEONE WANTS TO MOVE THAT BUT IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE
REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL.
AND REPRESENTATIVE LONG. REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL >> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR. JUST
YOUR FIRST TESTIFIER THERE;
. YOU SAID YOUR
LICENSE WAS STILL ADDRESSED AS YOUR
PARENTS RESIDENCE >> TESTIFIER: YES. IT WAS.
>>
REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS; AS F
AR AS THE FINE GOES; HOW LONG AGO
WAS THIS? WAS IT FOR YEARS
OR 5?
>> TESTIFIER: IT WAS 4.5 YEARS AGO AND ORIGINALLY GOT THE
FIRST TICKET. IN
OCTOBER 2014. >>
REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: SO I GUESS WHEN DID YOU ASK
YOUR FOLKS
FOR THE CHANGE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT CITATION
? IT COULD'VE
SAVED YOU LIKE YOU SAID
ABOUT $16;000. >> TESTIFIER: WELL
FAMILY DYNAMIC
WAS IN THERE FOR ME TO BE ASKING THEM
FOR MONEY. I DID EVERYTHING
BY MYSELF. >> REPRESENTATIVE
GROSSELL: OKAY. I'VE HEARD HER STARE
I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST SESSION
AS WELL AND THIS SESSION A COUPLE OF TIMES AND I JUST WAS KIND OF
CURIOUS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MY
DAUGHTER AT THAT AGE RECEIVED
A CITATION AND NEEDED
SOME HELP WOULD'VE GLADLY DONE IT
HINDSIGHT BEING 20/20 I
GUESS MAYBE
YOU ARE THINKING HE PROBABLY SHOULD'VE FOUND A FRIEND OR SOMEBODY
THAT WOULD SPOT YOU THE MONEY SO YOU
COULD AVOID; NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS COMING YOU
COULD'VE AVOIDED A HECKUVA LOT OF HEADACHE; WOULD YOU BE YOU?
>> CHAIR MARIANI: I SUSPECT LIKE MOST OF US WE LEARN THE HARD WAY BUT PLEASE;
IF YOU WISH TO RESPOND.
REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL
I'M SORRY; ARE YOU DONE
>> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: I'M DONE WITH THE YOUNG LADY. HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR
THE OTHER TESTIFIERS.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: PLEASE. THANK YOU MS. JACKSON.
>> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. NOT ALL FAMILIES ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE FAMILY COULD'VE HELPED >> CHAIR MARIANI:
REPRESENTATIVE WHEN WE HOLD THAT. I SEE HER ON THE LIST OF AN OPPORTUNITY. REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL >> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR. COUNTY ATTORNEY;YOU MADE THE
STATEMENT THAT THERE'S JUST SOME GROUPS
THAT JUST ARE NOT GOING TO
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
THEIR CITATIONS. IT
ALSO FOLLOWS WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE HELPING THEM TO CONTINUE TO
BE IRRESPONSIBLE.
IS THAT REALLY WANT TO DO WITH THIS?
>> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU MR. JIM EVERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. WHAT I MEANT BY THAT STATEMENT IS I DO
THINK -- I SEE PEOPLE COMING TO THE COURT ALL THE TIME
AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP AND THEY
DON'T
CARE IF YOU HAVE A BENCH WARRANT THAT JUST GONNA DO THEIR THING AND WE DO SEE IT IN THE SYSTEM. WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THAT IS; RIGHT NOW;
THOSE PEOPLE ARE HAVING A SUSPENDED LICENSE BECAUSE NOT PAIN
THEIR FUNDS
AND NOT TO JOIN THE OFFENDER PROBABLY STILL AUTHOR DRIVING TO THE STORE COMING TO COURT
AND SO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE ARE GOING
TO BENEF
IT BY MAKING THIS CHANGE; PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TRULY BE RESPONSIBLE AND SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE MEANS TO DO IT; I THINK
IN AN IDEAL WORLD EVERYONE WOULD STEP UP AND
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BUT THAT'S NOT REALITY.
ARE YOU WHILE IT MAY ALLOW PEOPLE TO NOT LOSE OR DRIVE BUSINESS [INAUDIBLE]
THEY WILL HAVE THE COLLECTION PIECE OF IT THAT MAY OR MAY NOT IMPACT THEM DEPENDING ON THEIR ABILITY BUT
I THINK MOTHER MAY BE A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE
THAT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE
LEGALLY AND STILL IGNORE THEIR TICKETS THE NUMBER OF PEO
PLE THAT WE ARE GOING TO UP I THINK IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THAT SMALL GROUP THAT SIMPLY; NEVER SHOW UP FOR COURT DON'T TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. I DON'T KNOW SHORT OF HOLDING THEM
IN JA
IL UNTIL THE CASE IS RESOLVED; WHICH WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THAT PRACTICE; I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE THAT SMALL GROUP BUT THE GOOD THAT THIS BILL WILL DO WILL
FAR OUTWEIGH THE FACT THERE ARE GOING TO BE PEOPLE THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THIS CHANGE.
>> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR. AS FAR AS
THAT GOES; I LIKE
THE IDEA AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS
IN PLACE IN THE COURTS FOR PEOPLE THAT
WERE INDIGENT TO GET IT
-- WHAT IS THE WORD-WHO DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY IT RIGHT AWAY OR UPFRONT
THAT THEY WILL WORK IT OU
T THAT THEY CAN MAKE PAYMENTS OR INSTALLMENTS ON THESE THEM. IS THAT STILL
A PRACTICE? >> TESTIFIER:
MR. CHAIR; REPRESENTATIVE; YES. YOU'RE LOTS OF OPTIONS WHEN YOU GET A TRAFFIC TICKET. THEY ARE
WHAT CALLED
PAYABLE OFFENSES IN THE STATE COURT HAS DEEMED CERTAIN MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES THAT
YOU CAN [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU WANT TO BE A SET FINE
DOLLAR AMOUNT AND OTHER SURCHARGES
AND WHATNOT. IF
YOU HAVE THE MEANS TO DO THAT AND YOU ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT ANY
COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES
YOU CAN GO ON YOUR COMPUTER AND SIMPLY PAY THE FINE. FOR PEOPLE WE ARE TALK ABOUT WHO DON'T HAVE THE FULL FINE AMOUNTED THEIR ONLY OPTION IS TO EITHER COME TO SEE A HEARING OFFICER
IN HENNEPIN AND RAMSEY COUNTY AND TRY TO GET THAT
FINE REDUCED OR GET SOME ABILITY TO WORK
OUT FINE OFF WITH HAVE TO COME TO COURT AND
YOUR PROSECUTOR AND PLEA-BARGAIN THE CASE
DOWN. AGAIN; THAT TAKES THEM AWAY
FROM JOBS WERE OFTEN THEY DON'T HAVE PAID SICK TIME. IT FORCES PEOPLE GOING TO MAKE REALLY HARD CHOICES.. DO I TAKE THE
TIME OF FROM WORK TO GET A REDUCED FINE OR JUST GO
TO WORK AND -- SO YES; THERE IS
[INAUDIBLE] AS A PROSECUTOR ACTUALLY TRY TO TAKE ALL SORTS OF STANCES INTO ACCOU
NT AND GIVE A FIND THAT I THINK IS GOING TO GIVE A MEANINGFUL CONSEQUENCE BASED ON INCOME. NOT ALL PROSECUTORS DO THAT TO
SOME PROSECUTOR'S I MET YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLEA GARDEN I HAVE 2 IN MY OFFICE. WE
ARE DOING 70;000 CASES A
YEAR AND JUST BY THE
SHEER VOLUME WE HAVE TO MAKE DEALS AND WE
HAVE TO DECIDE WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE
AND WHEN WE STICK TO OUR GUNS AND CELIAC'S THESE ARE THE
[INAUDIBLE] WE NEGOTIATE THE
FINES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO IN ORDER TO SPEND OUR TIME ON A MORE SERIOUS OFFENSES.
BUT I THINK THE FACT IS;
THESE PEOPLE STUFFED UP A SPIRIT THEY
HAVE TO COME IN THE HAVE
TO SIT THROUGH ONE OUGHT TO GET THAT [INAUDIBLE] AND AGAIN IT TAKES AWAY FROM THEIR ABILITY TO WORK AT THESE JOBS AND
I THINK IT'S BETTER NOT TO PUT THEM IN THAT POSITION IN THE FIRST PLACE.
>> CHAIR MARIANI:
REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL WE HAVE A LONG LIST YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS. >> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL:
I LIKE THE IDEA REPRESENTATIVE LESCH. I LIKE THE IDEA. TO
HELP PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO IS A DEPUTY MYSELF
2 OF THE PEOPLE I
ENCOUNTERED BUT TO REWARD IRRESPONSIBILITY
WITH NOTHING; WITH
NO FINES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT; THAT'S A
LITTLE HARDER THING TO SWALLOW.
MR. CHAIR; JUST ONE MORE FOR
THE DEFENSE? JUST QUICKLY;
>> [INAUDIBLE / OFF MICROPHONE] A >>
>> [LAUGHING] >> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL:
MY APOLOGIES. >> CHAIR MARIANI: I'M SORRY
. WHO ARE WE >> [LAUGHING]
>> [INAUDIBLE / OFF MICROPHONE]
>>
REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: IN LISTENING TO THE ONE STATEMENT YOU MADE ABOUT PEOPLE
OF COLOR BEING MORE LIKELY TO
BE STOPPED; I WILL
HAVE TO AGREE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THAT ONE BECAUSE AS A PATROL
DEPUTY MYSELF I NEVER LOOK AT THE COLOR OF A PERSON'S SKIN.
IT WAS THE CONDUCT OF THE CAUSE ME TO STOP THOSE ECHOES
TRAFFIC STOPS AND WORKING A LOT OF
NIGHT SHIFTS I CAN SEE
WHO'S IN THAT VEHICLE. SO TO MAKE A
BROAD STATEMENT AS LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES THIS;
I WILL HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU ON
THAT ONE. >> CHAIR
MARIANI: -- >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR. I THINK
IS A LITTLE BROADER THAN THAT A RELEASE FOR RESPECT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING SHOULD I THINK [INAUDIBLE]
A COMMUNITY OF COLOR AND PARTICULARLY IN HENNEPIN COUNTY
ARE POOR AND POOR PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE
TO PAY THEIR FINES AND FEES AND THEREFORE THEIR LICENSES ARE SUSPENDED AND SO YOU KNOW YOU CAN
RUN A PLATE NOT KNOWING WHO'S IN
THE CAR; TO YOUR POINT; AND IF YOU
ARE SUSPENDED IT'S A BASIS TO PULL YOU OVER AND THEREFORE IT
DOES HAVE
AN INDIRECT IMPACT. SO I'M NOT TESTING ASPERSIONS ARE SAYING THERE'S A MOTIVE NOT TO OPEN UP A CAN OF WORMS
TO MAKE SURE WE ALL ARE HERE FOR THE NEXT 3 HOURS AN
D I KNOW IT WOULD BUY FIG IS FAIR TO SAY JUST WITH THIS
[INAUDIBLE] IT DOES HAVE ITS PROVEN PHYSICALLY TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND THAT'S MY POINT. >> CHAIR MARIANI: VERY WELL.
THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE LONG. >> REPRESENTATIVE LONG:
THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR I WILL
BE BRIEF SO WE CAN MOVE ALONG
. I WAS GOI
NG TO MENTION; TO THE FIRST TESTIFIER; THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. I THINK IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO SHARE STORIES LIKE THAT BUT IT'S AN
IMPORTANT EXAMPLE AND YOU ARE IN A TOUGH POSITION WAS THAT
YOU NEEDED TO WORK TO MAKE MONEY
.. YOU NEED TO TRY TO
WORK AND WAS ACTUALLY PART OF YOUR JOB
TO DRIVE
AND SO YOU ARE PUT IN A TOUGH SPOT
AND YOU HAD TO DRIVE TO MAKE MONEY TO PAY BACK YOUR TICKET BUT BY DOING THAT YOU ARE INCURRING EVEN MORE FINES. SO THAT WAS PUTTING YOU IN A REAL POSSIBLE SITUATION TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT SO I JUST
WANTED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT AND ALSO
MENTIONED THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND YOU ARE
NOT UNIQUE. THERE WAS A STUDY DONE LAST YEAR
THAT 57% OF AMERICANS COULD MAKE A $500
EMERGENCY PAYMENT THEY CAME UP. SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY SPEAKING FOR THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE A PAYMENT FOR
AN EMERGENCY BILL THAT COMES DO AND A LOT
OF US THAT 55% DON'T HAVE A PARENT THEY COULD CALL FOR A FRIEND
THEY COULD CALL TO BE ABLE TO
GET $500 AN EMERGENCY BASIS
WERE $900.. SO JUST WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR BEING PRESENT AND SHARING
YOUR STORY AND I
THINK YOU THINK YOU REPRESENT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO A
RE IN [INAUDIBLE] THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN OR THROUGH A FAULT THEY WANT TO PAY
.
NO FAULT THAT THEIR POOR AND THEY WANT TO TAKE ACTION ON PAIN THE TICKET
BUT OFFER ON ABLE TO SO
THANK YOU TO THE BILL SPONSOR FOR BRINGING
THIS FOR. >> CHAIR MARIANI: WELL SAID.
MS. JACKSON; ONE OF THE I THIN
K [INAUDIBLE] I CAN SPEAK FOR OTHER STATES IS THAT WE DO
TRANSPARENTLY OPEN UP OUR
DELIBERATIONS [INAUDIBLE] SO WE CAN
HEAR DIRECTLY FOR PEOPLE OF ALL VIEWS WERE
DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY
OUR LAWS.SO PUTTING A FACE ON THE
LAW IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US HERE IN
THE LEGISLATURE.
THANK YOU FOR OFFERING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A FACE ON THE ISSUES THAT
THIS LAW IS SEEKING TO ADDRESS.
REPRESENTATIVE DEHN >>
REPRESENTATIVE DEHN: THANK YOU;
MR. CHAIR AND ALSO THANK YOU MS. JACKSON FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY. WE'VE A
TERRIBLE SYSTEM. WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SPAY A
SMALL FINE THEIR LIFE CAN BE
TOTALLY UPENDED AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE
DO THIS. I DON'T KNOW WHY
WE CRIMINALIZE POVERTY BECAUSE
WE DO.. IF SOMEONE GETS A FINE AND THEY CAN PAY IT
THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW THE LICENSE
IS SUSPENDED
THEY CAN PAY THAT FINE. WE WANT THEM TO WORK IT WE WANT THEM TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO BUT THEY'RE
STARTING FROM 30; 40 YARDS BACK IN IT ALMOST MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE. WE CAN
TALK ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
HOW THEY PULL PEOPLE OVER AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS
. CLEARLY; IF
YOU'RE DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE THAT'S CAUSE BUT OFTENTIMES
PEOPLE GET PULLED OVER FOR
EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS
AND PEOPLE THAT GET NEW CARS EVERY
3 YEARS AND NOT TO HAVE EQUIPMENT VIOLATIONS
; IT TENDS TO BE PEOPLE THAT
ARE DRIVING 10; 16 YEAR
OLD CARS. BY THE WAY OF BREAKING A LOT RIGHT NOW BUT WHEN MY LIGHTS IS
OUT. SO
I FEAR YOU HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY;
I FEAR IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN I
DRIVE HERE IF I WAS LIVING SOMEWHERE ELSE I PROBABLY WILL NOT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT BUT I LIVE IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS
IT'S POSSIBLE TONIGHT WHEN I GO HOME I'LL GET PULLED OVER BECAUSE OF A HEADLIGHT
THAT'S OUT. NOW I'M GOING TO BE A HUGE ADVANTAGE FOR A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN
MY COMMUNITY
BECAUSE THE OFFICER IS GOING TO SEE HIM WAITING
TO BE PROBABLY HANDLED VERY
VERY DIFFERENTLY. WE COULD TALK ABOUT
WHO GETS PULLED OVER.
I LIVED ON THE NORTH SIDE ALMOST
20 YEARS OF GERMAN DOWN
STREETS SOMETIMES 5; 6; 7 TIMES
A DAY SOME THE
BUSIEST PRIESTS IN NORTH MANAUS AND I'M
NOT GOTTEN PULLED OVER THIS IS THE FIRST
TIME I
NOT THE FIRST TO MY HEADLIGHT HAS
BEEN OUT. SO I THINK THAT WE KNOW
POOR COMMUNITIES ARE IMPACTED A VERY
DIFFERENT WAYS AND THAT WE
REALLY NEED TO MOVE
BEYOND CRIMINALIZING PEOPLE
BEING POOR IN THIS INSIDIOUS
DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF FINES
AND FEES AND FINES ON TOP OF FEES AND FINES ON TOP OF THESE. SO I THINK
THIS DEFINITELY IS A BILL WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD AND
WE SHOULD
STOP MAKING PEOPLE'S LIVES HARDER AND START MAKING IT A LITTLE BETTER FOR THEM.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK
YOU. REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD OF >> REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD:. I'LL BE BRIEF.
I; TOO WANT TO THANK MS. JACKSON FOR
YOUR TESTIMONY.
I AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
IN LITCHFIELD HAD A CONSTITUENT WHO HAD A VERY
SIMILAR ISSUE TRAPPED IN
THE CYCLE AND I KNOW
THEY BE GRATEFUL FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND RAISING UP THIS ISSUE. IT IS A CYCLE
. BACKING OF FINES; NEEDING TO DRIVE TO WORK
AND THERE WAS A MENTION OF
COLLATERAL WEIGHT FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY SYSTEM. OUR
POLICE DEPARTMENT IN LITCHFIELD KNEW
THIS INDIVIDUAL
WAS DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE
.. THEY WOULD SEE THEM AND
FELT COMPELLED TO PULL THEM OVER. THEY
WERE ALSO I THINK THEY WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR US CHANGING
THE SYSTEM WHICH IT JUST STRIKES ME AS THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND EXPECT IN A DIFFERENT RESULT.
WE JUST DON'T REALLY HAVE A
PRACTICAL SYSTEM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE SO I THINK THIS BILL IS HELPFUL
AND IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO THANK YOU. >> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU.
REPRESENTATIVE
[INAUDIBLE] THEN WE HAVE THE A - ONE AMENDMENT.
ONCE IF ANYONE AUTHORS AND WILL GO FROM THERE.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON
>> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON: >> TESTIFIER:
>>
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON: I'M JUST ONE OF THE PUBLIC
DEFENDER'S OFFICE [INAUDIBLE]
WAS IT JUST THE SPEEDING
ORDER THAT GET YOU RECKLESS; DW IN
THAT AREA >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU
>> CHAIR MARIANI: WE ALSO HAVE THE STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER.
>> >>
[MULTIPLE VOICES.] >>
>> [LAUGHING] >> TESTIFIER: WE REPRESENT A
MISDEMEANOR CRIMES
WHICH THE PERSON APPEARS IN COURT. SO IF A PERSON HAS A PAYABLE FENCE WHICH COULD BE A MISDEMEANOR
AND THEY ELECT TO PAY
IT ONLINE AND THAT WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THAT BUT IF THEY DO SCHEDULE A COURT APPEARANCE WE REPRESENT
THEM. SO ANYBODY IS FACING THE LOSS OF LIBERTY
INCARCERATION TO THE MISDEMEANOR [INAUDIBLE]
A GROSS MISDEMEANOR BY A YEAR AND A FELONY BY MORE THAN A YEAR
A REPRESENTATION
KICKS IN. >> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON:
MR. CHAIR; THANK YOU
VERY MUCH BUT I JUST WANT TO LET PEOPLE
KNOW THAT IF IT IS A
MISDEMEANOR [INAUDIBLE]
THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS IS THERE TO UP WITH
A QUALIFY. AND FOR THE PROSECUTORS
IN MY COUNTY THE COUNTIES OF
WORKED IN
A BEEN IN THE COURTS A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT COUNTIES AND ALL THE PROSECUTORS
WHETHER IT'S CITY OR COUNTY
WE ALWAYS PLEA BARGAIN WHENEVER WE CAN.
IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND HAS
A SITUATION THAT THEY
NEED ASSISTANCE IN MY AREA OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY HAS NO PROBLEM WORKING WITH
THEM. UNFORTUNATELY;
THE STATE WENT TO A SYSTEM WHERE
IT'S A [INAUDIBLE] PAYMENT SYSTEM AND THAT SYSTEM WAS VERY MESSED UP
I KNOW A COUPLE OF
MY FRIENDS WHETHER
LICENSE SUSPENDED AND THEY HAD THE DOCUMENTATION THAT
THEY PAID
. THE SYSTEM DID NOT NOTIFY THE COURT SYSTEM..
TO PAY REINSTATEMENT FEE TO GET BACK. THE REASON I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT;
LAW ENFORCEMENT; I DON'T KNOW IF IT
STILL DONE; IT HAS A
LIST OF IT SENDS A LIST OF SUSPENDED DRIVERS
EVERY YEAR. PROBABLY EVERY WEEK OR
EVERY MONTH; DWIS AND STUFF
LIKE THAT. SO THE
COUNTY ATTORNEYS IN THE CITY PROSECUTORS TO WORK
WITH THE PEOPLE IF THEY
HAVE ISSUES. WE HAD A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND JUDICIARY
AND THE BIGGEST ISSUE THEY'
RE HAVING THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS AND EVEN SOME OF THE JUDGES; IT'S
THE SURCHARGES. THEY CANNOT
BE WAIVED. OUR SURCHARGES ARE
MORE THAN A LOT OF TIMES AND
SOMETIMES DOUBLE WHAT THE
FINES ARE. THAT'S
AN ISSUE WE DO NEED TO WORK ON. BUT LAST QUESTION I
ACTUALLY HAVE WHOEVER WANTS TO
ANSWER IT; ANSWER THIS.
THEY TALKED ABOUT JUST THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE THAT NEVER PAY
THEIR FINES AND THEIR TICKETS. THEY DON'T CONTACT THE COURTS
TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PAYMENT
AND THAT'S A SIMPLE PHONE CALL TO THE PROSECUTOR AND THEY CAN
MAKE ARRANGEMENTS
TO PAY THE FINES BUT IT'S REALLY EASY TO DO. I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE DONE IT NUMEROUS TIMES.
THE ISSUE IS THESE PEOPLE
HAVE NEVER TAKE CARE OF IT..
I UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THIS BILL. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH
IT EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT
THESE PEOPLE TECHNICALLY THEY CAN HAVE 100
MOVING VIOLATIONS IN THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN; IF THEY DON'T
PAY THEM; NOTHING HAPPENS.
THEY COULD HAVE 100
SPEEDING TICKETS;; NOTHING HAPPENS
UNTIL THEY FINALLY
PAY THEM. THEN THERE LICENSE COULD BE SUSPENDED BECAUSE THEY HAVE
MORE THAN 4 VIOLATIONS AND
12 MONTHS OR 5 AND
24 MONTHS. SO UNTIL THEY PAY
THE TICKETS THERE'S NOTHING ON
THE RECORD AND IF THE TICKET IS NOT PAID
IT DOESN'T GO ON THE RECORD. SO
I THINK WE NEED TO REALLY TAKE A CLOSE LOOK
AT THIS AND I DO HAVE A AMENDMENT THAT I'M
GOING TORINGING UP TO
TALK ABOUT; BUT I'M
GOING TO HAVE THE PROSECUTOR ANSWER THIS BUT WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THESE PEOPLE THAT CAN TRULY REFUSE TO PAY THEIR FINES?
>> CHAIR MARIANI: CITY TURN IF YOU WOULD ANSWER THIS QUESTION I DO WANT TO GET TO YOUR AMENDMENT WHOSE EVER OFFERING
THAT AMENDMENT. MEMBERS DO HAVE
QUESTIONS. MEMBERS; WERE NOT DONE WITH OUR AGENDA TODAY. WE
WILL BE RECESSING
AND RECONVENING AT 5 PM IN ROOM
300. SO CITY ATTOR
NEY >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU MR. CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMITTEE. WE HAVE THAT
PROBLEM NOW. WITHOUT THI
S BILL WHETHER YOU PASS IT OR NOT THE
PROBLEM EXISTS
AND IT DOESN'T EXIST JUST FOR DRIVING OFFENSES. IN
HENNEPIN COUNTY THEY DECIDE
D THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND CLEAN UP OLD WARRANTS. SO LAST YEAR I WAS SENT A LIST OF NO
LESS THAN 50;000
MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES OF AL
L SORTS BETTER IN WARRANT STATUS FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS THEY SAID; WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THOSE AND THEY WERE EVERYTHING FROM SERIOUS
OFFENSES; PEOPLE ON
DWI TO CONSUMING
IN PUBLIC TO DRIVING AFTER REVOCATION; AND THERE WERE CERTAIN OFFENSES I LOOK AT AND SAID WELL; THIS IS 5
YEARS OLD AND ON MY SCALE OF WHAT REALLY IMPACTS PUBLIC SAFETY;
I SAID
WE NEED TO DISMISS THEM. WHEN A MANAGER OF THIS PERSON COMES IN AND 5 YEARS LATER I DON'T OF THE OFFICERS STILL ON THE FORCE. WE HAVE THE PROBLEM
RIGHT NOW. SO
THIS BILL IS NOT GOING TO MAKE THE PROBLEM BETTER. IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE
IT WORSE. BUT
THE BENEFIT THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO TO PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THIS SPIRAL THAT
'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT FAR OUTWEIGHS BY THE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT RIGHT NOW; ARE DOING NOTHING AND JUST TAKING THE CHANCES OF EVER GETTING PICKED UP ON A WARRANT
. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO TO BRING PEOPLE INTO CORD SO WE CAN HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LEVEL OF OFFENSE
. BUT THAT PROBLEM EXISTS ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY
AND PASSING OR PASSING THIS BILL IS NOT GOING TO
CHANGE THAT. THERE'S JUST SOME PEOPLE THAT
FRANKLY; JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT
THE LAWS THINK THEY DON'T APPLY IN JUST DO THEIR THING UNTIL THEY GET CAUGHT AND
ARE FORCED TO DEAL WITH IT UP AT THE NUMBER PEOPLE
; WHAT I FOUND; ESPECIALLY
WORKING WITH DRIVING DIVERSION PROGRAM ONE OF THE THINGS I
WAS REALLY
SURPRISED ABOUT IS WHEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE AND TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO DO THAT. THEY JUST NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO IT
IN A WAY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR
THEM FINANCIALLY.
THAT IS OFTEN A PAYMENT PLAN FOR SOME PEOPLE GET A PAYMENT PLAN IS $10 A MONTH IS MEANINGFUL PAYMENT PLAN. SO THEY CAN AFFORD AND I REALLY THINK THE MAJORITY PEOPLE WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND THEY WANT THE SYSTEM TO WORK WITH THEM
SO THEY CAN BE RESPONSIBLE;
TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY EVERYBODY MAKES MISTAKES AND YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS LIFELONG 5
-6 YEAR STRUGGLE FOR ONE MISTAKE THAT
YOU MADE. YOU'RE NOT GONNA TAKE I'VE GOT SEVERAL TICKETS.
IT HAPPENS. IT'S
LIFE. SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND
YOUR CONCERN I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU AND OTHER LAWMAKERS NOT TO FOCUS ON THE GROUP BECAUSE
THEY ARE GOING TO EXIST REGARDLESS OF WHAT
YOU DO;; BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PEOPLE THERE TRYING TO
BE RESPONSIBLE THAT NEED SOME HELP AND I
DO THINK MAYBE IF
I HAD LESS OF THESE CASES I MIGHT BE ABLE
TO -- SOME OF THESE OFFENSE ARE PAYABLE OFFENSES IN A WAY I CAN BRING THEM TO COURT
IS BY CHANGING THEM BY COMPLAINT. ANOTHER RESOURCE IN MY OFFICE TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY
CRANKING OUT COMPLAINTS ON ALL OF THESE MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES; BUT IF
MY CASELOAD
WAS REDUCED BY 23% ME BACK AND LOOK AT SOME OF THESE OFFENSES AND SAY THIS IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH
I'M GOING TO FILE COMMAND AND BRING THEM INTO CORD THAT WAY IN THAT WILL GET THEM INTO COURT. SO I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNBUT
I THINK THIS BILL IS GOING TO DO
MORE BENEFIT
THAN HARM AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO EXIST REGARDLESS OF WHAT
YOU DO.
>> CHAIR MARIANI:
THANK YOU. I'M THINKING ABOUT A COUPLE
TRAFFIC TICKETS OVER THE YEARS THAT I'VE FORGOTTEN AND I PAID
MORE THAN I SHOULD HAVE PAID IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT I
EVENTUALLY CAUGHT UP THAT I DO
NOT PAY $16;000 OR HAVE
MY INSURANCE
RATES SKYROCKET. SO THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE FOR A
SIMPLE ERROR FOR
SMALL MISJUDGMENT IS SOMETHING
THAT [INAUDIBLE] ON PEOPLE PAYING
THE
PRICE. REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDINE REPRESENTATIVE O'NEIL THAT WILL GO TO THE AMENDMENT THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO
OFFER. REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDINE >> REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDINE: THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR AND
THANK YOU CHAIRMAN LESCH FOR BRINGING
THIS BILL.
TOMORROW WE WILL BE SEEN A BILL THAT WILL ENHANCE
PENALTIES FOR DEATH
AND MAIMING AND MS. JACKSON IS NOT THE PERSON I WANT TO CATCH
OR BE PROSECUTED WITH THAT
. WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE SUSPENSIONS ARE FOR PEOPLE THAT
NEED IT AND THAT HAVE
EGREGIOUS BACKGROUNDS.
SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING
THIS FORWARD. OTHERWISE I DON'T GET A BREAK MY
BILL FORWARD. ONE OTHER LITTLE THINGS THAT I KNOW
REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL
EVENT IS IN THE BEST
POSSIBLE WAY AND I'VE
A DAUGHTER THAT WOULD COME TO BE; TO BUT WE CAN ASSUME PEOPLE HAVE THE
SAME RESOURCES THAT
WE DO THAT WOULD BE TO SOMETHING IN GENERAL TO KEEP IN MIND AND AGAIN I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING BECAUSE YES
IF MY DAUGHTER HAD COME TO ME I WOULD'VE WRITTEN A CHECK BUT THAT'S ARTWORK EVERY
RACE EXPENSES. >> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: THAT'S EXACTLY MY POINT. SORRY
MR. CHAIR.
IT JUST BAFFLES ME. I JUST THINK
ABOUT THAT >>
REPRESENTATIVE CONSIDINE: I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE COMING FROM. WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT ASSUMING EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME ADVANTAGES. >> REPRESENTATIVE GROSSELL: I DON'T ASSUME ANYTHING.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK
YOU; BOTH. THERE
ARE FOLKS CAREFULLY TRYING TO THINK
THROUGH ISSUES.
REPRESENTATIVE O'NEIL THEN WE'LL GET TO
THE AMENDMENT
REPRESENTATIVE O'NEIL >> REPRESENTATIVE O'NEIL: THANK YOU;
MR. CHAIR. I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE BILL. IF WE CAN TURN BACK TO THE BILL LANGUAGE.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU
REPRESENTATIVE O'NEIL. >> REPRESENTATIVE O'NEIL:
CHAIR LESCH;
THIS IS ONLY A PART OF
LAST TIME THE BUILDER I LOVE THE BILL. I DO
HAVE CONCERNS
ONLY BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
REINSTATING FEES AND WAS A CHANGE IN POLICY NOT NECESSARILY A CHANGE IN STATUTE. SO I BRING THAT UP AGAIN. I NOTICED
WE DIDN'T HAVE A AMENDMENT. I
WAS HOPING YOU WOULD HAVE SOMETHING
THAT WOULD CLARIFY MAYBE I SHOULD'VE BROUGHT A AMENDMENT BUT IF ON PAGE; LINE 5.24 THROUGH 5.26
AND IT REALLY HAS TO DO
MORE WITH
NOW THAT MNLARS IS UP AND OPERATIONAL AND THEY ARE STACKING UP THESE VIOLATIONS
THE LICENSE NEED
TO BE REINSTATED I GUESS IS THE BEST WAY TO STAY IT. IT'S $20 FOR REINSTATEMENT AND WONDERING IF YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT
SINCE IT'S REALLY A REINSTATEMENT FEE IT SEEMS THAT A
SINGLE ACTION TO MAKE IT CLEAR IN
STATUTE SO INSTEAD OF IN
STOCK FOR $20 FOR EVERY VIOLATION ABOUT THAT NEED TO BE REINSTATED TO HAVE IT BE A SINGLE FEE OF $20 INSTEAD OF
A STOCK FEE OF $20 HOWEVER
MANY TIMES. SO THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BRING UP.. I HOPE YOU
CAN CLARIFY
SO WE DON'T HAVE YET ANOTHER IMPUDENT TO SOMEONE GETTING HER LICENSE BACK. >>
REPRESENTATIVE LESCH: MR. CHAIR REPRESENTATIVE O'NEIL
WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT BUT WITH THE
PATH HERE >> CHAIR MARIANI: CHAIRMAN LESCH I BELIEVE WE ARE REFERRING TO THIS COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION.
>> REPRESENTATIVE LESCH: OKAY. DO WE KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING AFTER THAT? >> CHAIR MARIANI: I BELIEVE TO
YOUR COMMITTEE >> REPRESENTATIVE LESCH:
YES WE WILL GET THAT DRAFTED IT SO MAYBE YOU CAN DO
THAT. [INAUDIBLE] >>
REPRESENTATIVE O'NEIL: THANK YOU. I WILL MAKE SURE WE POINTED OUT PLEASE AFFORD TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FOLKS TO GET THEIR LICENSE BACK NOT
BECAUSE OF
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP THAT ACTUALLY IS PRETTY BIG FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. NOT JUST ONE SINGLE $20 THEORY AND 7
BUT MULTIPLE. WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AT THE
LAST HEARING. KIND OF
A SURPRISE GOING THROUGH
THE BILL SOMETHING WE SHOULD FIX GOING
FOR. THANKS.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: I AGREE REPRESENTATIVE O'NEIL. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP ON THE
RECORD. REPRESENTATIVE MOLLER THERE IS A A - ONE AMENDMENT IS SOMEONE WOULD MOVE
THAT AMENDMENT
. REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON >> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON:
CHAIR MARIANI; THAT WAS
MY AMENDMENT. I DON'T THINK
I DO BELIEVE HIM CAN OFFER
THAT AMENDMENT. THERE'S AN ISSUE DEALING WITH HOW DO WE DEAL WITH HIS PEOPLE
THAT CONTINUALLY DON'T PAY
THEIR FINES; CAN GENTLY DRIVE AND
CONTINUALLY DRIVE
SPEEDING RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING THE PUBLIC. THEY'RE GONNA DO THAT WHETHER THEY HAVE A LICENSE
; OR A SUSPENDED LICENSE BUT I THINK
SOMETHING WE WANT TO LOOK AT
AFTER X NONPAYMENT OF FINES IS THERE A CERTAIN
TIME PERIOD; A NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING
DEBT OF NEVER GOT TO COURT REFUSED TO SHOW UP IN COURT; MAYBE IT SOMETHING WE WANT TO
WE WANT TO LOOK AT TO PUT A LITTLE TEETH BACK INTO IT SO THE PEOPLE THAT HABITUALLY TO THAT END UP IN COURT. >> CHAIR MARIANI: CHAIRMAN LESCH >> REPRESENTATIVE LESCH:
I'VE DONE THIS FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS AND I'VE A [INAUDIBLE]
FROM FOLKS WERE SITTING IN JAIL CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE BAIL
AND THERE SITTING
IN JAIL ON A DRIVING AFTER SUSPENSION. IT WAS
MY JOB THEY WERE ENTITLED TO A TRIAL
THAN 10 DAYS IN A MISDEMEANOR AND I TO TRY THE CASE. I DID
THAT I TRIED THOSE CASES IN THESE PEOPLE WHO WENT
IN FROM HENNEPIN
COUNTY WORKFORCE; MC COUNTY WORKOUTS
CROW WING COUNTY KOOCHICHING COUNTY; BECAUSE THEY WERE
SITTING THERE
IN JAIL ON MUCH MORE SERIOUS OFFENSES.
QUITE FRANKLY; THE VAST MAJORITY
OF INSTANCES THIS WAS NOT EVEN REALLY WORTH HER TIME. THEY
WERE SITTING
IN ON MURDER. THEY WERE SITTING IN ON KIDNAPPING
OR CSC OR
SOMETHING. SO IF IT WERE UP TO ME IN THE SAME
WAY THAT MS. -- STATED;
WE GET THEM ON THE BIG TAMALE
. THE PERCENTAGE OF THE
POPULATION THAT'S
THREADED THAT NEEDLE WHO REALLY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING
WORSE THAN BASIC MISDEMEANOR SCARF
LOT STUFF AND COME
OUT [INAUDIBLE] IT WAS AN
EXTERNALLY NARROW
PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION COULD YOU ARE RIGHT. THOSE PEOPLE IRRITATE ME; TOO. IT'S EXTREMELY IRRITATING
. I'VE CLIENTS LIKE THAT JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
>> [LAUGHING] HE PAID ME SO I WAS LESS IRRITATED THAN BUT YOU
ARE RIGHT. IT'S
JUST THAT WE BOUGHT THIS IN LOOKING AT THE
MAJOR PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THAT POSITION. I SEE WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM.
>> CHAIR MARIANI:
THANK YOU. MEMBERS; I WANT TO
THANK THE CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD. REALLY
PLUNGING DEEP INTO WHAT
THE CONSEQUENCES ARE AND OBVIOUSLY WE TALKE
D ABOUT VERY CLOSELY RELATED ISSUES. AND THANK
YOU DEPUTY CITY ATTY.; FOR
LAYING OUT IN PAINTING FOR US WITH THE BIG PICTURE IS
OUT THERE. NOT IN THIS
POPULATION. [INAUDIBLE] BUT THAT MS. JACKSON'S; IF YOU WILL;
BUT ALSO ALLOWING
US TO TALK WHAT THE OTHER CHALLENGES.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT
WISHES TO TESTIFY ON THIS BILL? IF NOT;
REPRESENTATIVE LESCHRENEWS
HIS MOTION THAT HOUSE FILE 1061
1060 1B REFER TO THE
TRANSPORTATION
COMMITTEE. THE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY; AYE. [CHORUS OF AYES.] THE
SAME SIGN THE MOTION PREVAILS. >> [GAVEL] >> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU REPRESENTATIVE LESCH. THANK YOU TO THE TESTIFIERS THANK YOU
MS. JACKSON
. REPRESENTATIVE LESCH LOVE HOUSE FILE 898 AND
I BELIEVE THE MOTION IS TO
RE-REFERRED TO WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE. >> REPRESENTATIVE LESCH: THANK YOU; MR. CHAIR. OPPOSED;
MR. CHAIR THAT IS MY MOTION THAT
HOUSE FILE 898
BE REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS. >> CHAIR MARIANI:
VERY WELL. REPRESENTATIVE LESCH >> REPRESENTATIVE LESCH: MR.
CHAIR
MEMBERS HOPEFULLY WE GRIMACE WE HAD A LOT OF
CONVERSATION
ABOUT THE GETTING CAUGHT IN THE CYCLE POVERTY AND I WILL TELL YOU IN WORKING WITH THESE GENTLEMEN FOR QUITE A FE
W YEARS REGARDING DRIVER
DIVERSION PROGRAMS IT WAS
INITIALLY WE WORKED WITH
JESSICA -- THE ST. PAUL CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND MS. DEVIN IN THE MINNEAPOLIS CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO TRY TO
FIND SOME; AS I REFERRED TO IT; AS A DUCT
TAPE AND [INAUDIBLE] METHODOLOGIC TRY TO FIND A WAY TO ALLOW THESE FOLKS TO GET
BALLOT AGAIN THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY..
MY TESTIFIER IS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN
BEING HELPFUL WORKING WELL WITH
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
AND PROSECUTORS AND OFFICERS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN SO
I WOULD LEAVE IT IN THE CAPABLE HANDS TO EXPAND WHAT WERE DOING. BOTTOM LINE;
THIS THING IS LIMP ONE FOR YEARS IN STATUTE.
EVERYONE AGREES WITH THIS THAT'S A GOOD
IDEA. SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS
MAKE
IT PERMANENT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE MUCH OPPOSITION. >> CHAIR MARIANI: VERY
WELL. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND GIVE US
YOUR TESTIMONY.>> TESTIFIER: MR. CHAIR; MEMBERS; THANK YOU FOR
THIS TIME TO BE BEFORE YOU WITH THIS BILL.
IT'S A GOOD SEGUE FROM THE LAST BILL. AS
CHAIRMAN LESCH SAID;
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT BEGAN A LONG
TIME AGO; IN 2009. AT THE
REQUEST OF 3
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS WHO NOTICE AT 33% OF OUR CASELOADS
ARE ABOUT PEOPLE WITH CITATIONS
FOR DRIVING AFTER SUSPENSION
OR DRIVING
AFTER REVOCATION. AND THEY
CAME BACKAND THEY CAME BACK AND THEY
CAME BACK. WE SAID WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THIS
WE CAME UP WITH A PROGRAM WORKING WITH DVS SOME
OTHER PROSECUTORS
LAW ENFORCEMENT; SCOTT; HERE
WITH HIS [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM AND
THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON 3
VALUES ACCOUNTABILITY
THE TRAINING AND [INAUDIBLE]
IT OFFERS IT AN INDIVIDUAL TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF
REPEATEDLY OFFENDING
AND EARN THE PRIVILEGE OF DRIVING AGAIN TO
THE PR
OGRAM REQUIRES PARTICIPANTS TO DO
THE FOLLOWING: FULFILL STATE
REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO REINSTATE
THEIR LICENSE. SHOW PROOF OF INSURANCE TO THE
PROGRAM MANAGER WHICH IS
[INAUDIBLE] SOLUTIONS
. WITH SUPPORT FROM PROGRAM
STAFF THEY APPROVE A MONTHLYPAYMENT
PLAN TO PAY BACK OTHER FUNDS AND THEY DO IT AT A PRICE RATE
THAT MATCHES THEIR INCOME.
THEY MUST TAKE CLASSES PROVIDE BY A
PROGRAM MANAGER AND THEY CANNOT
HAVE ANY
MORE VIOLATIONS. IF THEY DO THEY GET KICKED OUT OF
THE PROGRAM A
ND THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY CAN G
O FORWARD WITH ALL THE CHARGES
PREVIOUSLY THERE. SO WHAT DOES THE
BILL CHANGE? WE ARE AMENDING THE LAW
NOT A STATUTE THAT'S WHY YOUR BILL IS COMPLETELY
UNDERLINED BUT
AMONGST THAT; SOME IN PRACTICE NOW AND THERE ARE
THE CHANGES. THESE ARE THE CHANGES.
SECTION 1; SE
CTION 2 CREATES A PROCESS WHERE DVS MAY CHARGE A
PROGRAM MANAGER $3
PER APPLICANT TO HELP OFFSET
THE COST OF REVIEWING APPLICATIONS
TO THE PROGRAM TO
DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY. [INAUDIBLE] FIG
URE 2 PEOPLE THAT NEED TO GIVE THEM A YES; THE
THUMBS UP THE 2 GROUPS. ONE IS DVS AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE LOCAL
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. THEY ARE
IN CHARGE. 2ND; THE BILL
WOULD ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM IF
DVS
FOUND THEM ELIGIBLE IN THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY APPROVED.
RIGHT NOW; THIS PROGRAM STARTED
IN 2009 AND STARTED IN 5
CITIES. TODAY IT IS
124 CITIES AND 15 COUNTIES
AND IT'S ONLY IN THOSE AREAS BECAUSE THE
LOCAL PROSECUTORS WANTED
THE PROGRAM
BECAUSE AT THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
[INAUDIBLE]THEIR CASELOADS ARE
TOO BIG AND THESE PEOPLE ARE
REPEAT OFFENDING AND THERE'S NO WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. SO THE LANGUAGE; THE REASON WE DO THAT WE
CANNOT MANDATE IT. WE DON'T WANT
TO [INAUDIBLE] THAT WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO GIVE A
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
THE ABILITY
TO REQUEST AN INDIVIDUAL
BE REVIEWED BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT
FOR ELIGIBILITY AND 2ND IT
WOULD ALLOW A JUDGE TO SUBMIT
A REQUEST FOR AN INDIVIDUAL
TO APPLY
TO PARTICIPATE. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IF YOU GET A
CITATION FOR
DS OR DR AND YOU'RE NOT IN ONE OF THOSE
124 CITIES
OR 15 COUNTIES; YOU CANNOT GO INTO
THE PROGRAM AND THE TRUTH IS
SOME PEOPLE ARE IN THE POSITION SO THEY FIND
AN AREA WHERE THERE IS A PR
OGRAM AND THEY GO TO THE TOP AND SAY GIVE ME
A CITATION. SO I CAN GET INTO THIS PROGRAM.
SO THAT WAS THE WEIGHT WE DEVELOPED
AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND
IT STATEWIDE WITHOUT OVERSTEPPING
THEIR BOUNDS. SECTION 1 SUB 6;
CURRENT LAW REQUIRES
PARTICIPATING COUNTIES AND CITIES TO PROVIDE BIENNIAL
PROGRAM REPORTS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE LEGISLATURE.
SECTION 1
SUB 8 PROPOSES THE PROGRAM MANAGER WHICH IS
[INAUDIBLE] BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THESE REPORTS. SCOTT HAS BEEN DOING THESE REPORTS FOR 9
YEARS ALREADY.
WE SAID WHY DON'T WE JUST PUT IT IN LAW AND MAKE IT SIMPLE AND THAT WAY IF A CITY
OR COUNTY IS THINK ABOUT JOINING THE PROGRAM
THEY DON'T SEE THAT AS
ANOTHER EXPENSE THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.
WE HAD 2 AMENDMENTS WE WERE GOING TO ADD TODAY
. THE AMENDMENT DID NOT
GET HERE. IT WILL COME LATER IN
THE PROCESS. ONE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS WAS TO ADD
A DISCOUNT ON THE
PROGRAM FEES; NOT THE FINES; NOT THE
[INAUDIBLE] FOR DRIVING BUT ON THE PROGRAM FEES AND IN
THIS CASE;; IF A CITATION TOTAL LESS
THAN $250 OR 60%; IF A CITATION
TOTAL 250-5;
THE DISCOUNT WILL BE 40%. THE OTHER PORTION OF THE AMENDMENT THAT WE
DESIGNED TO OFFER IS TO STRIKE
THE LANGUAGE HAVING TO DO WITH
IGNITION INTERLOCKS. WE WERE HOPING THAT WE
COULD SOMEHOW BRING THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
THE REQUIREMENTS TO USE
IGNITION INTERLOCKS INTO THE PROGRAM AND
GIVE THEM SOME HELP AND SOME SUPPORT
; BUT THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USED
CONFLICTED
WITH STATUTE. AS WE VETTED THIS BILL VERY
VERY BROADLY DVS SAID YOU CAN'T
-- THAT LINE WHICH DOES NOT WORK. IT CONFLICTS WITH
CURRENT LAW. SO WERE JUST GOING TO PUT OUT
AND LEAVE IT FOR
ANOTHER DAY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK
AT THE LETTERS THAT ARE IN
YOUR PACKET FROM LOCAL PROSECUTORS
. THEY'RE VERY VERY POSITIVE AND I THINK IT'S A
GOOD INDICATION THAT THIS PROGRAM WORKS. IN CONCLUSION; I WOULD SAY THAT
THIS PROGRAM HELPS A LOT
OF PEOPLE BREAK THE CYCLE
AND GET THEIR LIVES BACK
ON TRACK. IT REDUCES CASELOADS FOR COURTS
AND PROSECUTORS.. AS
OF 12-31-2018 THERE'S OVER
$9.4 MILLION OF DELINQUENT FEES
AND SEND THOSE BACK TO
THE COURTS AND THE COURTS
SEND THEM TO THE
APPROPRIATE ENTITY. POSTWAR; CITIES COUNTIES ETC.
IT'S TRULY ARE THE
REVENUE MAKER IN THAT
RESPECT. FINALLY; IT PROMOTES
PUBLIC SAFETY
BY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF INSURED DRIVERS AND PROMOTE
JUDICIAL EFFICIENCY AND IT
IS SELF-FUNDED. SCOTT IS A TAPE;
A RECORDING WE WOULD LIKE TO PLAY
FOR YOU AND IT'S A AUTO THING
BECAUSE SOMEONE CALLED TO THANK
AN OFFICER FOR GIVING HER THE CITATION BUT ALSO
REFERRING HER TO THIS PROGRAM.
I THINK THAT'S SETTING UP [INAUDIBLE]>>
CHAIR MARIANI:
THANK YOU. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CHAIR
WILL BE ACTING ON
THE AMENDMENTS IN A
SUBSEQUENT MEETING. WELCOME TO
. WELCOME TO THE COMMITTEE. I DID HEAR
IT'S
PRETTY BRIEF AND LOOK FORWARD TO
HEARING IT. >> TESTIFIER: THANK YOU MR.
CHAIR. JUST
PREFACE IT. THIS CAME TO US FROM THE
LAKEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SHE ACTUALLY WAS A 911 CALL TO THANK THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE
BEEN NOTIFIED IT'S
PROBABLY NOT THE PROPER USE FOR 911
>> [LAUGHING] BUT WE DID ASK YOU DO NOT USE IT AGAIN
BUT SHE CAN CAUSE
DIRECTLY AND GIVE US ALL THE ACCOLADES SHE LIKED IT AS WELL JUST GET IT STARTED HERE. >> >> [VIDEO]
>> I OFFICER [INAUDIBLE] MY
NAME IS [INAUDIBLE] ALLISON
. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER ME
BUT YOU PULLED ME OVER ON JUNE
1; 2013 AND YOU GAVE ME
A TICKET FOR DRIVING WITHOUT
A LICENSE. NOT ONLY DID YOU GIVE ME A TICKET. YOU GAVE ME
A CARD AND YOU TOLD ME TO CALL
THIS NUMBER TO TRY TO SEE IF
THEY CAN HELP ME GET MY LICENSE SO I
CALLED THAT CARD AND
SURE ENOUGH; THEY HELP ME GET
MY LICENSE. I GOT MY LICENSE BACK THIS WEEK. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH
. I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. I'M
SO GRATEFUL. THANK YOU SO SO
SO MUCH. I HAVE BEEN
PULLED OVER 2 TIMES
AND NOBODY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THE PROGRAM
. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH
. EVEN THOUGH YOU GAVE ME A TICKET
;
YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP ME AT THE SAME TIME AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING THE BEST COP EVER. THANK YOU;
THANK YOU. HAVE YOURSELF A GOOD DAY.
BYE-BYE.
>> TESTIFIER: MR. CHAIR;
>> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU
MR. ATKINSON.
IT GOES TO HAVING SOME KIND OF AN OLD SAYING ABOUT
YOU KNOW [INAUDIBLE] HOLDING
FOLKS ACCOUNTABLE AND RESPECTED AND
BE GRATEFUL FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW.
ARE THERE ANY
QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS FROM COMMITTEE MEMBERS? REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON
>> REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON: FIRST OF ALL OVERALL
I SUPPORT THE DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THEY
WORK WELL. NOT ONLY THIS ONE
BUT A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THE STATE HAS ALLOWED. DIVERSION
PROGRAMS GETTING [INAUDIBLE]
I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS
BILL DOES. BUT I'M
JUST WONDERING WHAT THE PATH IS FOR
THIS BILL? I SEE
IT'S GOING TO WAYS AND MEANS BUT DO YOU KNOW WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO GO
INTENDED NEXT UP IS? >> CHAIR MARIANI: THAT'S GOOD QUESTION
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON. REPRESENTATIVE LESCH MINOR SENDING IS THIS IS GOING TO MOVE TO
TRANSPORTATION? THEN COME ABOUT YOUR COMMITTEE.
DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A PLAN?
>> REPRESENTATIVE LESCH: YES;
MR. CHAIR.
>> CHAIR MARIANI: VERY WELL.
OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON
THE AMENDMENTS IN ONE OR BOTH OF
THOSE COMMITTEES.
VERY WELL. IS ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO TESTIFY ON THIS BILL?
ALL RIGHT. THEN IF
NOT; REPRESENTATIVE LESCH RENEWS
HIS MOTION THAT HOUSE
THAT HOUSE FILE 890 8B REFER TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY; AYE. [CHORUS
OF AYES.] OPPOSED; SAME SIGN.
THE MOTION PREVAILS. >> [GAVEL] >> CHAIR MARIANI: THANK YOU
REPRESENTATIVE LESCH AND
MR. ATKINSON AND PUT IN FOR A
GOOD BILL FOR
US. MEMBERS; REPRESENTATIVE LESCH WE
DO HAVE 2
BILLS LEFT WE ARE NOT TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THOSE INSIDE
OF 7 OR SO MINUTES WE HAVE. SO;
-- PARDON; SO WE ARE GOING TO
WILL NOT WRAP UP BUT
RECESS A LITTLE BIT EARLY.
DON'T USE UP ALL THOSE MINUTES IN ONE PLACE NOW. >> [LAUGHING]
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON. >>
REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON: CHAIR MARIANI; SINCE WE ARE
RECONVENE IN
THIS COMMITTEE AT 5 PM TO ROOM 300 S.
; LAST WEEK WE RAN OUT OF TIME
AND ADJOURNED AFTER A NUMBER
OF [INAUDIBLE] HAD TESTIFIED ON HOUSE FILE 741 AND
NO OPPONENTS TO THIS BILL HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO TESTIFY. WE HAD A NUMBER OF OUR MEMBERS WANTED TO ASK HIM QUESTIONS OF THE TESTIFIERS
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF YOU COULD DO YOUR BEST TO TRY TO GET
THOSE TESTIFIERS WE HAD BACK
HERE SO OUR MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THEY HAD
AND WE'VE A
LIST GOING. WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED THAT LIST BUT
IN LIGHT OF ALL THE MEMBERS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THEY HAD AND
MAKE SURE WE CAN ESTIMATE
PERSON CAN >> CHAIR MARIANI: REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON IT'S
OBSOLETE APPROPRIATE TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US HAVE
AN OPPORTUNITY TO
QUESTION TESTIFIERS AND HAVE A
FULL DEBATE.. THERE WERE QUITE A
FEW QUESTIONS BY QUITE A FEW MEMBERS
ON THE BILL THAT REPRESENTATIVE
-- HAD BEFORE US HOUSE FILE 741. RECENTLY WILL MAKE A GOOD EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THOSE WHO
WERE HERE
LAST WEEK CAN RETURN AND WE ABSOLUTELY INTEND TO
HEAR FROM THOSE WHO HAD COME
ESPECIALLY CONCERNED WITH
THE BILL.
SO MEMBERS; THAT'S TRUE WE
DID OFFER TO EXTEND THE TIME AS
WELL BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING HERE
AS WE TYPICALLY HAVE IN MY
GOOD FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
[INAUDIBLE]. MEMBERS I WILL CERTAINLY
WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE WE ALL GET
TO PARTICIPATE. IT IS A
TWO-WAY STREET. WITH THAT;
I UNDERSTAND WILL STAND IN RECESS UNTIL 5 PM
AND RECONVENE IN 300 S. BUT CERTAINLY BE WATCHING
YOUR EMAILS
IN THE EVENT THERE'S ANY UPDATES TO ANY OF THAT BUT I DO NOT
EXPECT THAT. SO THIS COMMITTEE STANDS IN RECESS. >> [GAVEL] >> [RECESS] >>
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