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Sponsor Statement for SCS CSHB 4(FIN)
Motor Vehicles & Drunk Driving

An Act relating to motor vehicles and to operating a motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft; and providing for an effective date.

Alaska has one of the toughest drunk driving laws in the United States, but many of our state's habitual drunk drivers are not getting the message. Senate Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 4 strengthens these laws.

Poor judgment and chemical dependency are the primary causes of habitual drinking and driving. These people kill, injure, and maim Alaskans causing untold grief, pain, suffering, and economic loss. Estimates show that the average 1998 alcohol-related fatality in Alaska cost $5.1 million ($1.7 million in monetary costs and $3.4 million in quality of life losses) while the average 1998 injured survivor experienced approximated $126,000 in costs ($52,000 in monetary costs and $74,000 in quality of life losses). These figures are from the Public Services Research Institute and were produced under a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Partners in Progress Cooperative Agreement and are figures for Alaska.

Over the past two years, Alaska has witnessed a rash of tragic deaths and injuries. A public outcry resulted in the 2000 establishment of the Municipality of Anchorage's DUI Task Force. Many recommendations of this Task Force are embodied in SCS CSHB 4 (FIN).

SCS CSHB 4 (FIN) increases fines for misdemeanor offenses; increases fines for felony offenses; establishes mandatory vehicle forfeiture for felony offenses; permits local governments to adopt ordinances stricter than state laws concerning vehicle impoundment or forfeiture for driving under the influence, driving while license revoked or suspended, and driving without insurance; establishes increased times limits for maintenance of SR-22 insurance; permits the court to order a convicted person, while incarcerated or as a condition of probation or parole, to take a drug or combination of drugs intended to prevent the consumption of an alcoholic beverage; adds "inhalants" to the list of substances that can result in charges of driving while intoxicated; permits the court, in misdemeanor cases of driving under the influence or refusal to submit to a chemical test, to reduce up to 50% of the minimum fines and suspend up to 75% of the mandatory minimum sentence when a person successfully completes a court-ordered treatment program (minimum 18 consecutive month duration); and increases fees, fines and cost caps in various areas of the law to enhance revenue to offset associated costs.

SCS CSHB 4 (FIN) contains both the "stick" (punitive revision of law) and the "carrot" (flexibility for the judicial system to in giving out misdemeanor sentences and fines). Enactment of this legislation will send a strong and clear message: DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE.

Your support of this important legislation would be appreciated.

ED 8:05/01/01

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Attachments:

• Sectional Analysis for HB 4
• Print Friendly Version
  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 6 page(s) - 11K
• SCS CSHB 4 (FIN) Highlights
  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 2 page(s) - 63K
• SCS CSHB 4 (FIN) Major Points
  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 5 page(s) - 57K
• Comparison Sheet between CSJUD & CSFIN
  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 11 page(s) - 30K
• Comparison Sheet between Passed House & Passed Senate versions
  Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - 9 page(s) - 28K

| Rep. Rokeberg |

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