HB 1322 -- CARELESS AND IMPRUDENT DRIVING

CO-SPONSORS:  Hartzler (124), Kennedy, Bartelsmeyer, Legan,
Pryor, Boucher, Ostmann, Luetkemeyer, Robirds, Tudor, Summers,
Gross, Phillips, Chrismer, Hendrickson, Enz, Reinhart

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Transportation by a vote of 24 to 0.

This bill increases the statutory point penalty for careless and
imprudent driving where aggravating circumstances exist or when
an accident occurs in which any person receives moderate
physical injury.  Aggravating circumstances are defined by the
bill as circumstances in which any person suffers death or
serious physical injury.

The bill also allows law enforcement officers to administer a
test to determine the blood alcohol content of any driver who is
involved in an accident that results in the death of any person
or where a person has been ticketed in an accident resulting in
serious physical injury.

The bill has an effective date of January 1, 2001.

FISCAL NOTE:  Income to Highway Fund of $5,250 in FY 2001,
$12,645 in FY 2002, and $12,645 in FY 2003.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this legislation will make
Missouri roads safer by getting bad drivers off the road
sooner.  Family members will get accurate information after an
accident.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Hartzler (124);
Terran A. Cox; Rebecka Mickelberry; and Mothers Against Drunk
Drivers.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst

HB 1322 -- Careless and Imprudent Driving

Sponsor:  Hartzler (124)

This bill increases the statutory point penalty for careless and
imprudent driving where aggravating circumstances exist or when
an accident occurs in which any person receives moderate
physical injury.  Aggravating circumstances are defined by the
bill as circumstances in which any person suffers death or
serious physical injury.

The bill also allows law enforcement officers to administer a
test to determine the blood alcohol content of any driver who is
involved in an accident that results in the death of any person
or where a person has been ticketed in an accident resulting in
serious physical injury.

The bill has an effective date of January 1, 2001.