HB 1519

This bill imposes additional fines for certain motor vehicle violations as described below. PENALTIES FOR MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS This bill provides that, in addition to any penalty authorized under law for a traffic violation designated as a moving traffic violation under rules of the driver improvement program, which assigns points according to the seriousness of the accident or moving traffic violation conviction and authorizes the department of safety to suspend or restrict the licenses of incompetent or unqualified drivers based on insufficient points:  For non-commercial motor vehicles, the court must assess a fine of $25.  For commercial motor vehicles, the court must assess a fine of $50. Such additional fines must be collected by the respective court clerk and transmitted to the treasurer for deposit in the state highway fund, to be used for maintenance and infrastructure improvements of public roads, streets, highways, bridges, and simi lar structures on the state system of highways and the state system of interstate highways. DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE VIOLATIONS Present law provides that it is unlawful for any person to drive or to be in physical control of any automobile or other motor driven vehicle on any of the public roads and highways of the state, or on any streets or alleys, or while on the premises of a ny shopping center, trailer park, or apartment house complex, or any other premises that is generally frequented by the public at large, while any of the following circumstances exist:  The person is under the influence of any intoxicant, marijuana, controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, drug, substance affecting the central nervous system, or combination thereof that impairs the driver's ability to safely operate a motor vehicle by depriving the driver of the clearness of mind and control of oneself that the driver would otherwise possess.  The alcohol concentration in the person's blood or breath is 0.08% or more.  The person has a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04% or more and the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle. If a person is so convicted, present law provides the following penalties:  For a first offense, a fine no less than $350 nor more than $1,500.  For a second offense, a fine no less than $600 nor more than $3,500.  For a third offense, a fine no less than $1,100 nor more than $10,000.  For a fourth or subsequent offense, a fine no less than $3,000 nor more than $15,000.  For any offense while accompanied by a child under 18, a fine of $1,000 in addition to the fine for the DUI offense. Additionally, present law provides that the payment of restitution to any person suffering physical injury or personal losses as the result of such offense, if such person is economically capable of making such restitution, must be imposed as a condition of probation. This bill adds that, in addition to the penalties authorized for a violation of driving under the influence of an intoxicant as described above, the court must assess a fine of $100 to be collected by the respective court clerk and transmitted to the tre asurer for deposit in the state highway fund, to be used for maintenance and infrastructure improvements of public roads, streets, highways, bridges, and similar structures on the state system of highways and the state system of interstate highways. If t he person convicted of driving under the influence of an intoxicant is also convicted of a moving traffic violation, then the court must not assess the additional fine for the moving traffic violation as described above and must only assess the additional $ 100 fine described in this paragraph. APPLICABILITY This bill applies to offenses committed on or after July 1, 2026.