**WHITE ty** **Generu**

-wing t12549
‘X.79711 901 n74t367 Y612n794266
~St,SUtWWOO C7saol 944
Ia* AW ” Suit* 160 rx.799ns - tbl

PlUrsutt*

rod s.Tx. 7uo5 91 

# The Attorney General ofTexas January 20. 1982

Ms. Elizabeth 5. Jaadc Guadalupe County Attorney 105-A North Auocin Scguin. Texu 78155 Xr. John T. Xontford CrifAfnal oiuricc Actoroey Lubbock Couacy Courthouse Lubbock, .Texas 79401 Hr. ?Iauricc S; **Pipkin Executive**  **Direcco;** State C-salon on~Judicial c&duct 211 Rugao Euilding P..O. Box 12265 Austin. Texu 78711 Opinion No.W-428 Re: Interpretation of article 67016, section 143A: **Questions** rel&tlug to “defcaaive driving couru ” .a alternative to court proceedinga

Dear Ha. Jandc and Heasrs. Moatford and **Plp!in:** You have tcqueated oar opinion on **the.** queatloaa llated below relating to procedurea used by muolcipel~ and jurtice court judges **in** thin ltata ia.~le~oclng thk **provisione** of the Texee ecatute vhlch permits l**.pereorr** ehrrgcd~ **vith ”** **a** misdemeinor offense ,related to the oper,ation bf i wtor vehicle td **-take**a “defeimlvc **driving couue** **” or** 
.~ **“ driving**  ufety ~courua **ii~ “** **Lieu** of ptoeecutfon qd **further** court proceedioge 

### l

rlsina

from the offeore. Tlicetacuca 10quemtioa. 

# l e&on.l43A of 

### l

rclile **670ld. V.T.C.S..**  rud6 

### asfollove: * I

. DISXISSAL **O? CERTAIN**  **ltISOMWtON CN4RCW**  **UPON** COXPLETINCDRIVINGSAFETYCGURSL.

.
sac. ‘14% (a) Nhen a parsoo ie charged vith 

### a dideseenor offense under thie Act. other **then** a violetion of **Sactioo** SOor Sl. emitted while opericiag a motor vchlcle. the **court:** (1) 

### in lta dfscrecion Roy defer proceedings and ellow the person 90 days to prwenc evidenceCtwC. aubaaquanc to cha .ll.g.d act. th. parson has .succcsafully completed a defensive driver’s couraa 

### l

pprovad by the Texss Dapartmant of Public Safety or other driving safety course approved by cha court; or (2) shall defer proceedings and ellav the parson 90 days to present written evidence that, subsequent to chc alleged act, the person haa successfully completed a driving safety course approved by the court. If: (A) the parson presents to **the** court an oral request or written aotlon to take a-course: (5) **‘ the**  peiaoa has a valid Texas drlvar’a license **or** permit; end (Cl the peraon ’8 drlviog record as malnrsined by the Texas Dapartwnt of Public Safety doea not Indicate succeaeful colnpJition of ,a driving safety *course under this ~acibdlvision within the cvo ycers iasnadietely preceding the date of the alleged offense. 

### (b) When the person coinplles with cha provisions of Subeecrloo 

### (a)of this section and zhe evidence presented is accepted by the court. the court shall dismiss the charge. .Uhcn a charge Is d&seed under this UCC~W. the charge may not be part of cbc detson ’s ‘driving record **dr** used **for aiy**  **purpose. but**  the **court** ihall report the **fut that**  l per000 hu eucceaafully completed **a driving**  ufety course and **the** dote **of** completion **to the**  **Texas Oepartaent**  of **Pal, I** **Lc Safety..**  **~for** inclusion in the parmon ’i drivt”$: record. The court shall **note** in it0 **rcwct ~dmtbar**  tbC course vas taken under the pmccdurc provided ~by Subdfviaion (2) **of S~ub~ccha**  **(aj of**  this seccioti **for** the purpose **of** providing information necessary to determine 

### l lWbility to teke l subsequent **edurse** under that subdlvislon.
The questions Presented by you ralaclng co the interpretaclon and ioplamcntation of this statute 

### artas **follows:**

P. 1456nr. Elizabeth C. .Inndt

Iir. John T. Iioncford Hr. Haurice S. Pipkin Pa&e 3 (mr-428)

1. It a court (municipal **or** juarlca court)

re;uircd Cogive a go-day deferral for l defendrnc to Cake a dafensivc driver’s course. es provided In **section 143A(a)(2),**  **ac any**  time **that a**  moc,lon **is** uada **by che.dafendent**  **to** 

### cake **such a**  **course**

_(assuming thac.tha dafendanc is aliglble)? 2. -Atuhsc polnc. if ray. ~ln.a.mlsdemeanor traffic **offense proceeding**  could **the** judge refuse a motion to allow **the** defendant to take **a** defensive drlvar’s- Course **and** hsve hit citation dlsmlssed under article 6701d. **section** 143A(a)(2)? .3. Hayajudge require a dcfandsnt **to** cntar s plea of guilty **or** nolo contendere **before** the judge will allou **the defendant**  **to** cake **s defenslva**  driver’s **court** under either subsection 1oi 2? 4. Usy s judge require the defendant to **pieseut** s copy 

### of the 

### TexasDeparcuent **of** Public Safety ’s spproval **of** the defensive driver’s 

### course before the judge yill l llov .the indivldusl ‘to register **for s**  **particular course?** 
**5. ‘** **Hay the**  **judge require**  e defendant **to** provide **to the**  **court a**  **notarized** svorn statment actestiag COthe fact Chet the 

### dafendau$haanot coslpleced a defensive, driving course vichln **the put**  tvo years for the purpose of hsving a cltstlon dismlssedt ., 6. **What steps.msy**  

### a **judge take**  **efrer the**  ainety-day period, **vhlch the**  defendsnc vi8 giveo -to complete a defensive driving course. **if the**  defendsnt ‘did **oat then**  supply the **court** vith vritten evidence that **he** lo facts**did** complete **the cours.e?**  7. 18.lt uaechiul for s **judge co**  **sdvfse a**  **party vho**  **requests tnfonrtlon**  **on ihe**  **scste ’** **s**

**. dcfcns(vc**  **dr,iving** lsv so to the **steps necuury**  **co**

**comply vlth**  l

**ectlon 143AT**  R.

.. Liay a judge require **the dafendanc**  **to** perronally **sppaar in**  **hit court**  to **sstisfy** my of **the** raqulrananCa set out 1” **this** 

### act?

**.** SpecIficaLly. l

fear **a defendant**  **hat** taken **the,** dafanslvc drlvar’a course. **may a** judge damand **the**

**-./**

**. 1** **(rs ’** **)**prcscnrac1on of rile Co”rBf complctlcn certificate In pcrcon or may it be mailed to **the** court vithln tbd required clme limit?
This office hcs In an earlier opinion determined that the statute In qucction. scctlon 143A of article 6701d. V.T.C.S.. lm conscltutlonal l **d** 

### that It does not impcrmicslbly **lnfrlngc on**  **the** dlccrctlon of c judge before whom**a** misdemcsnor **traffic** offense haa **been** brought. See Attorney Central Opinion W-185 (1980). **In that**  oplnlon. Ye

### stated: (Ilt lc well established that the ltglslaturc my. glut judges rcaponslbilltlcs which do not require **the** cxcrcisc **of** judlclal discretion. See JamsKIn v. **Garrett,** 69 S.U.Zd 51; (Tcx. Clv. G.

-.Tcxarkmic 1934. **-wit** rcf ’d); Koll v. State. 157

‘,‘$U.2d..377 (Tax;‘-Crla. App. - 1941).
.A judge may be assigned sialettrlal **duties.** vhlch a& duties prcccrlbcd and defined vlth such precision as to lcavc nothing..rp: tbc l xcrciee bf dlccrctloa or jtdgment; Jmoiglo~ V. Garrett. **M. Once**  **the** defendant **complies** vi,@ the **three** cond5tidas under ~sactlon l&i(a)(2)..- we btllevc the court’ has a ~ministc.rial duty-to dismiss the **charge.** Ulth rcgsrd to your ,flrst question.. dcferrdl of 6 court’n proceedings under l tction.

143A(a)(2) 1s mandatory. and the Q&day .pcrlod should run **fron the**  date the dtfeadanr’s written or oral motion lr~granted; .Seccioa **143A(a)(2)** Lospecific on thlr point.
**-Your s&and**  **questi& addresser**  **the** tiarc llolt~. if any. within which a defendant can elect to tokc the dcfcnslvc driver’s course. The **stpk&~-vas~:** intended **by the**  legislature’ to provide an cltcrneti~e tq **the** procecutlon **and**


### .‘trial of 8isdcmcanor trcffic offcares. **~e~,ksptloa** of :theroektlng l ct l teted: **, “** **[aln** Act relating to a. drivlnp .qofety eoutac le ‘aa‘ altcmctlvc to prosecution for **certala** traffic offenses....” **Aete 1979.**  **66th kg.,**  chi 610 at 1359. It **is** 

### clear **from the**  **rtctute, thst**  once a prrson 16 “charSed” with **the offence.** 

**“ def** lr Chc court uy or. shall (dcpendlng~ on the iircuastances)

**proceedings ”**  to l now a. defend-t to 

### conplate the courcc and thereby 

### halt further court pioeecdlngs.. 

### Webelfeve, **haueverr** that **the** logicsl **conctructlon** of the ccatute fm thrf once the dcfcndant or his eounrel has announced **thct ’** **hc** 

### is ready for 

### trial, and once. **the** trial (before the court or before a jury) has cownced. the option under section 143A to take the driving course lo no lohgcr available to the **defendant,** and the court my properly **refute** l srotlon **by the**  ‘defendant to take the .dcfcnslvo **drivcr ’** **c** course. 

### By going to 

### trial. the

p. 1458Mm.Ellsobeth C. Jsndt

Mr. John 1. flontford Hr. Maurice s. Plpkin Page5 **(tlu-4.28)**

defendant hqe chosen to forego the defensive driving coutee se en eltcrnetive means to dlepoee of the charge brought against him.
**In** answer to your third question. it would be Improper for e judge **to** require a defendant **to** enter e plee of guilty or nolo contendere before the defendant le elloved to **take** the dcfeneivc driver’s ooursc. **In** cnectlng section **143A,** the lagielarurc clearly established the completion of a defensive driver’s course as en alternative to court prosecution for minor traffic **offenses. The**  cxpllclt language of **the** statute la that the court “shell dofcr proceedings

” (section **143A(s)(Z)).** It vould .bc a violation of e defendent’s constitutlonel rights. es well as prlvllcgcs grented by the legislature under this etetute. **for** ajudge to require e defcndent to enter

luy plea In exchange for exercising thc’optlon prescribed In **section 143A(c)(Z).**  The ltetutc cleerly mskcs **the** defendant’s **cxcrclee of**  ‘the section 143A(c)(Z) option en lltcrn~tlvc to furthcr court proceedings end clininetes the necessity of entering 3 plea es a prccocditlon. Further, the court can never force l ny plce co be entered **by** adefendant; if no plea Is entered, the court mustenter a **not.**gullty plee. Tcx. Code Crln. Proc. art. 27.16(a). In anever to your fourth question, UChevc earlier eoncluded.thet **the** texes Department of Public Safety, hcrclneftcr referred to ee.the DPS. hee authority tc? llccnec all driver trelnlng 

### l chwle, including those that provide **the** defensive driver’s course +thorixcd by section **143A.** kc Attorney Ccncrel .Oplnion W-16 (1979). Yhle question asks vhcthcr~ defendant exercising hie option. lue l burden of proving bcforeheud thet the dcfcneivc **drlver ’** **s- courie**  to **be** taken under ecctlon 143Ahes bccn~“epproved” by thc~DPS. The atetutc trenefcrs no .euch burden to **the** defendent. In **Attorney** General Opinion t¶U-18s (1980) WCInterpreted the follwing words in ecc~lon 143A(b): “...and the evidence preecnted 1s 

### l cceptcd by the court.” **WC stated**  **there: ‘** **~**

**.**

You **suggest ’**  that this provlelon **refer0** to common

- law rules of cvldcncc and meane that the judge muet edoit rhe evidence prcecnced **by** l dcfcndent unless there 1s en objection to it., llcmcver , lcctlon 143A(b) uece **the** t&cm‘ecceptid’ rethcr

._ then ‘admitted. **lforcovcr.** since ~wctloa **143A(e)**(2). 

### l

pclle out **the** kind of evidence which dcfcndent mustprcscnt. the judge need not rule on ~rclevency. He need only dstctmlnc vhethcr the cvidcnce conform to the rcqulrcnentc **of** section 143A(a) (2). Webelieve **the** language you Inquire lbout contempletce that the judge-will cveluetc the evidence presented by the defendent **that** hehas successfully completed en epproved defensive driving toursc end **accept** It if in fact it cornpIles vith **the** statutory rcquircmente.
Thus. following our prior rceeonlng. WCconclude that section 143~ does not place any effirmetive burden of proof on the defendant to present to the court proof of completion **of** the course in J specific fora. such se vrltten **proof from**  **the** DPSof its approval of the course taken. Defensive driving schools customarily provide a certlflutc of completion to persons uho -have succtssfully completed **the course.**  A judge. should evaluate **the evidence**  Of a completed course presented by defendants on a case-by-case basis. The statute dote not provide for a judge’s prior approval of **the course**  **to** be taken.In **ansvcr** to your fifth question , we similarly find no language in scccion **143A**which would permit a judge to speclflcelly reaulrc submission **of** e noterlrcd svorn ’statement attesting to the **fecc** chat the .defendent has not completed a driving safety couree within, **the** prior tvo-ycer period as a precondition to dismissal of chergee. Subedctlona~ (A), (B) and (C) of 

### section143A(s)(Z) recite the three **fnrms** of “written cvldcncc”~vhich the defendant must present to prove compliance **with** the **statute.** The judge **must** evaluate on a case-by-cast basis the evidence presented by the d+fendant **chat**he has complied vlch subsections **(A), (lb)**  and **(C) of**  **the statute.**  As co question six. the judge mey take a number of customary acciona if the defendant falls to complete **the** course within the go-day period and falls-.to **presetit** such proof to the court. These Include setting the meter for.trlal, **acceptance** and filing of failure **to** iippcer chergce. Issuing an .arreet uerrant. or other actions permitted by lav. as If ’ the defendant had never elected to take the defensive dtlvcr’r **course** under section 143A.

. . .. AR
.‘to quentlon seven. It ,would not be a ‘vloletiori **of** judicial ethics ’ for e judge to advise a defendant of his option to **take** the driving **nafcty course.**  The right .to take the course has been granted by the lcglrfocurc to defendants, In aledc.mcenor traffic ceses. end it Gould. **not** be uurthlcsl for a jud,gc **,to** advise a defendant **of** the spcclflc **stcpe ncccse~ty**  to comply with the statute.

. . ‘

.. .Uith regard to question eight

. tic find no 1IWIgUAge in SeCtiOn 143A .uhleh uourd permit a. judge to requite **that** a dcfendnnt bc physically present la his **court** pcteonelly to present the “written 

### l vldcncc” of comp)iencc vlth subecctlone **(A),** (B) and (C). Under **currcnC etetutcs**  and ptsctlcc. a defendant can dispoee **of** e misdemeanor traffic **citation** without **ever** personally 

### l ppeerlng in court. A-defendant can enter a ples’by mall ot’through his ettorney.

p. 1460Ms. Elizebech C. Jandt Mr. John T. f%-itford tic. Maurice S. Plpkin Page 7 (ml-426)

see. Ttxsfi Code of Criminal Proctdurc. articles 27.14 and 27.16: the Grt can set.an appemmce bond aa vcll as an appeal bond without the defendant’s presence, article 27.14(bj; and the defendant can file s notice of appeal for trisl de novo without personally appearing ln court. article **44.13 et.**  **seq. See**  **also** Attorney General Opir.lon **H-1203** (1978) (dlscu,sslng articles 33.03 and 33.64, Tex. Code Grim. Proc.. the latter of which petnice certain criels in misdemeanor cases in the absence of a defendant).
These stetuteq dawnstrace a policy by the legislature **to** permit the disposal of minor miadcmeenor traffic offense cases lo the absence of rhe defendant, vho Is permitted by these 8tscutes to appear personally or by counsel end co conduct some **or** all of the case 

### by mall,without the inconv nience of being forced **to** drive hundreds of miles across the state Io be present during varlou8 6tares of his proceedfng. Similarly. ve conclude that section 14% does not compel nor authorize a.judge co require the presence of the defendant to, “prove up” hie coipllance with the three requlremeat~ listed In section 14%(a) (2). “Written evidence” la sufficient under the statute when the defensive driving ~completloa certificate la presented by the defendant by mail. SUMMARY

1. A,judge must pet-air a defendant ~to take the defensive drlver’s~ course in every ease’vhere e motion **to take**  the course Is properly -de end where the defendant 1s 

### l ~lglble for the courae.
**2.** The defendant msy exercise his right **to** elect to trke the defensive dtlver’a course at any time prior to commencement of hla trial on the ehergea brought. If he bee not done eo. the right to take the driving course l e an alternative **to** court proceedings Is no longer available **to** him. 3. A, judge mey not require a defendant **to** enter any plea as

’s precondition to ~pernlttlng the defendant to elect to take the defensive driver’s course under l

ectlon 143A(s) (2).
**4.** A,‘ judge MY **not** require e defendent who c~ects to take the defensive driver’s course to prow CO the court beforchend thee the **course** he tntendu **to** take bee been approved by the Deprrtmcnc **of** Public Safety.

p. 1461?ra. Elirrbcth C. ,Jnndr Mr. John f. Honcfard Hr. tl;lurlce S. l’lpkin Page 8 (W-WI)

5. Ajudge has no specific. authority under se6tlon l43A to require submission of a notarized svom statement by the defendant atteocfng that he has not completed onothcr defensive driver’s coume vlthln the prior tvo-year period.

**6.** Where a defendant fsils to complete the defensive driver’s course und fails to comply vith the provisions 

### of #action 

### 143Aafter being granted permission 

### of court, the court mny proceed vlth prosecution of the chsrges 6s If the defendant hsd **never** elected to or been permitted to take the course. 7. **A** judge uy advise a defendant of **the** speclf ic Actions necessary to fulfill **the** requlrcments of l **ectioa 143A(a)(2).** 
**8.** Section **i13A** doea 

### sot permit 4 judge t’o f require **that** a defendant ‘personally appear in court to present “vrltten evldeuce” **of** completion of the defensive driver’s coume.

JOHN-U.FAINTER.JR. 

### First Aarl8cant 

### AttorneyCentral

. RICHARD

i. GRAYIII Executive Aoristant Attorney Ceneml Prepared by Richard W.Mayer Asalotlnt **Attorney** Central APPROVED: OPINIONCOtMI~RR
Surnn I.. Garrison, Chairman Rick Cllpln Nlchord W.Heyer

**p. 1462**