They would investigate homicides or unsolved felonies that arise out of the same criminal episode as other unsolved felonies. The purpose is to investigate those crimes requiring a level of expertise not available at the local level. The bill is to address the expense of dealing with large volumes of paperwork in such cases. The fee may only be removed on written consent of one or more municipality in the county that have the population to request the fee. The bill would prohibit the possession of an alcoholic beverage whether in an unopened or opened container anywhere in the passenger area of a vehicle while driving or parked anywhere on a public road or the area immediately adjacent to the boundary lines of any public road.
Public road includes streets, highways, interstates, or other publicly maintained way.
Passengers in a bus, taxicab, or limousine, living quarters of a motorized house trailer, motor home, or RV are an exception. The offense is a Class C misdemeanor. Individuals convicted of a second DWI within five years of their first conviction for DWI will be required to install a breath analysis mechanism on all personal vehicles. If the individual cannot afford the device, the court may impose a reasonable payment schedule, not to exceed beyond the first year. The bill provides prerequisites for the removal of the devise.