Source: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?141+ful+HB771
Timestamp: 2017-09-24 03:10:26
Document Index: 783869207

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 46', '§ 4', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 38', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46', '§ 46']

14102085D
HOUSE BILL NO. 771 Offered January 8, 2014 Prefiled January 7, 2014 A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 16.1-69.48:1, 17.1-275, 38.2-2217, 46.2-322, and 46.2-330 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 17 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-943.1, relating to mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course and license renewal. ---------- Patron-- Hugo ---------- Referred to Committee on Transportation ----------
1. That §§ 16.1-69.48:1, 17.1-275, 38.2-2217, 46.2-322, and 46.2-330 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 17 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-943.1 as follows:
A. Assessment of the fees provided for in this section shall be based on: (i) an appearance for court hearing in which there has been a finding of guilty; (ii) a written appearance with waiver of court hearing and entry of guilty plea; (iii) for a defendant failing to appear, a trial in his or her absence resulting in a finding of guilty; (iv) an appearance for court hearing in which the court requires that the defendant successfully complete traffic school, a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course as provided in § 46.2-943.1, or a driver improvement clinic, in lieu of a finding of guilty; (v) a deferral of proceedings pursuant to §§ 4.1-305, 16.1-278.8, 16.1-278.9, 18.2-57.3, 18.2-251 or 19.2-303.2; or (vi) proof of compliance with law under §§ 46.2-104 and 46.2-1158.02.
12. Upon the defendant's being required to successfully complete traffic school, a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course as provided in § 46.2-943.1, or a driver improvement clinic in lieu of a finding of guilty, the court shall charge the defendant fees and costs as if he had been convicted.
§ 38.2-2217. Reduction in rates for certain persons who attend motor vehicle crash prevention courses and driver improvement clinics.
A. Any schedule of rates, rate classifications or rating plans for motor vehicle insurance as defined in § 38.2-2212 filed with the Commission shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges for those insured persons who are fifty-five years of age and older and who qualify as provided in this subsection. Only those insured persons who have voluntarily and successfully completed a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles shall qualify for a three-year period after the completion of the course for the reduction in rates. No reduction in premiums shall be allowed for a self-instructed course or for any course that does not provide actual classroom instruction for a minimum number of hours as determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, a course sponsor that has been approved by the Department for the classroom delivery of a crash prevention course may also be approved to deliver that same substantive course through a secure computer-based medium provided via the Internet or other electronic means that have been approved by the Department, provided that the sponsor has acceptable security features designed to assure that the certificates issued pursuant to subsection E are issued to the same person who took the course and passed the examination related to the course. No person assigned by the court to attend a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course shall be eligible for such reduction in premium charges.
E. Upon successfully completing the approved course, the course's sponsor shall issue to each participant a certificate approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles which shall be evidence of satisfactory completion of either a motor vehicle crash prevention course or a driver improvement clinic for the reduction in premium charges. Participants shall be required to provide satisfactory evidence to the insurance provider that the course or clinic was completed in accordance with this section.
F. Each participant in a motor vehicle crash prevention course shall take an approved course every three years in order to continue to be eligible for the reduction in premium charges. Each voluntary participant in a driver improvement clinic shall take an approved course every two years in order to continue to be eligible for the reduction in premium charges, if any.
A. If the Department has good cause to believe that a driver is incapacitated and therefore unable to drive a motor vehicle safely, after written notice of at least 15 days to the person, it may require him to submit to an examination to determine his fitness to drive a motor vehicle. If the driver so requests in writing, the Department shall give the Department's reasons for the examination, including the identity of all persons who have supplied information to the Department regarding the driver's fitness to drive a motor vehicle. However, the Department shall not supply the reasons or provide the source of any information if its source is a relative of the driver or a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, or other licensed medical professional as defined in § 38.2-602 treating, or prescribing medications for, the driver supplied to the Department from a person supplying such information in good faith regarding a driver's fitness to drive. In all cases, good faith shall be presumed unless the intent of the complainant, from the face of the document, clearly indicates otherwise. All persons supplying information to the Department shall provide identifying information to the Department including their name, address, and relationship to the driver being referred to the Department for examination.
D. Persons who have supplied information to the Department in good faith regarding a driver's fitness to drive shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability in connection with providing such information, unless it is proven that such person did not act in good faith or acted with malicious intent.
C. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Commissioner, in his discretion, may require any applicant for renewal to be fully examined as provided in §§ 46.2-311, 46.2-325, and the Virginia Commercial Driver's License Act (§ 46.2-341.1 et seq.). Furthermore, if the applicant is less than 80 years old, the Commissioner may waive the vision examination for any applicant for renewal of a driver's license which is not a commercial driver's license, and the requirement or the taking of the written test as provided in subsection B of this section, § 46.2-325 and the Virginia Commercial Driver's License Act (§ 46.2-341.1 et seq.), for any applicant for renewal who is at least 21 years old. Such written test shall not be waived for an applicant less than 21 years old if such applicant's driver's license record on file with the Department contains a record of one or more convictions for any offense reportable under §§ 46.2-382, 46.2-382.1, and 46.2-383. However, in no case shall there be any waiver of the vision examination for applicants for renewal of a commercial driver's license or of the knowledge test required by the Virginia Commercial Driver's License Act for the hazardous materials endorsement on a commercial driver's license. No driver's license or learner's permit issued to any person who is 80 75 years old or older shall be renewed unless the applicant for renewal appears in person and either (i) passes a vision examination or (ii) presents a report of a vision examination, made within 90 days prior thereto by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, indicating that the applicant's vision meets or exceeds the standards contained in § 46.2-311.
§ 46.2-943.1. Court may direct defendant to attend mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course.
A. Any circuit or general district court of the Commonwealth may require any person, in lieu of finding such person guilty of a violation of state law or local ordinance, to attend a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course. The attendance requirement may be in lieu of or in addition to the penalties prescribed by § 46.2-113 or the local ordinance.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, no court shall, as a result of requiring a person to attend a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course, reduce, dismiss, or defer the conviction of a person charged with any offense committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle as defined in the Virginia Commercial Driver's License Act (§ 46.2-341.1 et seq.) or any holder of a commercial driver's license charged with any offense committed while operating a noncommercial motor vehicle.
C. Mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course providers shall notify the Department through electronic means prescribed by the Department when a defendant assigned to such course has successfully completed the course.