Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT167.HTM
Timestamp: 2017-10-17 04:09:23
Document Index: 647944087

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 513', '§ 513', '§ 674', '§ 5240', '§ 2307', '§ 502', '§ 583', '§ 5932', '§ 5941', '§ 1108', '§ 1108', '§ 5540', '§ 5540', '§ 5540', '§ 5540', '§ 22', '§ 339', '§ 339', '§ 331', '§ 332', '§ 333', '§ 336', '§ 337', '§ 338', '§ 1095', '§ 3771', '§ 3771']

NO. 167. AN ACT RELATING TO OPERATING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE AND FAILING TO PAY PENALTIES FOR TRAFFIC OFFENSES, JURISDICTION OF ASSISTANT JUDGES, COMMUNICATIONS MADE TO PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, AND DISTURBING A FUNERAL SERVICE.
Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 513 is amended to read:
§ 513. MISUSE OF PLATES
Except as provided in section 321 of this title, an owner of a motor vehicle shall not attach or cause to be attached thereto to the vehicle number plates that were not assigned by the commissioner of motor vehicles to such owner to be attached to such motor vehicle. A person shall not operate a motor vehicle, except as provided in section 321 of this title, to which number plates are attached that were not assigned to such the vehicle by the commissioner of motor vehicles. An inspector of motor vehicles and any enforcement officer shall have authority to remove from a motor vehicle any plates which have been attached in violation of the provisions of this section.
Sec. 2. 23 V.S.A. § 674 is amended to read:
LICENSE; PENALTY; REMOVAL OF REGISTRATION PLATES;
(a)(1) Except as provided in section 676 of this title, a person whose license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle has been suspended or revoked for a violation of this section or subsections 1091(b), 1094(b), or 1128(b) or (c) of this title and who operates or attempts to operate a motor vehicle upon a public highway before the suspension period imposed for the violation has expired shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(2) A person who violates section 676 of this title for the sixth or subsequent time shall, if the five prior offenses occurred after July 1, 2003, be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both.
(c) An enforcement officer shall have the authority to remove any number plates from a motor vehicle which is being operated by a person in violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section. The commissioner shall be notified in writing and may, in his or her sole discretion, cause the plates to be returned to the registered owner or lessee for good cause shown.
(c)(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, when a conviction for a violation of this section and a conviction for a violation of section 1201 of this title result from the same incident, any penalty or suspension or revocation of a person’s license or privilege to operate shall be imposed to be consecutive and not concurrent.
(d)(e) In determining appropriate fines under this section, the court may take into account the income of the defendant.
(e)(f) For purposes of this section and section 676 of this title, the suspension period for a violation of section 1201 or 1205 of this title shall not be deemed to expire until the person has complied with section 1209a of this title and the person’s license has been reinstated.
(f)(g) In establishing a prima facie case against a person accused of violating this section, the court shall accept as evidence a printout attested to by the law enforcement officer as the person’s motor vehicle record showing convictions and resulting license suspensions. The admitted motor vehicle record shall establish a permissive inference that the person was under suspension on the dates and time periods set forth in the record. No certified copy shall be required from the department of motor vehicles to establish the permissive inference.
(g)(h) At the time of sentencing after a second or subsequent conviction under subsection (b) of this section, the court may, in addition to any penalty imposed by law, order that the motor vehicle operated by the person at the time of the offense be immobilized. At the time of sentencing after a third or subsequent conviction under subsection (b) of this section, the court may, in addition to any penalty imposed by law, order that the motor vehicle operated by the person at the time of the offense be forfeited and sold. Immobilization and forfeiture procedures under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures in section 1213c of this title.
(h)(i) A person convicted of violating this section shall be assessed a surcharge of $50.00, which shall be added to any fine or surcharge imposed by the court. The court shall collect and transfer the surcharge assessed under this subsection to be credited to the DUI enforcement fund. The collection procedures described in 13 V.S.A. § 5240 shall be utilized in the collection of this surcharge.
§ 2307. SUSPENSION REMEDIES FOR FAILURE TO PAY
(b) Notice of risk of suspension. In the case of failure to pay a penalty, the judicial bureau shall mail a notice to the defendant at the address in the complaint notifying the defendant A judgment for a traffic violation shall contain a notice that failure to pay or otherwise satisfy the penalty amount due within 20 days of the notice will result in suspension of the person’s operator’s license or privilege to operate until the penalty amount due is paid or otherwise satisfied. A copy of the notice shall be sent If the defendant fails to pay the amount due within 20 days of the notice, the judicial bureau shall provide electronic notice thereof to the commissioner of motor vehicles who, after 20 days from the date of receiving the electronic notice, shall suspend the person’s operator’s license or privilege to operate until the penalty amount due is paid or otherwise satisfied.
(c) Civil contempt proceedings. If an amount due remains unpaid for 45 days after the judicial bureau provides the defendant with a notice of risk of suspension pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the judicial bureau may initiate civil contempt proceedings pursuant to this subsection.
(A) The hearing officer may waive the reinstatement fee required by section 675 of this title or reduce the amount due on the basis of:
(i) the defendant’s driving history, ability to pay, or service to the community;
(ii) the collateral consequences of the violation; or
(iii) the interests of justice.
(B) The hearing officer may specify a date by which the defendant shall pay the amount due and may notify the commissioner of motor vehicles to reinstate the defendant’s operator’s license or privilege subject to payment of the amount due by the specified date. If the defendant fails to pay the amount due by the specified date, the judicial bureau may notify the commissioner to suspend the defendant’s operator’s license or privilege. A license may be reinstated under this subdivision only if the defendant’s license is suspended solely for failure to pay a judicial bureau judgment.
(C) The judicial officer shall have sole discretion to determine mitigation remedies pursuant to this subdivision, and the judicial officer’s determination shall not be subject to review or appeal in any court, tribunal, or administrative office.
(f) Notwithstanding 32 V.S.A. § 502, the court administrator is authorized to contract with a third party to collect fines, penalties, and fees by credit card, debit card, charge card, prepaid card, stored value card and direct bank account withdrawals or transfers, as authorized by 32 V.S.A. § 583, and to add on and collect a processing charge in an amount approved by the court administrator.
Sec. 4. 32 V.S.A. § 5932(8) and (9) are added to read:
(8) “Court” means a superior court, a district court, or the judicial bureau.
(9) “Judgment debtor” means any person who has not paid in full a court judgment for payment of a fine, penalty, surcharge, or fee due and payable to the state or a political subdivision thereof.
Sec. 5. 32 V.S.A. § 5941 is added to read:
(a) The court shall include in any judgment a notice that any unpaid amounts shall be certified to the department for a setoff on the judgment debtor’s income tax refund, and the notice shall explain how the judgment debtor may challenge the certification.
(b) Sections 5934(c) and 5936 of this title, relating to the procedure for contesting the debt, shall not apply to a court seeking information from a judgment debtor.
Sec. 6. 4 V.S.A. § 1108 is amended to read:
§ 1108. CIVIL ORDINANCE AND TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS;
(a) Subject to the limits of this section and notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, an assistant judge of Essex County sitting alone shall have the same jurisdiction, powers and duties to hear and decide civil ordinance and traffic violations as a hearing officer has under the provisions of this chapter.
(b) Jurisdiction and venue of civil ordinance and traffic violations heard by an assistant judge shall be in the superior court in the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred.
(c)(1) An assistant judge who elects to hear and decide civil ordinance and traffic violations shall:
(A) have served in that office for a minimum of two years;
(B) have successfully completed at least 40 hours of training which shall be provided by the bureau; and
(C) complete eight hours of continuing education every year relating to jurisdiction exercised under this section.
(2) Training shall be paid for by the county, which expenditure is hereby authorized. Law clerk assistance shall be available to the assistant judges.
(d) An assistant judge who elects to hear and decide civil ordinance and traffic violations or who elects to cease hearing these matters, shall cause the court clerk to notify the bureau and each municipality in the assistant judge’s county of the judge’s decision. Upon receipt of notification that an assistant judge elects to hear these matters, exclusive jurisdiction vests with the superior court and every complaint alleging a civil ordinance and traffic violation in that judge’s county which is denied, or which requires a hearing, shall be set for hearing before the superior court in the assistant judge’s county.
(e) If both assistant judges elect to hear civil ordinance and traffic violations, the senior assistant judge shall make the assignment of cases to be heard by each assistant judge.
(f) If both assistant judges do not elect to hear civil ordinance and traffic violations or elect to cease to hear these matters, civil ordinance and traffic violations in the county shall be heard in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(g) An assistant judge may decline to hear a particular civil ordinance or traffic violation, in which case the violation shall be heard by a hearing officer of the bureau.
(h) An appeal from a decision of an assistant judge shall be in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(i) Civil ordinance and traffic violations that are heard by an assistant judge in Essex County shall be heard in Essex County and shall not be heard at or transferred to any other location.
(c) The administrative judge may assign or direct assignment of an assistant judge with his or her consent to hear a civil ordinance or traffic violation case within the county in which the assistant judge presides or in a county other than the county in which the assistant judge presides if the assistant judge has elected to hear and decide civil ordinance and traffic violations under this section.
Sec. 7. 12 V.S.A. § 5540 is amended to read:
§ 5540. JURISDICTION OVER SMALL CLAIMS; ASSISTANT JUDGES;
ESSEX, CALEDONIA AND, RUTLAND, AND BENNINGTON
(a) Subject to the limitations in this section and notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, assistant judges of Essex, Caledonia and, Rutland, and Bennington counties sitting alone, may elect to hear and decide small claims actions filed under this chapter with the Essex, Caledonia and, Rutland, and Bennington superior courts.
(b) With the exception of the assistant judges that were authorized to preside in small claims matters prior to the effective date of this act or July 1, 1998, whichever is later, an assistant judge hearing cases under this section shall have completed at least 60 hours of relevant training and observed 20 hours of small claims hearings in accordance with the protocol for said training and observation which shall be established by a majority of the assistant judges of the state, which may include attendance at colleges or classes available in various locations in and outside the state to lay judges. Training shall be paid for on a per capita basis of those judges electing to take the training by the county, which expenditure is hereby authorized. Law clerk assistance available to superior court judges shall be available to the assistant judges.
(d) An assistant judge who elects to hear and decide small claims cases or who elects to cease hearing these matters shall cause the superior court clerk to notify the court administrator and the Essex, Caledonia and, Rutland, and Bennington superior court clerks of the judge's decision. Upon receipt of notification that an assistant judge elects to hear these matters and every small claims case which requires a hearing shall be set for hearing before an assistant judge in the superior court in the county. If the assistant judge is unavailable due to illness, disability or disqualification, the administrative judge pursuant to section 22 of Title 4 may assign a judge, or appoint and assign a member of the Vermont bar to serve temporarily as an acting judge, to hear small claims cases in the county where the cause of action was filed. No action filed or pending shall be heard at or transferred to any other location unless agreed to by the parties. If both assistant judges of the county elect to hear these matters, the senior assistant judge shall make the assignment of cases to be heard by each assistant judge. The assistant judges, once qualified to preside in these matters, shall work with the court administrator's office and the administrative judge such that the scheduling of small claims cases before the assistant judges are at such times as to permit adequate current court personnel to be available when these cases are to be heard.
Sec. 8. 12 V.S.A. § 5540a is amended to read:
§ 5540a. JURISDICTION OVER SMALL CLAIMS; ASSISTANT JUDGES;
ADDISON, BENNINGTON, CHITTENDEN, FRANKLIN,
GRAND ISLE, LAMOILLE, ORANGE, ORLEANS,
WASHINGTON, WINDHAM, AND WINDSOR COUNTIES
(a) Subject to the limitations in this section and notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, assistant judges of Addison, Bennington, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Washington, Windham, and Windsor counties sitting alone, shall hear and decide small claims actions filed under this chapter with the appropriate superior court if the assistant judges first elect to successfully complete the training required in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) With the exception of assistant judges authorized to preside in small claims matters prior to the effective date of this act who have successfully completed the testing requirements established herein, an assistant judge hearing cases under this section shall have completed at least 100 hours of relevant training and testing, and observed 20 hours of small claims hearings in accordance with the protocol for said training and observation which shall be established by a majority of the assistant judges of the state, which shall include attendance at colleges or classes available in various locations in and outside the state to lay judges. An assistant judge who hears cases under this section shall complete 16 hours of continuing education every year relating to jurisdiction exercised under this section. Training shall be paid for on a per capita basis of those judges electing to take the training by the county, which expenditure is hereby authorized. Law clerk assistance available to superior court judges shall be available to the assistant judges.
(d) An assistant judge upon successful completion of the training under subsection (b) of this section, shall cause the superior court clerk to notify the court administrator of the assistant judge’s successful completion of training. Upon receipt of such notification, small claims cases which require a hearing shall first be set for hearing before an assistant judge in the superior court in the county and shall be heard by the assistant judge. If the assistant judge is unavailable due to illness, vacation, administrative leave, disability, or disqualification, the administrative judge pursuant to section 22 of Title 4 may assign a judge, or appoint and assign a member of the Vermont bar to serve temporarily as an acting judge, to hear small claims cases in Addison, Bennington, Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Washington, Windham, and Windsor counties. No action filed or pending shall be heard at or transferred to any other location unless agreed to by the parties. If both assistant judges of the county elect to successfully complete training to hear these matters, the senior assistant judge shall make the assignment of cases to be heard by each assistant judge. The assistant judges, once qualified to preside in these matters, shall work with the court administrator’s office and the administrative judge such that the scheduling of small claims cases before the assistant judges are at such times as to permit adequate current court personnel to be available when these cases are heard.
(e) This section shall be repealed effective on July 1, 2008.
4 V.S.A. § 22(d) is repealed.
Sec. 10. 1 V.S.A. § 339 is amended to read:
§ 339. COMMUNICATIONS MADE TO INTERPRETERS; PROHIBITION
(1) a communication made by a person to an interpreter acting in his or her capacity as an interpreter for a deaf or hard of hearing impaired person or a person with limited English proficiency; or
(2) any information obtained by the interpreter as a result of serving while acting in his or her capacity as an interpreter for a deaf or hard of hearing impaired person or a person with limited English proficiency.
(b) There is no prohibition on disclosure under this section if the services of the interpreter were sought or obtained to enable or aid anyone to commit or plan to commit what the deaf or hard of hearing impaired person or the person with limited English proficiency knew or reasonably should have known to be a crime or fraud.
(2) This section shall not be construed to alter or affect the mandatory reporting requirements of section 4913 of Title 33.
(d) As used in this section, “person with limited English proficiency” means a person who does not speak English as his or her primary language and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English.
Sec. 11. 1 V.S.A. § 331 is amended to read:
(1) “Hearing impaired Deaf or hard of hearing person” means any person who has such difficulty hearing, even with amplification, that he or she cannot rely on hearing for communication.
(2) “Proceeding” means any judicial proceeding, contested case under chapter 25 of Title 3, or other hearing before an administrative agency not included under chapter 25 of Title 3.
(3) “Qualified interpreter” means an interpreter for a deaf or hard of hearing impaired person who meets standards of competency established by the national or Vermont Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf as amended, by rule, by the Vermont commission of the deaf and hearing impaired.
Sec. 12. 1 V.S.A. § 332 is amended to read:
(a) Any deaf or hard of hearing impaired person who is a party or witness in any proceeding shall be entitled to be provided with a qualified interpreter for the duration of the person’s participation in the proceeding.
(b) Any deaf or hard of hearing impaired person shall be entitled to be provided with a qualified interpreter upon five working days’ notice that the person has reasonable need to do any of the following:
(c) If a deaf or hard of hearing impaired person is unable to use or understand sign language, the presiding officer or state board or agency or state legislative official shall, upon five working days’ notice, make available appropriate assistive listening equipment for use during the proceeding or activity.
Sec. 13. 1 V.S.A. § 333 is amended to read:
(a) The presiding officer in a proceeding shall appoint an interpreter after making a preliminary determination that the interpreter is able to readily communicate with the deaf or hard of hearing impaired person, to accurately interpret statements or communications from the deaf or hard of hearing impaired person, and to interpret the proceedings to the deaf or hard of hearing impaired person.
Sec. 14. 1 V.S.A. § 336(a) is amended to read:
(1) is able to readily communicate with the deaf or hard of hearing impaired person;
(2) is able to accurately interpret statements or communications by the deaf or hard of hearing impaired person;
(3) is able to interpret the proceedings to the deaf or hard of hearing impaired person;
(6) shall not exert any influence over the deaf or hard of hearing impaired person; and
Sec. 15. 1 V.S.A. § 337 is amended to read:
(a) A decision, order, or judgment of a court or administrative agency may be reversed on appeal if the court or agency finds that a deaf or hard of hearing impaired person who was a party or a witness in the proceeding was deprived of an opportunity to communicate effectively, and that the deprivation was prejudicial.
Sec. 16. 1 V.S.A. § 338 is amended to read:
(a) An admission or confession by a deaf or hard of hearing impaired person made to a law enforcement officer or any other person having a prosecutorial function may only be used against the person in a criminal proceeding if:
(1) The admission or confession was made knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently and is not subject to alternative interpretations resulting from the person’s habits and patterns of communication.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section supplement the constitutional rights of the deaf or hard of hearing impaired person.
Sec. 17. 23 V.S.A. § 1095(a) is amended to read:
(a) Except as otherwise provided, no person may operate upon a highway in this state a motor vehicle having installed or carried in the front or driving compartment or in a manner visible to the operator, a television device capable of transmitting an entertainment picture, or a receiver, screen, or other means of visually receiving a television broadcast an entertainment picture.
Sec. 18. FINDINGS
(1) Families and friends have a substantial interest in organizing and attending funerals for deceased relatives.
(2) The interest of families in being able to mourn privately and peacefully the loss of deceased relatives is violated when a funeral becomes the target of picketing and other public demonstrations.
(3) Picketing related to a funeral causes emotional distress to the grieving families during a difficult and private time.
(4) Full opportunity exists under the terms and provisions of this act to exercise freedom of speech and other constitutional rights other than during funerals and within one hour before a funeral.
Sec. 19. 13 V.S.A. § 3771 is added to read:
§ 3771. DISTURBING A FUNERAL SERVICE
(1) “Funeral service” means the ceremonies, rituals, and memorial services held at a church, mortuary, cemetery, or home in connection with the burial or cremation of a dead person.
(2) “Picketing” means a protest, demonstration or other similar activity directed at a funeral service.
(b) No person shall disturb or attempt to disturb a funeral service by engaging in picketing within 100 feet of the service within one hour prior to and two hours following the publicly announced time of the commencement of the service.
(c) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than 30 days or fined not more than $500.00, or both.
Sec. 20. ESTABLISHMENT OF POSITION
One permanent position – collections manager – is established within the Judiciary.
(a) Secs. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 of this act shall take effect on passage.
(b) Secs. 3, 4, and 5 of this act shall take effect on September 1, 2006.
Approved: May 20, 2006