Opinion ID: 1172214
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: DISCUSSION The HVS

Text: Key HVS are K.S.A. 8-285 and K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 8-286. K.S.A. 8-285 provides in part: The term `habitual violator' means any resident or nonresident person who, within the immediately preceding five years, has been convicted in this or any other state: (a) Three or more times of: .... (8) violating the provisions of K.S.A. 40-3104 and amendments thereto, relating to motor vehicle liability insurance coverage or an ordinance of any city in this state, which is in substantial conformity with such statute. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 8-286 provides: Whenever the files and records of the division shall disclose that the record of convictions of any person is such that the person is an habitual violator, as prescribed by K.S.A. 8-285 and amendments thereto, the division promptly shall revoke the person's driving privileges for a period of three years. Before amendment in 1994, K.S.A. 8-286 required the Division to forward a certified abstract of a person's record of convictions reflecting habitual violator status to the district or county attorney, who would then prosecute in the district court. At the hearing, the district court would determine identity and the accuracy of the abstract of the record of convictions. If the information was accurate, the defendant was found to be guilty as a habitual violator and directed not to operate a motor vehicle on the public highways. Under K.S.A. 8-287 and K.S.A. 8-288, a habitual violator was guilty of a class E felony and was not to be issued a driver's license for 3 years from the date of the district court order. See State v. Proffitt, 261 Kan. 526, 529-32, 930 P.2d 1059 (1997), for a discussion of the HVS, the 1994 amendment, L. 1994, ch. 353, § 5, and the amendment's legislative history. The 1994 amendment eliminated the district court proceeding. Instead, the Division automatically revokes a driver's license when its records reveal habitual violator status. The State and amicus curiae contend that the 1994 amendment broadened the scope of the post-suspension/revocation administrative review procedures provided under K.S.A. 8-255(c) to include habitual violator revocations. We agree. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 8-255(c) provides: When the action by the division suspending, revoking or disqualifying a person's driving privileges is based upon a report of a conviction or convictions from a convicting court, the person may not request a hearing but, within 30 days after notice of suspension, revocation or disqualification is mailed, may submit a written request for administrative review and provide evidence to the division to show the person whose driving privileges have been suspended, revoked or disqualified by the division was not convicted of the offense upon which the suspension, revocation or disqualification is based. Within 30 days of its receipt of the request for administrative review, the division shall notify the person whether the suspension, revocation or disqualification has been affirmed or set aside. The request for administrative review shall not stay any action taken by the division. (Emphasis added.) Heironimus responds that the State did not raise the K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 8-255(c) statutory argument in the district court, and, therefore, the general rule against new theories on appeal blocks our review. The record does not support this contention. The district court considered and rejected the State's argument.