Bill Text: CA SB1203 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Vehicles: driving under the influence: reward for

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-24 - Held in committee and under submission. [SB1203 Detail]

Download: California-2011-SB1203-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 1203	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 18, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 9, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Calderon

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2012

   An act to add Section 23151 to the Vehicle Code, relating to
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1203, as amended, Calderon. Vehicles: driving under the
influence: reward for reporting.
   Existing law prohibits any person who is under the influence of
any alcoholic beverage or drug, or under the combined influence of
any alcoholic beverage and drug, from driving a vehicle, or any
person who has 0.08% or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her
blood from driving a vehicle.
   This bill would establish a reward of $100 for a person who
reports a drunk driver upon conviction of the driver. The bill would
require the court to order the offender to pay the reward 
and   . The bill  would require that the identity
of  that   the  person  who reports a
drunk driver  not be disclosed to the driver or any other person
unless required by law and then only upon a determination by the
court that the disclosure is constitutionally required  , except
the bill would require the law enforcem   e   nt
agency that receives the report to provide the reward recipient's
identifying information to the agency responsible for dispersing the
reward  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) One person is killed every half hour due to drunk driving.
   (b) Each year approximately 16,000 persons are killed in
alcohol-related crashes.
   (c) Alcohol is a factor in almost one-half of all traffic
fatalities.
   (d) Every other minute a person is seriously injured in an
alcohol-related crash.
   (e) The reporting of drunk drivers is of the highest importance in
reducing the number of deaths and injuries that result from
alcohol-related crashes.
   (f) Every person should be encouraged to report drunk drivers to
law enforcement agencies as a community response to the dangers of
drinking and driving.
   (g) In order to encourage people to report drunk drivers and
thereby reduce the harm caused by drunk drivers on the road, the
Legislature finds that it is necessary to reward a person who reports
a drunk driver who is as a result subsequently convicted of a drunk
driving offense.
   (h) The Legislature also finds that it is necessary to protect, to
the greatest extent possible, the identity of the 911 caller who
receives a reward from any possible retaliation or threats of harm
for having reported a drunk driver to a law enforcement agency.
  SEC. 2.  Section 23151 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
   23151.  (a) The person who reports a driver who is later convicted
of a violation of Section 23152 or 23153 shall, upon conviction of
the offender, receive a reward of one hundred dollars ($100). The
court shall order that the driver pay the reward in addition to any
other penalty imposed by law for a violation of Section 23152 or
23153.
   (b) The identity of the person who reported a driver pursuant to
subdivision (a) shall not be disclosed to the driver or any other
person unless required by law and then only upon a determination by
the court that the disclosure is constitutionally required. 
   (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), the Department of the
California Highway Patrol or any other law enforcement agency that
receives a report of a drunk driver pursuant to subdivision (a) shall
provide the reward recipient's identifying information to the local
or state agency responsible for dispersing the reward.