SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5211

               As Passed Senate, March 12, 1999

Title:  An act relating to the jurisdiction of limited jurisdiction courts.

Brief Description:  Clarifying the jurisdiction over drunk drivers.

Sponsors:  Senators Costa, Roach, Fairley, Goings, West and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Judiciary:  2/26/99, 3/1/99 [DP].

Passed Senate, 3/12/99, 44-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Heavey, Chair; Kline, Vice Chair; Costa, Goings, Hargrove, Haugen, Johnson, Long, McCaslin, Thibaudeau and Zarelli.

Staff:  Lidia Mori (786-7755)

Background:  The district and municipal courts generally have jurisdiction over criminal defendants for two years.  In 1998, in conjunction with many changes in DUI penalties, these courts were given five years of jurisdiction over drunk driving cases.

Although the specific DUI laws were amended to grant this five-year period of jurisdiction, the general laws on jurisdiction of district and municipal courts still provide for a two-year period of jurisdiction.

Very long periods of mandatory use of ignition interlocks were part of the 1998 changes to DUI laws.  For a third-time offender, the minimum period of required use is ten years.

Summary of Bill:  The statutes that deal generally with district and municipal court jurisdiction over criminal defendants are amended in two ways:

$The statutes are made to explicitly reflect the five-year jurisdiction granted in the DUI law changes;

$The enforcement of ignition interlock orders is exempt from the jurisdictional time restrictions.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 22, 1999.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Last session the Legislature amended the statutes specifically pertaining to driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).  However, the general district and municipal court statutes were not amended to reflect the extended jurisdiction over DUI offenders.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Judge Mike Padden, District and Municipal Court Judges Assn. (pro).