Suspensions of operator's licenses for certain nontraffic offenses

This bill eliminates a circuit court's authority to suspend a person's operating privilege upon conviction of an offense that is not related to the operation of a motor vehicle and for failure to pay a court surcharge. This bill also eliminates DOT's authority to suspend a person's operating privilege for failure to make certain child or family support payments.

Under current law, if a person intentionally absconds without paying for gas, the court may suspend the person's operating privilege for a second offense and must suspend the person's operating privilege for a third or subsequent offense. In addition, current law allows a court to suspend a person's operating privilege if the person is convicted of a violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. Under this bill, the suspension of the person's operating privilege applies only if the pertinent offenses involved or occurred in a vehicle.

Under current law, with exceptions, a person under the age of 21 may not procure or attempt to procure alcohol beverages; possess or consume alcohol beverages; be on alcohol beverage licensed premises; or use or maintain false identification that shows the person as being of legal drinking age (underage violation). A person who commits an underage violation is subject to various penalties, including suspension of the person's operating privilege. This bill eliminates the suspension of a person's operating privilege as a penalty for an underage violation.

Under current law, if a court assigned jurisdiction under the Juvenile Justice Code (juvenile court) adjudges a juvenile delinquent, the juvenile court must issue an order imposing one or more dispositions. This bill eliminates suspension of a juvenile's operating privilege as a penalty for the following actions:

1. Violating a condition of a dispositional order.

2. Violating the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, unless the violation involved a motor vehicle.

3. Possession, manufacture, or delivery of drug paraphernalia, unless the violation involved a motor vehicle.

Additionally, the bill limits a suspension of a juvenile's operating privileges for failure to pay a forfeiture or a delinquency victim and witness assistance surcharge to a period of one year.

Finally, the bill eliminates the ability of a county, city, village, or town to authorize, by ordinance, a court to suspend the operating privilege of a juvenile who is a dropout between the ages of 16 and 18 or who is a habitual truant.