Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Law Enforcement Officer
HB 113:
This bill changes the law so that law enforcement vehicles no longer have to display agency insignia when pursuing someone who is fleeing or trying to escape from them in certain instances. It also increases the severity ranking for certain offenses related to fleeing from the police in the Criminal Punishment Code.
Offenses Involving Motor Vehicles
HB 253:
The law now makes it a more serious crime to drive with certain types of lights on your vehicle in certain situations. It also increases the punishment for altering or covering up license plates. Increases the penalty for knowingly altering a motor vehicle registration certificate, a license plate, a temporary license plate, a mobile home sticker, or a validation sticker or obscuring a license plate from a noncriminal traffic infraction to a second degree misdemeanor. Additionally, it is now a crime to buy, sell, or use devices that hide license plates.
Tampering with an Electronic Monitoring Device
HB 437:
The bill revises the offense of tampering with an electronic monitoring device. It establishes a specified penalty for individuals under 18 who commit the offense, requires automatic revocation of pretrial release for a person who tampers with such a device while on release, and allows the court to issue a new bond under specified conditions.
Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving only Damage to Vehicle or Property
HB 479:
This bill authorizes a court to order restitution when a driver is convicted of leaving the scene of a crash that resulted in damage to another person’s vehicle or property. A violation of this provision constitutes a second degree misdemeanor, punishable as provided in section 775.082 or section 775.083. The court may require a convicted driver who caused or contributed to the crash to compensate the owner of the damaged vehicle or property.
Driving and Boating Offenses
HB 687:
This law increases the penalties for DUI and BUI manslaughter, as well as vehicular and vessel homicide, if the offender has a prior conviction for certain offenses. It also mandates that individuals are informed that refusing to take a breath or urine test after a DUI arrest can result in misdemeanor charges. Additionally, the law establishes criminal penalties for a first refusal to take a breath or urine test after a DUI arrest and ranks offenses on the Criminal Punishment Code's severity chart.