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Text: SSB00133                          Text: SSB00135
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Senate Study Bill 134

Bill Text

PAG LIN
  1  1    Section 1.  Section 22.7, Code 1997, is amended by adding
  1  2 the following new subsection:
  1  3    NEW SUBSECTION.  37.  Records of a law enforcement agency
  1  4 or the state department of transportation regarding the
  1  5 issuance of a motor vehicle license under section 321.189A.
  1  6    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  321.189A  MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE FOR
  1  7 UNDERCOVER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS – FEE – PENALTIES.
  1  8    1.  The department may issue undercover motor vehicle
  1  9 licenses to certified peace officers employed by a local
  1 10 authority or by the state or federal law enforcement officers
  1 11 for use in the line of duty when a fictitious identity is
  1 12 necessary.  The department, in cooperation with the
  1 13 commissioner of public safety, shall adopt rules pursuant to
  1 14 chapter 17A regarding the issuance, use, and cancellation of
  1 15 licenses issued pursuant to this section.
  1 16    2.  A license issued pursuant to this section shall only be
  1 17 issued to a certified peace officer or federal law enforcement
  1 18 officer, who is qualified to obtain the class of license
  1 19 sought, at the request of the law enforcement agency employing
  1 20 the officer for official use when the officer is involved in
  1 21 duty in which a fictitious identity is necessary.  An officer
  1 22 issued a license pursuant to this section shall surrender the
  1 23 license when the license is no longer needed.
  1 24    3.  a.  A license issued pursuant to this section shall
  1 25 only be used in the line of duty when it is necessary for the
  1 26 officer holding the license to assume a fictitious identity.
  1 27 An officer issued a license pursuant to this section shall
  1 28 report as soon as practical to the law enforcement agency
  1 29 employing the officer any traffic citation issued to the
  1 30 officer while using the officer's fictitious identity.
  1 31    b.  An officer using a license issued under this section
  1 32 shall not be prosecuted for a public offense under this
  1 33 chapter if the offense was committed in the line of duty and
  1 34 was necessary to protect the identity of the officer.
  1 35    4.  a.  An officer who provides the department false
  2  1 information for the purposes of obtaining a license under this
  2  2 section commits a class "D" felony.
  2  3    b.  An officer who displays or uses a license issued
  2  4 pursuant to this section during the commission or attempted
  2  5 commission of a public offense other than a public offense
  2  6 referred to in subsection 3 or who knowingly permits another
  2  7 person to use the license issued under this section commits a
  2  8 class "D" felony.
  2  9    c.  An officer who displays or uses a license issued
  2 10 pursuant to this section in any manner which is not a public
  2 11 offense but which is not authorized under this section or who
  2 12 knowingly fails or refuses to surrender the license upon
  2 13 demand by the department commits an aggravated misdemeanor.
  2 14    5.  The fee for issuing a license under this section shall
  2 15 be the same as for licenses issued pursuant to section
  2 16 321.189.
  2 17    6.  The department shall keep as confidential public
  2 18 records under section 22.7, all records regarding licenses
  2 19 issued under this section.  
  2 20                           EXPLANATION
  2 21    This bill authorizes the state department of transportation
  2 22 to issue a motor vehicle license to a peace officer or federal
  2 23 law enforcement officer for the purpose of providing the
  2 24 officer with a fictitious identity for use in the line of
  2 25 duty.  The officer must also be qualifed to obtain the type of
  2 26 license sought.  The department of transportation is directed
  2 27 to adopt administrative rules under chapter 17A in cooperation
  2 28 with the commissioner of public safety to implement the
  2 29 provisions of this bill.  Motor vehicle licenses include
  2 30 driver's licenses, chauffeur's licenses, commercial driver's
  2 31 licenses, and motorcycle licenses.
  2 32    The bill provides that undercover licenses shall only be
  2 33 issued at the request of the law enforcement agency employing
  2 34 the officer who needs the license and limits use of the
  2 35 license to official duty when a fictitious identity is
  3  1 necessary.  When the officer no longer needs the license for
  3  2 undercover duties, the license shall be surrendered.
  3  3    The bill also requires the officer using the fictitious
  3  4 identity to report traffic citations issued the officer while
  3  5 using the undercover license.  An officer using an undercover
  3  6 license on official business is not subject to prosecution for
  3  7 violations of chapter 321 if the violation was necessary to
  3  8 protect the identity of the officer.
  3  9    An officer who provides false information to the department
  3 10 to obtain an undercover license, who uses the license during
  3 11 the commission of a crime other than provided for by the bill,
  3 12 or who knowingly allows another person to use the license
  3 13 commits a class "D" felony.  A person who uses the license
  3 14 improperly, without committing a public offense, or who fails
  3 15 to surrender the license commits an aggravated misdemeanor.
  3 16    The bill provides that the fee for an undercover license is
  3 17 the same as for issuance of any of the regular licenses issued
  3 18 by the department.  In addition, records regarding the
  3 19 issuance of an undercover license are confidential public
  3 20 records.  
  3 21 LSB 1709SC 77
  3 22 mk/cf/24
     

Text: SSB00133                          Text: SSB00135
Text: SSB00100 - SSB00199               Text: SSB Index
Bills and Amendments: General Index     Bill History: General Index

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