| Stiffens penalties for DWI:
| First offense:
| $300 to $1,000 fine |
|
| Second offense:
| $750 to $1,000 fine |
|
| Third offense:
| Mandatory $2,000 fine |
| One to five year hard labor prison
sentence |
| The vehicle will be impounded and sold |
|
| Fourth offense:
| $5,000 fine |
| 10 to 30 year hard labor prison sentence |
| The vehicle will be impounded and sold |
|
|
| Drivers under the age of 21 caught with
a blood alcohol level of 0.10 or greater will be subject to adult DWI laws |
| Lowers the allowable blood-alcohol level
for drivers under the age of 21 to 0.02
| First offense for a minor:
| $100 to $250 fine |
| Participation in a court approved
substance abuse driver improvement program |
|
| Second and subsequent offenses:
| $150 to $500 fine |
| 10 days to three months in jail |
| Participation in the same substance
abuse program |
|
|
| Effective July 15, 1997 |
Senate Bill 14 (Act No.
381) - Windshield Wiper Operation in Inclement Weather
| Requires motorists whose windshield
wipers are in continuous use due to inclement weather turn on their headlights |
| Requires motorists to use headlights
when due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions, other vehicles or persons are not clearly
visible at 500 feet |
| Effective August 15, 1997 |
House Bill 1510 (Act No.
1037) - Child Passenger Restraint System
| Requires that every child in the state
under the age of 13 who rides in a motor vehicle be properly restrained |
| Children under the age of three must be
restrained in an age or size-appropriate passenger restraint system. |
| Children between the ages of three and
12 may be secured in the manufacturer-installed seat belts |
| If the number of children in the vehicle
is greater than the number of seat belts or restraining systems in the vehicle, the
unrestrained children must sit in the rear seat |
| Does not apply to bicycles, farm
tractors, motorcycles, ambulances or other emergency vehicles, school busses, commercial
trucks or taxis |
| $50 fine for first offense |
| $100 fine for second offense |
| $100 fine plus all court costs for third
and subsequent offenses; suspension of driver's license until proof is presented to the
court that a proper child restraining device has been acquired |
| Effective July 1, 1997 |
House Bill 206 (Act No.
245) - Riding in Open Pick-up Trucks
| Prohibits children under the age of 12
from riding in the open bed of a pick-up truck |
| Prohibits children under the age of 12
from riding in a utility trailer |
| Does not apply to parades |
| Does not apply to emergency situations
if an adult accompanies the child |
| Effective August 15, 1997 |
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