1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to crimes; clarifying when seizure of a motor 
  1.3             vehicle used to flee a peace officer occurs for 
  1.4             purposes of the law; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, 
  1.5             section 609.5312, subdivision 4. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 609.5312, 
  1.8   subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
  1.9      Subd. 4.  [VEHICLE FORFEITURE FOR FLEEING A PEACE OFFICER.] 
  1.10  (a) A motor vehicle is subject to forfeiture under this 
  1.11  subdivision if it was used to commit a violation of section 
  1.12  609.487 and endanger life or property.  A motor vehicle is 
  1.13  subject to forfeiture under this subdivision only if the offense 
  1.14  is established by proof of a criminal conviction for the 
  1.15  offense.  Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, a 
  1.16  forfeiture under this subdivision is governed by sections 
  1.17  609.531, 609.5312, 609.5313, and 609.5315, subdivision 6. 
  1.18     (b) When a motor vehicle subject to forfeiture under this 
  1.19  subdivision is seized in advance of a judicial forfeiture order, 
  1.20  a hearing before a judge or referee must be held within 96 hours 
  1.21  of the seizure.  Notice of the hearing must be given to the 
  1.22  registered owner within 48 hours of the seizure.  The 
  1.23  prosecuting authority shall certify to the court, at or in 
  1.24  advance of the hearing, that it has filed or intends to file 
  1.25  charges against the alleged violator for violating section 
  2.1   609.487.  After conducting the hearing, the court shall order 
  2.2   that the motor vehicle be returned to the owner if:  
  2.3      (1) the prosecutor has failed to make the certification 
  2.4   required by this paragraph; 
  2.5      (2) the owner of the motor vehicle has demonstrated to the 
  2.6   court's satisfaction that the owner has a defense to the 
  2.7   forfeiture, including but not limited to the defenses contained 
  2.8   in subdivision 2; or 
  2.9      (3) the court determines that seizure of the vehicle 
  2.10  creates or would create an undue hardship for members of the 
  2.11  owner's family. 
  2.12     (c) If the defendant is acquitted or the charges against 
  2.13  the defendant are dismissed, neither the owner nor the defendant 
  2.14  is responsible for paying any costs associated with the seizure 
  2.15  or storage of the vehicle. 
  2.16     (d) A vehicle leased or rented under section 168.27, 
  2.17  subdivision 4, for a period of 180 days or less is not subject 
  2.18  to forfeiture under this subdivision. 
  2.19     (e) A motor vehicle that is an off-road recreational 
  2.20  vehicle as defined in section 169A.03, subdivision 16, or a 
  2.21  motorboat as defined in section 169A.03, subdivision 13, is not 
  2.22  subject to paragraph (b). 
  2.23     (f) For purposes of this subdivision, seizure occurs either:
  2.24     (1) at the date at which personal service of process upon 
  2.25  the registered owner is made; or 
  2.26     (2) at the date when the registered owner has been notified 
  2.27  by certified mail at the address listed in the Minnesota 
  2.28  Department of Public Safety computerized motor vehicle 
  2.29  registration records. 
  2.30     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.31     Section 1 is effective August 1, 2003, and applies to 
  2.32  crimes committed on or after that date.