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H.B. 235

             1     

PENALTY FOR DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS

             2     
1999 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: Marda Dillree

             5      AN ACT RELATING TO THE CRIMINAL CODE; IMPOSING AN ENHANCED PENALTY
             6      FOR THE DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM AT A HABITABLE STRUCTURE WITH INTENT
             7      TO HARASS A PERSON OR TO DAMAGE THE STRUCTURE.
             8      This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
             9      AMENDS:
             10          76-10-508, as last amended by Chapter 23, Laws of Utah 1995
             11      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             12          Section 1. Section 76-10-508 is amended to read:
             13           76-10-508. Discharge of firearm from a vehicle, near highway, or in direction of any
             14      person, building, or vehicle.
             15          (1) (a) A person may not discharge any kind of dangerous weapon or firearm:
             16          (i) from an automobile or other vehicle;
             17          (ii) from, upon, or across any highway;
             18          (iii) at any road signs placed upon any highways of the state;
             19          (iv) at any communications equipment or property of public utilities including facilities,
             20      lines, poles, or devices of transmission or distribution;
             21          (v) at railroad equipment or facilities including any sign or signal;
             22          (vi) within Utah State Park buildings, designated camp or picnic sites, overlooks, golf
             23      courses, boat ramps, and developed beaches; or
             24          (vii) without written permission to discharge the dangerous weapon from the owner or
             25      person in charge of the property within 600 feet of:
             26          (A) a house, dwelling, or any other building; or
             27          (B) any structure in which a domestic animal is kept or fed, including a barn, poultry yard,


             28      corral, feeding pen, or stockyard.
             29          (b) It shall be a defense to any charge for violating this section that the person being
             30      accused had actual permission of the owner or person in charge of the property at the time in
             31      question.
             32          (2) A violation of any provision of this section is a class B misdemeanor unless the actor
             33      discharges a firearm under any of the following circumstances not amounting to criminal homicide
             34      or attempted criminal homicide, in which case it is a third degree felony:
             35          (a) the actor discharges a firearm in the direction of any person or persons, knowing or
             36      having reason to believe that any person may be endangered;
             37          (b) the actor, with intent to intimidate or harass another or with intent to damage a
             38      habitable structure as defined in Subsection 76-6-101 (2), discharges a firearm in the direction of
             39      any building; or
             40          (c) the actor, with intent to intimidate or harass another, discharges a firearm in the
             41      direction of any vehicle.
             42          (3) (a) If a violation of Subsection (2)(b) includes the discharging of the firearm in the
             43      direction of a habitable structure as defined in Section 76-6-101 , the convicted person shall be
             44      sentenced to an enhanced minimum term of three years in prison.
             45          (b) The prosecuting attorney, or grand jury if an indictment is returned, shall cause to be
             46      subscribed upon the information or indictment notice that the defendant is subject to the enhanced
             47      penalty provided under this Subsection (3). The notice shall be in a clause separate from and in
             48      addition to the substantive offense charged.
             49          (c) If the subscription is not included initially, the court may subsequently allow the
             50      prosecutor to amend the charging document to include the subscription if the court finds the
             51      charging documents, including any statement of probable cause, provide notice to the defendant
             52      of the allegation he committed a violation of Subsection (2)(b) involving discharging a firearm at
             53      a habitable structure, or if the court finds the defendant has not otherwise been substantially
             54      prejudiced by the omission.
             55          (d) The sentencing judge rather than the jury shall decide whether to impose the enhanced
             56      penalty under this Subsection (3). The imposition of the penalty is contingent upon a finding by
             57      the sentencing judge that this Subsection (3) is applicable. In conjunction with sentencing the
             58      court shall enter written findings of fact concerning the applicability of this section.


             59          (e) The court may suspend the imposition or execution of the sentence required under this
             60      section if the court:
             61          (i) finds that the interests of justice would be best served; and
             62          (ii) states the specific circumstances justifying the disposition on the record and in writing.
             63          [(3)] (4) This section does not apply to a person:
             64          (a) who discharges any kind of firearm when that person is in lawful defense of self or
             65      others; or
             66          (b) who is performing official duties as provided in Sections 23-20-1.5 and 76-10-523 and
             67      as otherwise provided by law.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-13-99 12:52 PM


A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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