CNMI Attorney General Edward Manibusan has commented on a House of Representatives bill to require rental car agencies to confirm that customers have valid driver\u2019s licenses, and make all owners of vehicles, or other persons employing\u2014or otherwise directing the operators of vehicles\u2014financially liable for any fines impose on rental drivers who leave the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
In a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee, Manibusan said the second objective of H.B. 19-53 is \u201cunworkable,\u201d and called on lawmakers to find an alternative to enforcing payment of traffic fines against those who fail to pay. Lawmakers should revisit a driver\u2019s license forfeiture law that was repealed several years ago, he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are concerned with the impact of the second objective,\u201d Manibusan said. \u201cAlthough the intent is to deal with visitors and the car rental industry\u2026the amendment\u2026extends beyond them.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the action prohibited by the bill is the failure to appear in court for traffic citation, \u201cbut the bill punishes the rental car agency\u2014not the driver\u2014for that action.\u201d<\/p>\n
The government generally has the authority to punish a person for acting contrary to law, or failing to act when the law requires them to do so, but the bill, Manibusan said, \u201cgoes beyond the government\u2019s authority\u201d by penalizing rental car companies for the acts of a party that are beyond the companies\u2019 control.<\/p>\n
Manibusan said lawmakers should consider other alternatives to ensure traffic offenders\u2014and residents and visitors alike\u2014pay their fines. \u201cRequiring a car rental company to pay a bond ensure payment or automatically revoking driver\u2019s licenses if the traffic fine is unpaid should be explored,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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