Politics

Nixon Allows Criminal Code Rewrite To Become Law

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,

Marshall Griffin

Published May 13, 2014 at 6:15 PM CDT

Gov. Jay Nixon has allowed a comprehensive rewrite of Missouri's criminal code to become law without his signature.

Nixon says the 645-page bill contains drafting errors that could weaken bothDWIlaws and laws to combat methamphetamine production.

"For example, Senate Bill 491 would make a drunk driver's refusal to take a breathalyzer or other tests to measure blood alcohol (content level) inadmissible as evidence, unless the driver is under the age of 21," Nixon said. "In addition, criminal penalties for the purchase of large quantities of pseudoephedrine-related products are an important tool in (the) war on meth...Senate Bill 491 would decriminalize this dangerous activity and weaken law enforcement's ability to rid our communities of this insidious drug."

That being said, Nixon said he allowed the bill to become law because his administration reached a compromise with the bill's sponsors. The drafting errors will be corrected in the House version of the bill, HB 1371, which will be taken up in both chambers this week.

"We've got good language now, and we'll move forward and get this done," Nixon said. "As I said all along, things of this magnitude, before they get my signature, they'regoing to be right."

On Friday, state Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City, SB 491's sponsor, told the Missouri Bar that the governor had agreed not to veto the bill if both side could agree on a language fix.

The criminal code rewrite also mandates no jail time for first-time offenders convicted of possessing fewer than 10 grams of marijuana, and it expands the definition of "dangerous felony" to include repeat DWI offenders and first- and second-degree child molestation.

The new law won't take effect until Jan. 1, 2017.

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Marshall Griffin

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.

See stories by Marshall Griffin

Marshall Griffin

St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.