Opinion
No. 51057.
September 17, 1963.
CRIMINAL LAW: Sentence — too indefinite — case remanded for proper judgment. A sentence, for failure of defendant to leave his name at the scene of an accident, that defendant pay a fine "of $ _______ and in default of payment of said fine is committed to (county) (city) jail for one day for each $ _______ of said fine, not to exceed five days" is too indefinite to be permitted to stand, and case is remanded for rendition of a proper judgment.
Appeal from Des Moines Municipal Court — HARRY B. GRUND, Judge.
Henry T. McKnight, of Des Moines, for appellant.
Evan Hultman, Attorney General, and John H. Allen, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.
Defendant was charged by information with the crime of failure to leave his name and address at the scene of an accident, in violation of section 321.263, Code, 1962. Upon trial he was found guilty and was ordered to pay a fine "of $ _______ and in default of payment of said fine is committed to (county) (city) jail for one day for each $ ________ of said fine, not to exceed 5 days."
This judgment is too indefinite to be permitted to stand. See State v. Williams, 255 Iowa 657, 123 N.W.2d 406, and citations. As pointed out in the Williams opinion, we have the power to render such judgment as the municipal court should have done. However, this record does not afford sufficient basis for us to render an intelligent and just judgment. We therefore remand the case to the municipal court for the rendition of a proper judgment. — Remanded for proper judgment.