2014 -- H 7148 | |
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LC003400 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES | |
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Introduced By: Representative Donna M.Walsh | |
Date Introduced: January 21, 2014 | |
Referred To: House Judiciary | |
(Attorney General) | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Sections 31-27-2 and 31-27-2.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-27 |
2 | entitled "Motor Vehicle Offenses" are hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 31-27-2. Driving under influence of liquor or drugs. -- (a) Whoever drives or |
4 | otherwise operates any vehicle in the state while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor, |
5 | drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any |
6 | combination of these, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor except as provided in subdivision (d)(3) |
7 | and shall be punished as provided in subsection (d) of this section. |
8 | (b) (1) Any person charged under subsection (a) of this section whose blood alcohol |
9 | concentration is eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or more by weight as shown by a |
10 | chemical analysis of a blood, breath, or urine sample shall be guilty of violating subsection (a) of |
11 | this section. This provision shall not preclude a conviction based on other admissible evidence. |
12 | Proof of guilt under this section may also be based on evidence that the person charged was under |
13 | the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance defined in chapter |
14 | 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, to a degree which rendered the person incapable of |
15 | safely operating a vehicle. The fact that any person charged with violating this section is or has |
16 | been legally entitled to use alcohol or a drug shall not constitute a defense against any charge of |
17 | violating this section. |
18 | (2) Whoever drives or otherwise operates any vehicle in the state with a blood presence |
19 | of any scheduled controlled substance as defined within chapter 28 of title 21, as shown by |
| |
1 | analysis of a blood or urine sample, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished as |
2 | provided in subsection (d) of this section. |
3 | (c) In any criminal prosecution for a violation of subsection (a) of this section, evidence |
4 | as to the amount of intoxicating liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter |
5 | 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, in the defendant's blood at the time alleged as shown |
6 | by a chemical analysis of the defendant's breath, blood, or urine or other bodily substance shall be |
7 | admissible and competent, provided that evidence is presented that the following conditions have |
8 | been complied with: |
9 | (1) The defendant has consented to the taking of the test upon which the analysis is |
10 | made. Evidence that the defendant had refused to submit to the test shall not be admissible unless |
11 | the defendant elects to testify. |
12 | (2) A true copy of the report of the test result was mailed within seventy-two (72) hours |
13 | of the taking of the test to the person submitting to a breath test. |
14 | (3) Any person submitting to a chemical test of blood, urine, or other body fluids shall |
15 | have a true copy of the report of the test result mailed to him or her within thirty (30) days |
16 | following the taking of the test. |
17 | (4) The test was performed according to methods and with equipment approved by the |
18 | director of the department of health of the state of Rhode Island and by an authorized individual. |
19 | (5) Equipment used for the conduct of the tests by means of breath analysis had been |
20 | tested for accuracy within thirty (30) days preceding the test by personnel qualified as |
21 | hereinbefore provided, and breathalyzer operators shall be qualified and certified by the |
22 | department of health within three hundred sixty-five (365) days of the test. |
23 | (6) The person arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the |
24 | influence of intoxicating liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of |
25 | title 21, or, any combination of these in violation of subsection (a) of this section was afforded the |
26 | opportunity to have an additional chemical test. The officer arresting or so charging the person |
27 | shall have informed the person of this right and afforded him or her a reasonable opportunity to |
28 | exercise this right, and a notation to this effect is made in the official records of the case in the |
29 | police department. Refusal to permit an additional chemical test shall render incompetent and |
30 | inadmissible in evidence the original report. |
31 | (d) (1) (i) Every person found to have violated subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be |
32 | sentenced as follows: for a first violation whose blood alcohol concentration is eight one- |
33 | hundredths of one percent (.08%) but less than one-tenth of one percent (.1%) by weight or who |
34 | has a blood presence of any scheduled controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(2) shall |
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1 | be subject to a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than three hundred |
2 | dollars ($300), shall be required to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of public community |
3 | restitution, and/or shall be imprisoned for up to one year. The sentence may be served in any unit |
4 | of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge and/or shall be |
5 | required to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a |
6 | controlled substance; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to |
7 | complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans' |
8 | Administration, and his or her driver's license shall be suspended for thirty (30) days up to one |
9 | hundred eighty (180) days. |
10 | (ii) Every person convicted of a first violation whose blood alcohol concentration is one- |
11 | tenth of one percent (.1%) by weight or above but less than fifteen hundredths of one percent |
12 | (.15%) or whose blood alcohol concentration is unknown shall be subject to a fine of not less than |
13 | one hundred ($100) dollars nor more than four hundred dollars ($400) and shall be required to |
14 | perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of public community restitution and/or shall be imprisoned |
15 | for up to one year. The sentence may be served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in |
16 | the discretion of the sentencing judge. The person's driving license shall be suspended for a |
17 | period of three (3) months to twelve (12) months. The sentencing judge shall require attendance |
18 | at a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance |
19 | and/or alcoholic or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may |
20 | permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program |
21 | administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration. |
22 | (iii) Every person convicted of a first offense whose blood alcohol concentration is |
23 | fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or above, or who is under the influence of a drug, |
24 | toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(1) shall be subject to a fine of |
25 | five hundred dollars ($500) and shall be required to perform twenty (20) to sixty (60) hours of |
26 | public community restitution and/or shall be imprisoned for up to one year. The sentence may be |
27 | served in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge. |
28 | The person's driving license shall be suspended for a period of three (3) months to eighteen (18) |
29 | months. The sentencing judge shall require attendance at a special course on driving while |
30 | intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance and/or alcohol or drug treatment for |
31 | the individual; provided, however, that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to |
32 | complete any court-approved counseling program administered or approved by the Veterans' |
33 | Administration. |
34 | (2) (i) Every person convicted of a second violation within a five (5) year period with a |
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1 | blood alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or above but less than |
2 | fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or whose blood alcohol concentration is unknown or |
3 | who has a blood presence of any controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(2), and every |
4 | person convicted of a second violation within a five (5) year period regardless of whether the |
5 | prior violation and subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent conviction under this |
6 | statute or under the driving under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, shall |
7 | be subject to a mandatory fine of four hundred dollars ($400). The person's driving license shall |
8 | be suspended for a period of one year to two (2) years, and the individual shall be sentenced to |
9 | not less than ten (10) days nor more than one year in jail. The sentence may be served in any unit |
10 | of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge; however, not less |
11 | than forty-eight (48) hours of imprisonment shall be served consecutively. The sentencing judge |
12 | shall require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may |
13 | permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program |
14 | administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration and may prohibit that person from |
15 | operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system for a period of |
16 | one year to two (2) years following the completion of the sentence as provided in section 31-27- |
17 | 2.8. |
18 | (ii) Every person convicted of a second violation within a five (5) year period whose |
19 | blood alcohol concentration is fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or above by weight as |
20 | shown by a chemical analysis of a blood, breath, or urine sample or who is under the influence of |
21 | a drug, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(1) shall be subject to |
22 | mandatory imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than one year, a mandatory fine |
23 | of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and a mandatory license suspension for a period of |
24 | two (2) years from the date of completion of the sentence imposed under this subsection. The |
25 | sentencing judge shall require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, |
26 | that the court may permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court approved counseling |
27 | program administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration. |
28 | (3) (i) Every person convicted of a third or subsequent violation within a five (5) ten (10) |
29 | year period with a blood alcohol concentration of eight one-hundredths of one percent (.08%) or |
30 | above but less than fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) or whose blood alcohol |
31 | concentration is unknown or who has a blood presence of any scheduled controlled substance as |
32 | defined in subdivision (b)(2) regardless of whether any prior violation and subsequent conviction |
33 | was a violation and subsequent conviction under this statute or under the driving under the |
34 | influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, shall be guilty of a felony and be subject to |
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1 | a mandatory fine of four hundred ($400) dollars. The person's driving license shall be suspended |
2 | for a period of two (2) years to three (3) years, and the individual shall be sentenced to not less |
3 | than one year and not more than three (3) years in jail. The sentence may be served in any unit of |
4 | the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge; however, not less than |
5 | forty-eight (48) hours of imprisonment shall be served consecutively. The sentencing judge shall |
6 | require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual; provided, however, that the court may permit |
7 | a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program administered or |
8 | approved by the Veterans' Administration, and may prohibit that person from operating a motor |
9 | vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system for a period of two (2) years |
10 | following the completion of the sentence as provided in section 31-27-2.8. |
11 | (ii) Every person convicted of a third or subsequent violation within a five (5) ten (10) |
12 | year period whose blood alcohol concentration is fifteen hundredths of one percent (.15%) above |
13 | by weight as shown by a chemical analysis of a blood, breath, or urine sample or who is under the |
14 | influence of a drug, toluene or any controlled substance as defined in subdivision (b)(1) shall be |
15 | subject to mandatory imprisonment of not less than three (3) years nor more than five (5) years, a |
16 | mandatory fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars |
17 | ($5,000) and a mandatory license suspension for a period of three (3) years from the date of |
18 | completion of the sentence imposed under this subsection. |
19 | (iii) In addition to the foregoing penalties, every person convicted of a third or |
20 | subsequent violation within a five (5) ten (10) year period regardless of whether any prior |
21 | violation and subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent conviction under this statute |
22 | or under the driving under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state shall be |
23 | subject, in the discretion of the sentencing judge, to having the vehicle owned and operated by the |
24 | violator seized and sold by the state of Rhode Island, with all funds obtained by the sale to be |
25 | transferred to the general fund. |
26 | (4) Whoever drives or otherwise operates any vehicle in the state while under the |
27 | influence of any intoxicating liquor, drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in |
28 | chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these, when his or her license to operate is |
29 | suspended, revoked or cancelled for operating under the influence of a narcotic drug or |
30 | intoxicating liquor shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than three |
31 | (3) years and by a fine or not more than three thousand dollars ($3,000). The court shall require |
32 | alcohol and/or drug treatment for the individual; provided, the penalties provided for in |
33 | subdivision 31-27-2(d)(4) shall not apply to an individual who has surrendered his or her license, |
34 | and served the court ordered period of suspension, but who, for any reason, has not had their |
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1 | license reinstated after the period of suspension, revocation, or suspension has expired; provided, |
2 | further the individual shall be subject to the provisions of paragraphs 31-27-2(d)(2)(i) or (ii) or |
3 | 31-27-22(d)(3)(i), (ii), or (iii) regarding subsequent offenses, and any other applicable provision |
4 | of section 31-27-2. |
5 | (5) (i) For purposes of determining the period of license suspension, a prior violation |
6 | shall constitute any charge brought and sustained under the provisions of this section or section |
7 | 31-27-2.1. |
8 | (ii) Any person over the age of eighteen (18) who is convicted under this section for |
9 | operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, other drugs, or a combination of |
10 | these, while a child under the age of thirteen (13) years was present as a passenger in the motor |
11 | vehicle when the offense was committed may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more |
12 | than one year and further shall not be entitled to the benefit of suspension or deferment of this |
13 | sentence. The sentence imposed under this section may be served in any unit of the adult |
14 | correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge. |
15 | (6) (i) Any person convicted of a violation under this section shall pay a highway |
16 | assessment fine of five hundred dollars ($500) which shall be deposited into the general fund. The |
17 | assessment provided for by this subsection shall be collected from a violator before any other |
18 | fines authorized by this section. |
19 | (ii) Any person convicted of a violation under this section shall be assessed a fee of |
20 | eighty-six dollars ($86). |
21 | (7) (i) If the person convicted of violating this section is under the age of eighteen (18) |
22 | years, for the first violation he or she shall be required to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of |
23 | public community restitution, and the juvenile's driving license shall be suspended for a period of |
24 | six (6) months, and may be suspended for a period up to eighteen (18) months. The sentencing |
25 | judge shall also require attendance at a special course on driving while intoxicated or under the |
26 | influence of a controlled substance and alcohol or drug education and/or treatment for the |
27 | juvenile. The juvenile may also be required to pay a highway assessment fine of no more than |
28 | five hundred dollars ($500), and the assessment imposed shall be deposited into the general fund. |
29 | (ii) If the person convicted of violating this section is under the age of eighteen (18) |
30 | years, for a second or subsequent violation regardless of whether any prior violation and |
31 | subsequent conviction was a violation and subsequent under this statute or under the driving |
32 | under the influence of liquor or drugs statute of any other state, he or she shall be subject to a |
33 | mandatory suspension of his or her driving license until such time as he or she is twenty-one (21) |
34 | years of age and may, in the discretion of the sentencing judge, also be sentenced to the Rhode |
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1 | Island training school for a period of not more than one year and/or a fine of not more than five |
2 | hundred dollars ($500). |
3 | (8) Any person convicted of a violation under this section may undergo a clinical |
4 | assessment at the community college of Rhode Island 's center for workforce and community |
5 | education. Should this clinical assessment determine problems of alcohol, drug abuse, or |
6 | psychological problems associated with alcoholic or drug abuse, this person shall be referred to |
7 | an appropriate facility, licensed or approved by the department of mental health, retardation and |
8 | hospitals for treatment placement, case management, and monitoring. In the case of a |
9 | servicemember or veteran, the court may order that the person be evaluated through the Veterans' |
10 | Administration. Should the clinical assessment determine problems of alcohol, drug abuse, or |
11 | psychological problems associated with alcohol or drug abuse, the person may have their |
12 | treatment, case management and monitoring administered or approved by the Veterans' |
13 | Administration. |
14 | (e) Percent by weight of alcohol in the blood shall be based upon milligrams of alcohol |
15 | per one hundred (100) cubic centimeters of blood. |
16 | (f) (1) There is established an alcohol and drug safety unit within the division of motor |
17 | vehicles to administer an alcohol safety action program. The program shall provide for placement |
18 | and follow-up for persons who are required to pay the highway safety assessment. The alcohol |
19 | and drug safety action program will be administered in conjunction with alcohol and drug |
20 | programs licensed by the department of mental health retardation and hospitals. |
21 | (2) Persons convicted under the provisions of this chapter shall be required to attend a |
22 | special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance, |
23 | and/or participate in an alcohol or drug treatment program; provided, however, that the court may |
24 | permit a servicemember or veteran to complete any court-approved counseling program |
25 | administered or approved by the Veterans' Administration. The course shall take into |
26 | consideration any language barrier which may exist as to any person ordered to attend, and shall |
27 | provide for instruction reasonably calculated to communicate the purposes of the course in |
28 | accordance with the requirements of the subsection. Any costs reasonably incurred in connection |
29 | with the provision of this accommodation shall be borne by the person being retrained. A copy of |
30 | any violation under this section shall be forwarded by the court to the alcohol and drug safety |
31 | unit. In the event that persons convicted under the provisions of this chapter fail to attend and |
32 | complete the above course or treatment program, as ordered by the judge, then the person may be |
33 | brought before the court, and after a hearing as to why the order of the court was not followed, |
34 | may be sentenced to jail for a period not exceeding one year. |
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1 | (3) The alcohol and drug safety action program within the division of motor vehicles |
2 | shall be funded by general revenue appropriations. |
3 | (g) The director of the health department of the state of Rhode Island is empowered to |
4 | make and file with the secretary of state regulations which prescribe the techniques and methods |
5 | of chemical analysis of the person's body fluids or breath, and the qualifications and certification |
6 | of individuals authorized to administer this testing and analysis. |
7 | (h) Jurisdiction for misdemeanor violations of this section shall be with the district court |
8 | for persons eighteen (18) years of age or older and to the family court for persons under the age |
9 | of eighteen (18) years. The courts shall have full authority to impose any sentence authorized and |
10 | to order the suspension of any license for violations of this section. All trials in the district court |
11 | and family court of violations of the section shall be scheduled within thirty (30) days of the |
12 | arraignment date. No continuance or postponement shall be granted except for good cause shown. |
13 | Any continuances that are necessary shall be granted for the shortest practicable time. Trials in |
14 | superior court are not required to be scheduled within thirty (30) days of the arraignment date. |
15 | (i) No fines, suspensions, assessments, alcohol or drug treatment programs, course on |
16 | driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance, public community |
17 | restitution, or jail provided for under this section can be suspended. |
18 | (j) An order to attend a special course on driving while intoxicated that shall be |
19 | administered in cooperation with a college or university accredited by the state, shall include a |
20 | provision to pay a reasonable tuition for the course in an amount not less than twenty-five dollars |
21 | ($25.00), and a fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175), which fee shall be deposited into |
22 | the general fund. |
23 | (k) For the purposes of this section, any test of a sample of blood, breath, or urine for the |
24 | presence of alcohol, which relies in whole or in part upon the principle of infrared light |
25 | absorption is considered a chemical test. |
26 | (l) If any provision of this section or the application of any provision shall for any reason |
27 | be judged invalid, such a judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of the |
28 | section, but shall be confined in this effect to the provision or application directly involved in the |
29 | controversy giving rise to the judgment. |
30 | (m) For the purposes of this section, "servicemember" means a person who is presently |
31 | serving in the armed forces of the United States including the Coast Guard, a reserve component |
32 | thereof, or the National Guard. "Veteran" means a person who has served in the armed forces, |
33 | including the Coast Guard of the United States, a reserve component thereof, or the National |
34 | Guard, and has been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. |
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1 | 31-27-2.1. Refusal to submit to chemical test. -- (a) Any person who operates a motor |
2 | vehicle within this state shall be deemed to have given his or her consent to chemical tests of his |
3 | or her breath, blood, and/or urine for the purpose of determining the chemical content of his or |
4 | her body fluids or breath. No more than two (2) complete tests, one for the presence of |
5 | intoxicating liquor and one for the presence of toluene or any controlled substance, as defined in |
6 | section 21-28-1.02(7), shall be administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer having |
7 | reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been driving a motor vehicle within this state |
8 | while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance, as defined |
9 | in chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these. The director of the department of health is |
10 | empowered to make and file with the secretary of state, regulations which prescribe the |
11 | techniques and methods of chemical analysis of the person's body fluids or breath and the |
12 | qualifications and certification of individuals authorized to administer the testing and analysis. |
13 | (b) If a person for religious or medical reasons cannot be subjected to blood tests, the |
14 | person may file an affidavit with the division of motor vehicles stating the reasons why he or she |
15 | cannot be required to take blood tests, and a notation to this effect shall be made on his or her |
16 | license. If that person is asked to submit to chemical tests as provided under this chapter, the |
17 | person shall only be required to submit to chemical tests of his or her breath or urine. When a |
18 | person is requested to submit to blood tests, only a physician or registered nurse or a medical |
19 | technician certified under regulations promulgated by the director of the department of health |
20 | may withdraw blood for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content in it. This limitation |
21 | shall not apply to the taking of breath or urine specimens. The person tested shall be permitted to |
22 | have a physician of his or her own choosing and at his or her own expense administer chemical |
23 | tests of his or her breath, blood, and/or urine in addition to the tests administered at the direction |
24 | of a law enforcement officer. If a person having been placed under arrest refuses upon the request |
25 | of a law enforcement officer to submit to the tests, as provided in section 31-27-2, none shall be |
26 | given, but a judge of the traffic tribunal or district court judge, upon receipt of a report of a law |
27 | enforcement officer: that he or she had reasonable grounds to believe the arrested person had |
28 | been driving a motor vehicle within this state under the influence of intoxicating liquor, toluene, |
29 | or any controlled substance, as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any combination of these; that |
30 | the person had been informed of his or her rights in accordance with section 31-27-3; that the |
31 | person had been informed of the penalties incurred as a result of noncompliance with this section; |
32 | and that the person had refused to submit to the tests upon the request of a law enforcement |
33 | officer; shall promptly order that the person's operator's license or privilege to operate a motor |
34 | vehicle in this state be immediately suspended and that the person's license be surrendered within |
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1 | five (5) days of notice of suspension. A traffic tribunal judge or a district court judge pursuant to |
2 | the terms of subsection (c) of this section shall order as follows: |
3 | (1) Impose for the first violation a fine in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200) to |
4 | five hundred dollars ($500) and shall order the person to perform ten (10) to sixty (60) hours of |
5 | public community restitution. The person's driving license in this state shall be suspended for a |
6 | period of six (6) months to one year. The traffic tribunal judge shall require attendance at a |
7 | special course on driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance and/or |
8 | alcohol or drug treatment for the individual. |
9 | (2) Every person convicted for a second violation within a five (5) year period shall be |
10 | guilty of a misdemeanor, shall be imprisoned for not more than six (6) months and shall pay a |
11 | fine in the amount of six hundred dollars ($600) to one thousand dollars ($1,000), order the |
12 | person to perform sixty (60) to one hundred (100) hours of public community restitution, and the |
13 | person's driving license in this state shall be suspended for a period of one year to two (2) years. |
14 | The judge shall require alcohol and/or drug treatment for the individual. |
15 | (3) Every person convicted for a third or subsequent violation within a five (5) ten (10) |
16 | year period shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be imprisoned for not more than one year, |
17 | fined eight hundred dollars ($800) to one thousand dollars ($1,000), order the person to perform |
18 | not less than one hundred (100) hours of public community restitution, and the person's operator's |
19 | license in this state shall be suspended for a period of two (2) years to five (5) years. The judge |
20 | shall require alcohol or drug treatment for the individual. Provided, that prior to the reinstatement |
21 | of a license to a person charged with a third or subsequent violation within a three (3) year period, |
22 | a hearing shall be held before a judge. At the hearing the judge shall review the person's driving |
23 | record, his or her employment history, family background, and any other pertinent factors that |
24 | would indicate that the person has demonstrated behavior which warrants the reinstatement of his |
25 | or her license. |
26 | (4) For purposes of determining the period of license suspension, a prior violation shall |
27 | constitute any charge brought and sustained under the provisions of this section or section 31-27- |
28 | 2. |
29 | (5) In addition to any other fines, a highway safety assessment of five hundred dollars |
30 | ($500) shall be paid by any person found in violation of this section, the assessment to be |
31 | deposited into the general fund. The assessment provided for by this subsection shall be collected |
32 | from a violator before any other fines authorized by this section. |
33 | (6) In addition to any other fines and highway safety assessments, a two hundred dollar |
34 | ($200) assessment shall be paid by any person found in violation of this section to support the |
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1 | department of health's chemical testing programs outlined in section 31-27-2(4), which shall be |
2 | deposited as general revenues, not restricted receipts. |
3 | (7) No fines, suspensions, assessments, alcohol or drug treatment programs, course on |
4 | driving while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance, or public community |
5 | restitution provided for under this section, can be suspended. |
6 | (c) Upon suspending or refusing to issue a license or permit as provided in subsection (a) |
7 | of this section, the traffic tribunal or district court shall immediately notify the person involved in |
8 | writing, and upon his or her request, within fifteen (15) days shall afford the person an |
9 | opportunity for a hearing as early as practical upon receipt of a request in writing. Upon a hearing |
10 | the judge may administer oaths and may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the |
11 | production of relevant books and papers. If the judge finds after the hearing that: (1) the law |
12 | enforcement officer making the sworn report had reasonable grounds to believe that the arrested |
13 | person had been driving a motor vehicle within this state while under the influence of intoxicating |
14 | liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance, as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any |
15 | combination of these; (2) the person while under arrest refused to submit to the tests upon the |
16 | request of a law enforcement officer; (3) the person had been informed of his or her rights in |
17 | accordance with section 31-27-3; and (4) the person had been informed of the penalties incurred |
18 | as a result of noncompliance with this section; the judge shall sustain the violation. The judge |
19 | shall then impose the penalties set forth in subsection (b) of this section. Action by the judge must |
20 | be taken within seven (7) days after the hearing, or it shall be presumed that the judge has refused |
21 | to issue his or her order of suspension. |
22 | (d) For the purposes of this section, any test of a sample of blood, breath, or urine for the |
23 | presence of alcohol which relies in whole or in part upon the principle of infrared light absorption |
24 | is considered a chemical test. |
25 | (e) If any provision of this section or the application of any provision shall for any |
26 | reason be judged invalid, the judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of the |
27 | section, but shall be confined in this effect to the provisions or application directly involved in the |
28 | controversy giving rise to the judgment. |
29 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES | |
*** | |
1 | This act would extend the "lookback" period for third and subsequent offenses under the |
2 | driving under the influence of liquor or drugs law (section 31-27-2) and the refusal to submit to a |
3 | chemical test law (section 31-27-2.1) from five (5) years to ten (10) years. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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