2023 -- H 5213

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LC000205

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES

     Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Noret, and Ackerman

     Date Introduced: January 19, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 31-27-1, 31-27-1.1, 31-27-2.2 and 31-27-2.6 of the General Laws

in Chapter 31-27 entitled "Motor Vehicle Offenses" are hereby amended to read as follows:

     31-27-1. Driving so as to endanger, resulting in death.

     (a) When the death of any person ensues as a proximate result of an injury received by the

operation of any vehicle in reckless disregard of the safety of others, including violations of § 31-

27-22, the person so operating the vehicle shall be guilty of “driving so as to endanger, resulting in

death”.

     (b) Any person charged with the commission of this offense shall upon conviction be

imprisoned for not more than ten (10) twenty (20) years and have his or her license to operate a

motor vehicle suspended for no more than five (5) years.

     31-27-1.1. Driving so as to endanger, resulting in serious personal injury.

     (a) When the serious bodily injury of any person ensues as a proximate result of the

operation of any vehicle in reckless disregard of the safety of others, including violations of § 31-

27-22, the person so operating the vehicle shall be guilty of “driving so as to endanger, resulting in

serious bodily injury”.

     (b) “Serious bodily injury” means physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or

causes serious permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any

bodily member or organ.

     (c) Any person charged with a violation of this section shall upon conviction be imprisoned

for not more than five (5) ten (10) years and have his or her license to operate a motor vehicle

suspended for no more than three (3) years.

     31-27-2.2. Driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, resulting in death.

     (a) When the death of any person other than the operator ensues as a proximate result of an

injury received by the operation of any vehicle, the operator of which is under the influence of any

intoxicating liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21, or any

combination of these, the person so operating the vehicle shall be guilty of “driving under the

influence of liquor or drugs, resulting in death”.

     (b) Any person charged with the commission of the offense set forth in subsection (a) of

this section shall, upon conviction, be punished as follows:

     (1)(i) Every person convicted of a first violation shall be punished by By imprisonment in

the state prison for not less than five (5) years and for not more than fifteen (15) thirty (30) years,

in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge, by a fine

of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) twenty

thousand dollars ($20,000) and his or her license to operate a motor vehicle shall be revoked for a

period of five (5) to ten (10) years. The license privilege shall not be reinstated until evidence

satisfactory to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles establishes that no grounds exist

which would authorize the refusal to issue a license, and until the person gives proof of financial

responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.

     (ii)(2) In addition, the person convicted may be required to successfully complete alcohol

or drug treatment in a program of their choice, at their own expense, as authorized by a judge of

the superior court, and may successfully complete the program before any license to operate a

motor vehicle is renewed.

     (2) Every person convicted of a second or subsequent violation within a five (5) year period

in this state or any other state, provided the out-of-state conviction was based on the same blood-

alcohol concentration as set forth in § 31-27-2 shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison

for not less than ten (10) years and for not more than twenty (20) years, in any unit of the adult

correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge, by a fine of not less than ten

thousand dollars ($10,000) nor more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) and his or her license

to operate a motor vehicle shall be revoked for a period of five (5) years. In addition, the person

convicted may be required to successfully complete alcohol or drug treatment, at their own expense,

in a program established by the director of the department of corrections. The license privilege shall

not be reinstated whether the convictions occurred in this or any other state until evidence

satisfactory to the superior court, following a hearing establishes that no grounds exist which would

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authorize the refusal to issue a license, and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility

pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.

     31-27-2.6. Driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, resulting in serious bodily

injury.

     (a) When serious bodily injury of any person other than the operator is caused by the

operation of any motor vehicle, the operator of which is under the influence of any intoxicating

liquor, toluene, or any controlled substance as defined in chapter 28 of title 21 or any combination

of these, the person so operating the vehicle shall be guilty of driving under the influence of liquor

or drugs, resulting in serious bodily injury.

     (b) As used in this section, “serious bodily injury” means physical injury that creates a

substantial risk of death or causes serious physical disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment

of the function of any bodily member or organ.

     (c) Any person charged with the commission of the offense set forth in subsection (a) of

this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year and for

not more than ten (10) twenty (20) years and by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000)

nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) ten thousand dollars ($10,000). The sentencing judge

shall have the discretion to sentence the person to any unit of the adult correctional institutions.

The license of the person may be revoked for a period of up to two (2) three (3) to five (5) years.

The license privilege shall not be reinstated until evidence satisfactory to the administrator of the

division of motor vehicles establishes that no grounds exist which would authorize refusal to issue

a license and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this

title. In addition, the person convicted may be required to successfully complete alcohol or drug

treatment, at their own expense, in a program established by the director of the department of

corrections.

     (d) For a second or subsequent conviction under this section within a five (5) year period,

a person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two (2) years nor more than fifteen

(15) years and by a fine of not less than three thousand dollars ($3,000) nor more than ten thousand

dollars ($10,000). The sentencing judge shall have the discretion to sentence the person to any unit

of the adult correctional institutions. In addition, the person convicted may be required to

successfully complete alcohol or drug treatment, at their own expense, in a program established by

the director of the department of corrections. The license of the person may be revoked for a period

of up to four (4) years. The license privilege shall not thereafter be reinstated until evidence

satisfactory to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles establishes that no grounds exist

which would authorize refusal to issue a license and until the person gives proof of financial

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responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.

     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

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     This act would increase the sentences, fines or both for § 31-27-1 ("driving so as to

endanger, resulting in death") and § 31-27-1.1 ("driving so as to endanger, resulting in personal

injury"). This act would also repeal the enhancement of the punishments for subsequent offenses

of § 31-27-2.2 ("driving under the influence, resulting in death") and § 31-27-2.6 ("driving under

the influence, resulting in serious bodily injury") and would replace the enhancement of

punishments with an amended single range of sentences, fines or both.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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