
H. B. 4349
(By Delegates Modesitt, Smirl, Overington, Faircloth,
Trump, Armstead and Harrison)

[Introduced February 1, 2000; referred to the

Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section three, article four, chapter
seventeen-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended; to amend and reenact
sections two, six-a and eight, article five of chapter
seventeen-c; to amend and reenact sections one, one-a, two
and three-a, article five-a of said chapter; and to amend
and reenact section one, article six-a of chapter
thirty-three, all relating to driving under the influence of
alcohol, controlled substances or drugs; making it unlawful
for any person to drive a motor vehicle with an alcohol
concentration of eight hundredths of one percent or more, by
weight, in the person's blood; driving while license
suspended or revoked for driving under the influence of
alcohol, controlled substances or drugs; providing for
hearings and review for revocation of license; administrative procedures for suspension or revocation of a
drivers licence for driving under the influence of alcohol,
controlled substances or drugs when the results of a
secondary test indicate a blood alcohol content of less than
eight hundredths of one percent; taking a child into custody
while driving a motor vehicle with any amount of blood
alcohol; establishment and participation in the motor
vehicle alcohol test and lock program; interpretation and
use of blood alcohol chemical test; and cancellation of
automobile insurance for failure to comply with blood
alcohol chemical test for intoxication.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section three, article four, chapter seventeen-b of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted; that sections two, six-a and
eight, article five of chapter seventeen-c be amended and
reenacted; that sections one, one-a, two and three-a, article
five-a of said chapter be amended and reenacted; and that section
one, article six-a of chapter thirty-three be amended and
reenacted, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 17B. MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER'S LICENSES.
ARTICLE 4. VIOLATION OF LICENSE PROVISIONS.
§17B-4-3. Driving while license suspended or revoked; driving
while license revoked for driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or
drugs, or while having alcoholic concentration in
the blood of eight hundredths of one percent or
more, by weight, or for refusing to take secondary
chemical test of blood alcohol contents.



(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) or (d) of
this section, any person who drives a motor vehicle on any public
highway of this state at a time when his or her privilege to do
so has been lawfully suspended or revoked by this state or any
other jurisdiction shall, for the first offense be is guilty of
a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in
the county or regional jail for forty-eight hours and, in
addition to such the mandatory jail sentence, shall be fined not
less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars; for
the second offense, such that person is guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or
regional jail for a period of ten days and, in addition to such
the mandatory jail sentence, shall be fined not less than one
hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars; for the third
or any subsequent offense, such that person is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in
the county or regional jail for six months and, in addition to
such the mandatory jail sentence, shall be fined not less than
one hundred fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.



(b) Any person who drives a motor vehicle on any public
highway of this state at a time when his or her privilege to do
so has been lawfully revoked for driving under the influence of
alcohol, controlled substances or other drugs, or for driving
while having an alcoholic concentration in his or her blood of
ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or for
refusing to take a secondary chemical test of blood alcohol
content, shall, for the first offense, be is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in
the county or regional jail for six months and in addition to
such the mandatory jail sentence, shall be fined not less than
one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars; for the
second offense, such the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and,
upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or
regional jail for a period of one year and, in addition to such
the mandatory jail sentence, shall be fined not less than one
thousand dollars nor more than three thousand dollars; for the
third or any subsequent offense, such the person is guilty of a
felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in the
penitentiary a state correctional facility for not less than one
year nor more than three years and, in addition to such the
mandatory prison sentence, shall be fined not less than three
thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.



(c) Upon receiving a record of the conviction of any person under subsection (a) or (b) of this section upon a charge of
driving a vehicle while the license of such the person was
lawfully revoked, the division shall extend the period of such
the suspension for an additional period of one year from and
after the date such the person would otherwise have been entitled
to apply for a new license.



(d) Any person who drives a motor vehicle on any public
highway of this state at a time when his or her privilege to do
so has been lawfully suspended for driving while under the age of
twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but
less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, is
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
confined in the county or regional jail for twenty-four hours or
shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than five
hundred dollars, or both fined and imprisoned.



(e) An order for home detention by the court pursuant to the
provisions of article eleven-b, chapter sixty-two of this code
may be used as an alternative sentence to any period of
incarceration required by this section.
CHAPTER 17C. TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND LAWS OF THE ROAD.
ARTICLE 5. SERIOUS TRAFFIC OFFENSES.
§17C-5-2. Driving under influence of alcohol, controlled
substances or drugs; penalties.
(a) Any person who:



(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while:



(A) He or she is under the influence of alcohol; or



(B) He or she is under the influence of any controlled
substance; or



(C) He or she is under the influence of any other drug; or



(D) He or she is under the combined influence of alcohol and
any controlled substance or any other drug; or



(E) He or she has an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight;
and



(2) When so driving does any act forbidden by law or fails
to perform any duty imposed by law in the driving of such
vehicle, which act or failure proximately causes the death of any
person within one year next following such act or failure; and



(3) Commits such the act or failure in reckless disregard of
the safety of others, and when the influence of alcohol,
controlled substances or drugs is shown to be a contributing
cause to such the death, shall be is guilty of a felony and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary a
state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than
ten years and shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars
nor more than three thousand dollars.



(b) Any person who:



(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while:



(A) He or she is under the influence of alcohol; or



(B) He or she is under the influence of any controlled
substance; or



(C) He or she is under the influence of any other drug; or



(D) He or she is under the combined influence of alcohol and
any controlled substance or any other drug; or



(E) He or she has an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight;
and



(2) When so driving does any act forbidden by law or fails
to perform any duty imposed by law in the driving of such the
vehicle, which act or failure proximately causes the death of any
person within one year next following such the act or failure, is
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be
confined in the county or regional jail for not less than ninety
days nor more than one year and shall be fined not less than five
hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.



(c) Any person who:



(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while:



(A) He or she is under the influence of alcohol; or



(B) He or she is under the influence of any controlled
substance; or



(C) He or she is under the influence of any other drug; or



(D) He or she is under the combined influence of alcohol and
any controlled substance or any other drug; or



(E) He or she has an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight;
and



(2) When so driving does any act forbidden by law or fails
to perform any duty imposed by law in the driving of such the
vehicle, which act or failure proximately causes bodily injury to
any person other than himself or herself, is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in
the county or regional jail for not less than one day nor more
than one year, which jail term shall include actual confinement
of not less than twenty-four hours, and shall be fined not less
than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.



(d) Any person who:



(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while:



(A) He or she is under the influence of alcohol; or



(B) He or she is under the influence of any controlled
substance; or



(C) He or she is under the influence of any other drug; or



(D) He or she is under the combined influence of alcohol and
any controlled substance or any other drug; or



(E) He or she has an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight;



(2) Is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not less
than one day nor more than six months, which jail term shall
include actual confinement of not less than twenty-four hours,
and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more
than five hundred dollars.



(e) Any person who, being an habitual user of narcotic drugs
or amphetamine or any derivative thereof, drives a vehicle in
this state, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not
less than one day nor more than six months, which jail term shall
include actual confinement of not less than twenty-four hours,
and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more
than five hundred dollars.



(f) Any person who:



(1) Knowingly permits his or her vehicle to be driven in this
state by any other person who is:



(A) Under the influence of alcohol; or



(B) Under the influence of any controlled substance; or



(C) Under the influence of any other drug; or



(D) Under the combined influence of alcohol and any
controlled substance or any other drug; or



(E) Has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of ten
eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight;



(2) Is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not more
than six months and shall be fined not less than one hundred
dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.



(g) Any person who:



Knowingly permits his or her vehicle to be driven in this
state by any other person who is an habitual user of narcotic
drugs or amphetamine or any derivative thereof, is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in
the county or regional jail for not more than six months and
shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than
five hundred dollars.



(h) Any person under the age of twenty-one years who drives
a vehicle in this state while he or she has an alcohol
concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one
percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of
one percent, by weight, shall, for a first offense under this
subsection be is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor
more than one hundred dollars. For a second or subsequent
offense under this subsection, such the person is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in
the county or regional jail for twenty-four hours, and shall be
fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars. A person who is charged with a first offense
under the provisions of this subsection may move for a
continuance of the proceedings from time to time to allow the
person to participate in the vehicle alcohol test and lock
program as provided for in section three-a, article five-a of
this chapter. Upon successful completion of the program, the
court shall dismiss the charge against the person and expunge the
person's record as it relates to the alleged offense. In the
event the person fails to successfully complete the program, the
court shall proceed to an adjudication of the alleged offense.
A motion for a continuance under this subsection shall may not be
construed as an admission or be used as evidence.



A person arrested and charged with an offense under the
provisions of subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (i)
of this section may not also be charged with an offense under
this subsection arising out of the same transaction or
occurrence.



(i) Any person who:



(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while:



(A) He or she is under the influence of alcohol; or



(B) He or she is under the influence of any controlled
substance; or



(C) He or she is under the influence of any other drug; or



(D) He or she is under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug; or



(E) He or she has an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight;
and



(2) The person when so driving has on or within the motor
vehicle one or more other persons who are unemancipated minors
who have not reached their sixteenth birthday, shall be is guilty
of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined
in the county or regional jail for not less than two days nor
more than twelve months, which jail term shall include actual
confinement of not less than forty-eight hours, and shall be
fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one
thousand dollars.



(j) A person violating any provision of subsection (b), (c),
(d), (e), (f), (g) or (i) of this section shall, for the second
offense under this section be is guilty of a misdemeanor and,
upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or
regional jail for a period of not less than six months nor more
than one year, and the court may, in its discretion, impose a
fine of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than three
thousand dollars.



(k) A person violating any provision of subsection (b), (c),
(d), (e), (f), (g) or (i) of this section shall, for the third or
any subsequent offense under this section be is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in the
penitentiary a state correctional facility for not less than one
nor more than three years, and the court may, in its discretion,
impose a fine of not less than three thousand dollars nor more
than five thousand dollars.



(l) For purposes of subsections (j) and (k) of this section
relating to second, third and subsequent offenses, the following
types of convictions shall be are regarded as convictions under
this section:



(1) Any conviction under the provisions of subsection (a),
(b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of the prior enactment of this section
for an offense which occurred on or after the first day of
September, one thousand nine hundred eighty-one, and prior to the
effective date of this section;



(2) Any conviction under the provisions of subsection (a) or
(b) of the prior enactment of this section for an offense which
occurred within a period of five years immediately preceding the
first day of September, one thousand nine hundred eighty-one; and



(3) Any conviction under a municipal ordinance of this state
or any other state or a statute of the United States or of any
other state of an offense which has the same elements as an
offense described in subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or
(g) of this section, which offense occurred after the tenth day
of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-three.



(m) A person may be charged in a warrant or indictment or
information for a second or subsequent offense under this section
if the person has been previously arrested for or charged with a
violation of this section which is alleged to have occurred
within the applicable time periods for prior offenses,
notwithstanding the fact that there has not been a final
adjudication of the charges for the alleged previous offense. In
such that case, the warrant or indictment or information must set
forth the date, location and particulars of the previous offense
or offenses. No person may be convicted of a second or
subsequent offense under this section unless the conviction for
the previous offense has become final.



(n) The fact that any person charged with a violation of
subsection (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this section, or any
person permitted to drive as described under subsection (f) or
(g) of this section, is or has been legally entitled to use
alcohol, a controlled substance or a drug shall may not
constitute a defense against any charge of violating subsection
(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of this section.



(o) For purposes of this section, the term "controlled
substance" shall have has the meaning ascribed to it in chapter
sixty-a of this code.



(p) The sentences provided herein upon conviction for a
violation of this article are mandatory and shall not be are not subject to suspension or probation: Provided, That the court may
apply the provisions of article eleven-a, chapter sixty-two of
this code to a person sentenced or committed to a term of one
year or less. An order for home detention by the court pursuant
to the provisions of article eleven-b, chapter sixty-two of this
code may be used as an alternative sentence to any period of
incarceration required by this section.
§17C-5-6a. Taking a child into custody; driving a motor vehicle

with any amount of blood alcohol.
(a) A preliminary breath analysis may be administered to a
child whenever a law-enforcement official has reasonable cause to
believe the child to have been driving a motor vehicle with any
amount of alcohol in his or her blood, for the purpose of
determining the child's blood alcohol content. Such The breath
analysis must be administered as soon as possible after the
law-enforcement officer arrives at a reasonable belief that the
child has been driving a motor vehicle with any amount of alcohol
in his or her blood. Any preliminary breath analysis
administered pursuant to this subsection must be administered
with a device and in a manner approved by the division of health
for that purpose. If a preliminary breath analysis is
administered, the results shall be used solely for the purpose of
guiding the officer in deciding whether the child, at the time of
driving the motor vehicle, had an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight,
and should therefore be taken into custody to administer a
secondary test in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) A child may be taken into custody by a law-enforcement
official without a warrant or court order if the official has
reasonable grounds to believe the child to have been driving a
motor vehicle with any amount of alcohol in his or her blood. If
a preliminary breath analysis is administered and the results of
the analysis indicate that the child has an alcohol concentration
in his or her blood of less than two hundredths of one percent,
by weight, the child may not be taken into custody unless other
grounds exist under subsection (b), section eight, article five,
chapter forty-nine of this code. Upon taking a child into
custody pursuant to the provisions of this section, the official
shall take all reasonable steps to cause notification to be made
to the child's parent or custodian or, if the parent or custodian
cannot be located, to a close relative.
(c) Upon taking a child into custody pursuant to this
section, the official shall take the child to a facility where a
secondary test of the child's blood or urine may be administered
at the direction of the official or a test of the child's breath
may be administered by the official. The law-enforcement agency
by which such the law-enforcement official is employed shall
designate whether the secondary test is a test of either blood, breath or urine: Provided, That if the test so designated is a
blood test and the child refuses to submit to the blood test,
then the law-enforcement official taking the child into custody
shall designate in lieu thereof a breath test to be administered.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section seven of this article,
a refusal to submit to a blood test only shall may not result in
the revocation of the child's license to operate a motor vehicle
in this state. Any child taken into custody pursuant to this
section shall be given a written statement advising him or her
that a refusal to submit to a secondary test of either blood,
breath or urine, as finally designated by the law-enforcement
agency or official in accordance with this subsection, will
result in the suspension of his or her license to operate a motor
vehicle in this state for a period of at least thirty days or a
revocation of the license for a period up to life.
(d) If the law-enforcement official taking the child into
custody is employed by a law-enforcement agency which does not
have available the testing equipment or facilities necessary to
conduct any secondary breath test which may be administered
pursuant to the provisions of this section, then the official who
took the child into custody may request another qualified person
to administer a secondary breath test: Provided, That the breath
test shall be administered in the presence of the official who
took the child into custody. The results of such the breath test may be used in evidence to the same extent and in the same manner
as if such the test had been conducted by the law-enforcement
official who took the child into custody. The qualified person
administering the breath test must be a member of the division of
public safety West Virginia state police, the sheriff of the
county wherein the child was taken into custody or any deputy
of such the sheriff or a law-enforcement official of another
municipality within the county wherein the child was taken into
custody. Only the person actually administering the secondary
breath test is competent to testify as to the results and the
veracity of the test. If the secondary test is a blood test, the
test shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of
section six of this article.
(e) After taking the child into custody, if the
law-enforcement official has reasonable cause to believe that the
act of the child in driving the motor vehicle is such that it
would provide grounds for arrest for an offense defined under the
provisions of section two of this article if the child were an
adult, then the official shall proceed to treat the child in the
same manner as any other child taken into custody without a
warrant or court order, in accordance with the provisions of
section eight of this article.
(f) If the results of any secondary test administered
pursuant to this section indicate that the child, at the time of driving the motor vehicle, had an alcohol concentration in his or
her blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or less, by
weight, and if the law-enforcement official does not have
reasonable cause to believe that the act of the child in driving
the motor vehicle is such that it would provide grounds for
arrest for an offense defined under the provisions of section two
of this article if the child were an adult, then the official
shall release the child: Provided, That if the results of any
secondary test administered pursuant to this section indicate
that the child, at the time of driving the motor vehicle, had an
alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of
one percent or more, by weight, the child shall only be released
to a parent or custodian, or to some other responsible adult.
§17C-5-8. Interpretation and use of chemical test.
Upon trial for the offense of driving a motor vehicle in
this state while under the influence of alcohol, controlled
substances or drugs, or upon the trial of any civil or criminal
action arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any
person driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of
alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, evidence of the amount
of alcohol in the person's blood at the time of the arrest or of
the acts alleged, as shown by a chemical analysis of his or her
blood, breath or urine, is admissible, if the sample or specimen
was taken within two hours from and after the time of arrest or of the acts alleged, and shall give rise to the following
presumptions or have the following effect:
(a) Evidence that there was, at that time, five hundredths
of one percent or less, by weight, of alcohol in his or her
blood, shall be prima facie evidence that the person was not
under the influence of alcohol;
(b) Evidence that there was, at that time, more than five
hundredths of one percent and less than ten eight hundredths of
one percent, by weight, of alcohol in the person's blood shall be
is relevant evidence, but it is not to be given prima facie
effect in indicating whether the person was under the influence
of alcohol;
(c) Evidence that there was, at that time, ten eight
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his
or her blood, shall be admitted as prima facie evidence that the
person was under the influence of alcohol.
A determination of the percent, by weight, of alcohol in the
blood shall be based upon a formula of: (1) The number of grams
of alcohol per one hundred cubic centimeters of blood; (2) the
number of grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath;
or (3) the number of grams of alcohol per sixty-seven milliliters
of urine.
A chemical analysis of a person's blood, breath or urine, in
order to give rise to the presumptions or to have the effect provided for in subdivisions (a), (b) and (c) of this section,
must be performed in accordance with methods and standards
approved by the state division of health. A chemical analysis of
blood or urine to determine the alcoholic content of blood shall
be conducted by a qualified laboratory or by the state police
scientific laboratory of the criminal identification bureau of
the division of public safety West Virginia state police.
The provisions of this article shall may not limit the
introduction in any administrative or judicial proceeding of any
other competent evidence bearing on the question of whether the
person was under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances
or drugs.
ARTICLE 5A. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR SUSPENSION AND
REVOCATION OF LICENSES FOR DRIVING UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES OR
DRUGS.
§17C-5A-1. Implied consent to administrative procedure;
revocation for driving under the influence of
alcohol, controlled substances or refusal to
submit to secondary chemical test.
(a) Any person who is licensed to operate a motor vehicle in
this state and who drives a motor vehicle in this state shall be
deemed is considered to have given his or her consent by the
operation thereof, subject to the provisions of this article, to the procedure set forth in this article for the determination of
whether his or her license to operate a motor vehicle in this
state should be revoked because he or she did drive a motor
vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled
substances or drugs, or combined influence of alcohol or
controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle
while having an alcoholic concentration in his or her blood of
ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or did
refuse to submit to any designated secondary chemical test, or
did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years
with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten
eight hundredths of one percent, by weight.
(b) Any law-enforcement officer arresting a person for an
offense described in section two, article five of this chapter or
for an offense described in a municipal ordinance which has the
same elements as an offense described in said section two of
article five shall report to the commissioner of the division of
motor vehicles by written statement within forty-eight hours the
name and address of the person so arrested. The report shall
include the specific offense with which the person is charged,
and, if applicable, a copy of the results of any secondary tests
of blood, breath or urine. The signing of the statement required
to be signed by this subsection shall constitute constitutes an oath or affirmation by the person signing the statement that the
statements contained therein in the statement are true and that
any copy filed is a true copy. The statement shall contain upon
its face a warning to the officer signing that to willfully sign
a statement containing false information concerning any matter or
thing, material or not material, is false swearing and is a
misdemeanor.
(c) If, upon examination of the written statement of the
officer and the tests results described in subsection (b) of this
section, the commissioner shall determine determines that a
person was arrested for an offense described in section two,
article five of this chapter or for an offense described in a
municipal ordinance which has the same elements as an offense
described in said section two of article five section two,
article five of this chapter, and that the results of any
secondary test or tests indicate that at the time the test or
tests were administered the person had, in his or her blood, an
alcohol concentration of ten eight hundredths of one percent or
more, by weight, or at the time the person was arrested he or she
was under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or
drugs, the commissioner shall make and enter an order revoking
the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state.
If the results of the tests indicate that at the time the test or
tests were administered the person was under the age of twenty-one years and had an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but
less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the
commissioner shall make and enter an order suspending the
person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. A
copy of the order shall be forwarded to the person by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall contain
the reasons for the revocation or suspension and describe the
applicable revocation or suspension periods provided for in
section two of this article. No revocation or suspension shall
may become effective until ten days after receipt of a copy of
the order.
(d) Any law-enforcement officer taking a child into custody
under the provisions of section six-a, article five of this
chapter who has reasonable cause to believe that the child, at
the time of driving the motor vehicle, had an alcohol
concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one
percent or more, by weight, or that the act of the child in
driving the motor vehicle was such that it would provide grounds
for arrest for an offense defined under the provisions of section
two, article five of this chapter if the child were an adult,
shall report to the commissioner of the division of motor
vehicles by written statement within forty-eight hours the name
and address of the child.
(e) If applicable, the report shall include a description of
the specific offense with which the child could have been charged
if the child were an adult, and a copy of the results of any
secondary tests of blood, breath or urine. The signing of the
statement required to be signed by this subsection shall
constitute constitutes an oath or affirmation by the person
signing such the statement that the statements contained therein
in the statement are true and that any copy filed is a true
copy. Such The statement shall contain upon its face a warning
to the officer signing that to willfully sign a statement
containing false information concerning any matter or thing,
material or not material, is false swearing and is a misdemeanor.
(f) Upon examination of the written statement of the officer
and any test results described in subsection (d) of this section,
if the commissioner determines that the results of the tests
indicate that at the time the test or tests were administered the
child had, in his or her blood, an alcohol concentration of two
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but also determines
that the act of the child in driving the motor vehicle was not
such that it would provide grounds for arrest for an offense
defined under the provisions of subsection (a), (b), (c), (d),
(e), (f) or (g), section two, article five of this chapter if the
child were an adult, the commissioner shall make and enter an
order suspending the child's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. If the commissioner determines that the act of
the child in driving the motor vehicle was such that it would
provide grounds for arrest for an offense defined under the
provisions of subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g),
section two, article five of this chapter if the child were an
adult, the commissioner shall make and enter an order revoking
the child's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. A
copy of such order shall be forwarded to the child by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall contain
the reasons for the suspension or revocation and describe the
applicable suspension or revocation periods provided for in
section two of this article. No suspension or revocation shall
may become effective until ten days after receipt of a copy of
such the order.
§17C-5A-1a. Revocation upon conviction for driving under the
influence of alcohol, controlled substances or
drugs.
(a) If a person is convicted for an offense defined in
section two, article five of this chapter or for an offense
described in a municipal ordinance which has the same elements as
an offense described in said section two of article five section
two, article five of this chapter, because the person did drive
a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled
substances or drugs, or the combined influence of alcohol or controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle
while having an alcoholic concentration in his or her blood of
ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or did
drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years
with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten
eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, and if the person
does not act to appeal the conviction within the time periods
described in subsection (b) of this section, the person's license
to operate a motor vehicle in this state shall be revoked or
suspended in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) The clerk of the court in which a person is convicted
for an offense described in section two, article five of this
chapter or for an offense described in a municipal ordinance
which has the same elements as an offense described in said
section two of article five section two, article five of this
chapter, shall forward to the commissioner a transcript of the
judgment of conviction. If the conviction is the judgment of a
magistrate court, the magistrate court clerk shall forward the
transcript when the person convicted has not requested an appeal
within twenty days of the sentencing for such that conviction.
If the conviction is the judgment of a mayor or police court
judge or municipal court judge, the clerk or recorder shall
forward the transcript when the person convicted has not perfected an appeal within ten days from and after the date upon
which the sentence is imposed. If the conviction is the judgment
of a circuit court, the circuit clerk shall forward the
transcript when the person convicted has not filed a notice of
intent to file a petition for appeal or writ of error within
thirty days after the judgment was entered.
(c) If, upon examination of the transcript of the judgment of
conviction, the commissioner shall determine that the person was
convicted for an offense described in section two, article five
of this chapter or for an offense described in a municipal
ordinance which has the same elements as an offense described in
said section two of article five section two, article five of
this chapter, because the person did drive a motor vehicle while
under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs,
or the combined influence of alcohol or controlled substances or
drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an alcoholic
concentration in his or her blood of ten eight hundredths of one
percent or more, by weight, the commissioner shall make and enter
an order revoking the person's license to operate a motor vehicle
in this state. If the commissioner determines that the person
was convicted of driving a motor vehicle while under the age of
twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but
less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner shall make and enter an order suspending the
person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. The
order shall contain the reasons for the revocation or suspension
and the revocation or suspension periods provided for in section
two of this article. Further, the order shall give the
procedures for requesting a hearing which is to be held in
accordance with the provisions of section two of this article.
The person shall be advised in the order that because of the
receipt of a transcript of the judgment of conviction by the
commissioner a presumption exists that the person named in the
transcript of the judgment of conviction is the person named in
the commissioner's order and such constitutes sufficient evidence
to support revocation or suspension and that the sole purpose for
the hearing held under this section is for the person requesting
the hearing to present evidence that he or she is not the person
named in the transcript of the judgment of conviction. A copy of
the order shall be forwarded to the person by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested. No revocation or
suspension shall may become effective until ten days after
receipt of a copy of the order.
(d) The provisions of this section shall may not apply if an
order reinstating the operator's license of the person has been
entered by the commissioner prior to the receipt of the
transcript of the judgment of conviction.
(e) For the purposes of this section, a person is convicted
when the person enters a plea of guilty or is found guilty by a
court or jury.
§17C-5A-2. Hearing; revocation; review.
(a) Upon the written request of a person whose license to
operate a motor vehicle in this state has been revoked or
suspended under the provisions of section one of this article or
section seven, article five of this chapter, the commissioner of
motor vehicles shall stay the imposition of the period of
revocation or suspension and afford the person an opportunity to
be heard. The written request must be filed with the
commissioner in person or by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, within ten days after receipt of a copy of the
order of revocation or suspension. The hearing shall be before
the commissioner or a hearing examiner retained by the
commissioner who shall rule on evidentiary issues and submit
proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law for the
consideration of said the commissioner and all of the pertinent
provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code
shall apply: Provided, That in the case of a resident of this
state the hearing shall be held in the county wherein where the
arrest was made in this state unless the commissioner or the
commissioner's authorized deputy or agent and the person agree
that the hearing may be held in some other county.
(b) Any such The hearing shall be held within twenty days
after the date upon which the commissioner received the timely
written request therefor for the hearing, unless there is a
postponement or continuance. The commissioner may postpone or
continue any hearing on the commissioner's own motion, or upon
application for each person for good cause shown. The
commissioner shall adopt and implement by a procedural rule
written policies governing the postponement or continuance of any
such the hearing on the commissioner's own motion or for the
benefit of any law-enforcement officer or any person requesting
the hearing, and such the policies shall be enforced and applied
to all parties equally. For the purpose of conducting the
hearing, the commissioner shall have has the power and authority
to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in accordance
with the provisions of section one, article five, chapter
twenty-nine-a of this code: Provided, That the notice of hearing
to the appropriate law-enforcement officers by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, shall constitute
constitutes a subpoena to appear at the hearing without the
necessity of payment of fees by the division of motor vehicles.
All subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall be issued and
served within the time and for the fees and shall be enforced, as
specified in section one, article five of said chapter
twenty-nine-a, and all of the said section one provisions dealing with subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum shall apply to subpoenas
and subpoenas duces tecum issued for the purpose of a hearing
hereunder under this section.
(c) Law-enforcement officers shall be compensated for the
time expended in their travel and appearance before the
commissioner by the law-enforcement agency by whom they are
employed at their regular rate if they are scheduled to be on
duty during said that time or at their regular overtime rate if
they are scheduled to be off duty during said that time.
(d) The principal question at the hearing shall be is whether
the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of
alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor
vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's
blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight,
or did refuse to submit to the designated secondary chemical
test, or did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-
one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of
two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than
ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight.
The commissioner may propose a legislative rule in compliance
with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of
this code, which rule may provide that if a person accused of
driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol,
controlled substances or drugs, or accused of driving a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's
blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight,
or accused of driving a motor vehicle while under the age of
twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but
less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, intends
to challenge the results of any secondary chemical test of blood,
breath or urine, or intends to cross-examine the individual or
individuals who administered the test or performed the chemical
analysis, the person shall, within an appropriate period of time
prior to the hearing, notify the commissioner in writing of such
that intention. The rule may provide that when there is a
failure to comply with the notice requirement, the results of the
secondary test, if any, shall be are admissible as though the
person and the commissioner had stipulated the admissibility of
such the evidence. Any such rule shall provide that the rule
shall may not be invoked in the case of a person who is not
represented by counsel unless the communication from the
commissioner to the person establishing a time and place for the
hearing also informed the person of the consequences of the
person's failure to timely notify the commissioner of the
person's intention to challenge the results of the secondary
chemical test or cross-examine the individual or individuals
who administered the test or performed the chemical analysis.
(e) In the case of a hearing wherein where a person is
accused of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of
alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or accused of driving a
motor vehicle while having an alcoholic concentration in the
person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by
weight, or accused of driving a motor vehicle while under the
age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or
her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight,
but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the
commissioner shall make specific findings as to: (1) Whether
the arresting law-enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to
believe the person to have been driving while under the influence
of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or while having an
alcoholic concentration in the person's blood of ten eight
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or to have been
driving a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years
with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten
eight hundredths of one percent, by weight; (2) whether the
person was lawfully placed under arrest for an offense involving
driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or
drugs, or was lawfully taken into custody for the purpose of
administering a secondary test; and (3) whether the tests, if
any, were administered in accordance with the provisions of this article and article five of this chapter.
(f) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a
motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled
substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an
alcoholic concentration in the person's blood of ten eight
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or did drive a
motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an
alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of
one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight
hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner also finds
by a preponderance of the evidence that the person when so
driving did an act forbidden by law or failed to perform a duty
imposed by law, which act or failure proximately caused the death
of a person and was committed in reckless disregard of the safety
of others, and if the commissioner further finds that the
influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs or the
alcoholic concentration in the blood was a contributing cause to
the death, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for
a period of ten years: Provided, That if the commissioner has
previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the
provisions of this section or section one of this article within
the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the
period of revocation shall be is for the life of the person.
(g) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled
substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an
alcoholic concentration in the person's blood of ten eight
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, the commissioner
also finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person
when so driving did an act forbidden by law or failed to perform
a duty imposed by law, which act or failure proximately caused
the death of a person, the commissioner shall revoke the person's
license for a period of five years: Provided, That if the
commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's
license under the provisions of this section or section one of
this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date
of arrest, the period of revocation shall be is for the life of
the person.
(h) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a
motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled
substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an
alcoholic concentration in the person's blood of ten eight
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, the commissioner
also finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person
when so driving did an act forbidden by law or failed to perform
a duty imposed by law, which act or failure proximately caused
bodily injury to a person other than himself or herself, the
commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of two years: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously
suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of
this section or section one of this article within the ten years
immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of
revocation shall be is ten years: Provided, however, That if the
commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's
license more than once under the provisions of this section or
section one of this article within the ten years immediately
preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be
is for the life of the person.
(i) If the commissioner finds by a preponderance of the
evidence that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under
the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or did
drive a motor vehicle while having an alcoholic concentration in
the person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or
more, by weight, or finds that the person, being an habitual user
of narcotic drugs or amphetamine or any derivative thereof, did
drive a motor vehicle, or finds that the person knowingly
permitted the person's vehicle to be driven by another person who
was under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or
drugs, or knowingly permitted the person's vehicle to be driven
by another person who had an alcoholic concentration in his or
her blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by
weight, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of six months: Provided, That if the commissioner has
previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the
provisions of this section or section one of this article within
the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the
period of revocation shall be is ten years: Provided, however,
That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the
person's license more than once under the provisions of this
section or section one of this article within the ten years
immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of
revocation shall be is for the life of the person.
(j) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a
motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an
alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of
one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight
hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner also finds
by a preponderance of the evidence that the person when so
driving did performed an act forbidden by law or failed to
perform a duty imposed by law, which act or failure proximately
caused the death of a person, and if the commissioner further
finds that the alcoholic concentration in the blood was a
contributing cause to the death, the commissioner shall revoke
the person's license for a period of five years: Provided, That
if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the
person's license under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding
the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be is for the
life of the person.
(k) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a
motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an
alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of
one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight
hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner also finds
by a preponderance of the evidence that the person when so
driving did performed an act forbidden by law or failed to
perform a duty imposed by law, which act or failure proximately
caused bodily injury to a person other than himself or herself,
and if the commissioner further finds that the alcoholic
concentration in the blood was a contributing cause to the bodily
injury, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a
period of two years: Provided, That if the commissioner has
previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the
provisions of this section or section one of this article within
the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the
period of revocation shall be is ten years: Provided, however,
That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the
person's license more than once under the provisions of this
section or section one of this article within the ten years
immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be is for the life of the person.
(l) If the commissioner finds by a preponderance of the
evidence that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under
the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his
or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight,
but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the
commissioner shall suspend the person's license for a period of
sixty days.
(m) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a
motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled
substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an
alcoholic concentration in the person's blood of ten eight
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, the commissioner
also finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person
when so driving did have on or within the motor vehicle another
person who has not reached his or her sixteenth birthday, the
commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of
one year: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously
suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of
this section or section one of this article within the ten years
immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of
revocation shall be is ten years: Provided, however, That if the
commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's
license more than once under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately
preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be
is for the life of the person.
(n) For purposes of this section, where reference is made to
previous suspensions or revocations under this section, the
following types of criminal convictions or administrative
suspensions or revocations shall also be regarded as suspensions
or revocations under this section or section one of this article:
(1) Any administrative revocation under the provisions of the
prior enactment of this section for conduct which occurred within
the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest.
(2) Any suspension or revocation on the basis of a conviction
under a municipal ordinance of another state or a statute of the
United States or of any other state of an offense which has the
same elements as an offense described in section two, article
five of this chapter, for conduct which occurred within the ten
years immediately preceding the date of arrest.
(3) Any revocation under the provisions of section seven,
article five of this chapter, for conduct which occurred within
the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest.
(o) In the case of a hearing wherein where a person is
accused of refusing to submit to a designated secondary test, the
commissioner shall make specific findings as to: (1) Whether the
arresting law-enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving a motor vehicle in this state
while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or
drugs; (2) whether the person was lawfully placed under arrest
for an offense relating to driving a motor vehicle in this state
while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or
drugs; (3) whether the person refused to submit to the secondary
test finally designated in the manner provided in section four,
article five of this chapter; and (4) whether the person had been
given a written statement advising the person that the person's
license to operate a motor vehicle in this state would be revoked
for at least one year and up to life if the person refused to
submit to the test finally designated in the manner provided in
section four, article five of this chapter.
(p) If the commissioner finds by a preponderance of the
evidence that: (1) The arresting law-enforcement officer had
reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving a motor
vehicle in this state while under the influence of alcohol,
controlled substances or drugs; (2) the person was lawfully
placed under arrest for an offense relating to driving a motor
vehicle in this state while under the influence of alcohol,
controlled substances or drugs; (3) the person refused to submit
to the secondary chemical test finally designated; and (4) the
person had been given a written statement advising the person
that the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state would be revoked for a period of at least one year and up
to life if the person refused to submit to the test finally
designated, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license to
operate a motor vehicle in this state for the periods specified
in section seven, article five of this chapter.
(q) If the commissioner finds to the contrary with respect to
the above issues, the commissioner shall may rescind his or her
earlier order of revocation or shall may reduce the order of
revocation to the appropriate period of revocation under this
section, or section seven, article five of this chapter.
A copy of the commissioner's order made and entered following
the hearing shall be served upon the person by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested. During the pendency of
any such hearing, the revocation of the person's license to
operate a motor vehicle in this state shall be is stayed.
If the commissioner shall after the hearing make and enter an
order affirming the commissioner's earlier order of revocation,
the person shall be is entitled to judicial review as set forth
in chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, except that the
commissioner shall may not stay enforcement of the order; and,
pending the appeal, the court may grant a stay or supersedeas of
the order only upon motion and hearing, and a finding by the
court upon the evidence presented, that there is a substantial
probability that the appellant shall prevail upon the merits, and the appellant will suffer irreparable harm if the order is not
stayed: Provided, That in no event shall may the stay or
supersedeas of the order exceed thirty days.
(r) In any revocation or suspension pursuant to this section,
if the driver whose license is revoked or suspended had not
reached the driver's eighteenth birthday at the time of the
conduct for which the license is revoked or suspended, the
driver's license shall be is revoked or suspended until the
driver's eighteenth birthday, or the applicable statutory period
of revocation or suspension prescribed by this section, whichever
is longer.
(s) Funds for this section's hearing and appeal process may
be provided from the drunk driving prevention fund, as created by
section sixteen, article fifteen, chapter eleven of this code,
upon application for such the funds to the commission on drunk
driving prevention.
§17C-5A-3a. Establishment of and participation in the motor


vehicle alcohol test and lock program.
(a) The division of motor vehicles shall control and regulate
a motor vehicle alcohol test and lock program for persons whose
licenses have been revoked pursuant to this article or the
provisions of article five of this chapter. Such The program
shall include the establishment of a users fee for persons
participating in the program which shall be paid in advance and deposited into the driver's rehabilitation fund. Except where
specified otherwise, the use of the term "program" in this
section refers to the motor vehicle alcohol test and lock
program. The commissioner of the division of motor vehicles
shall propose legislative rules for promulgation in accordance
with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code for the
purpose of implementing the provisions of this section. Such The
rules shall also prescribe those requirements which, in addition
to the requirements specified by this section for eligibility to
participate in the program, the commissioner determines must be
met to obtain the commissioner's approval to operate a motor
vehicle equipped with a motor vehicle alcohol test and lock
system. For purposes of this section, a "motor vehicle alcohol
test and lock system" means a mechanical or computerized system
which, in the opinion of the commissioner, prevents the operation
of a motor vehicle when, through the system's assessment of the
blood alcohol content of the person operating or attempting to
operate the vehicle, such the person is determined to be under
the influence of alcohol.
(b) (1) Any person whose license has been revoked pursuant to
this article or the provisions of article five of this chapter is
eligible to participate in the program when such the person's
minimum revocation period as specified by subsection (c) of this
section has expired and such person is enrolled in or has successfully completed the safety and treatment program or
presents proof to the commissioner within sixty days of receiving
approval to participate by the commissioner that he or she is
enrolled in a safety and treatment program: Provided, That no
person whose license has been revoked pursuant to the provisions
of section one-a of this article for conviction of an offense
defined in subsections subsection (a) or (b), section two,
article five of this chapter, or pursuant to the provisions of
subsections subsection (f) or (g), section two of this article,
shall be is eligible for participation in the program: Provided,
however, That any person whose license is revoked pursuant to
this article or pursuant to article five of this chapter for an
act which occurred either while participating in or after
successfully completing the program shall may not again be
eligible to participate in such the program.
(2) Any person whose license has been suspended pursuant to
the provisions of subsection (l), section two of this article for
driving a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years
with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two
hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten
eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, is eligible to
participate in the program after thirty days have elapsed from
the date of the initial suspension, during which time the
suspension was actually in effect: Provided, That in the case of a person under the age of eighteen, the person shall be is
eligible to participate in the program after thirty days have
elapsed from the date of the initial suspension, during which
time the suspension was actually in effect, or after the person's
eighteenth birthday, whichever is later. Before the commissioner
approves a person to operate a motor vehicle equipped with a
motor vehicle alcohol test and lock system, the person must agree
to thereafter comply with the following conditions:
(A) If not already enrolled, the person will enroll in and
complete the educational program provided for in subsection (c),
section three of this article at the earliest time that placement
in the educational program is available, unless good cause is
demonstrated to the commissioner as to why placement should be
postponed;
(B) The person will pay all costs of the educational program,
any administrative costs and all costs assessed for any
suspension hearing.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section to the
contrary, no person eligible to participate in the program shall
may operate a motor vehicle unless approved to do so by the
commissioner.
(c) For purposes of this section, "minimum revocation period"
means the portion which has actually expired of the period of
revocation imposed by the commissioner pursuant to this article or the provisions of article five of this chapter upon a person
eligible for participation in the program as follows:
(1) For a person whose license has been revoked for a first
offense for six months pursuant to the provisions of section
one-a of this article for conviction of an offense defined in
section two, article five of this chapter, or pursuant to
subsection (i), section two of this article, the minimum period
of revocation before such the person is eligible for
participation in the test and lock program is thirty days, and
the minimum period for the use of the ignition interlock device
is five months, or that the period described in subdivision (1),
subsection (e) of this section, whichever period is greater;
(2) For a person whose license has been revoked for a first
offense pursuant to section seven, article five of this chapter,
refusal to submit to a designated secondary chemical test, the
minimum period of revocation before such the person is eligible
for participation in the test and lock program is thirty days,
and the minimum period for the use of the ignition interlock
device is nine months, or the period set forth in subdivision
(1), subsection (e) of this section, whichever period is greater;
(3) For a person whose license has been revoked for a second
offense pursuant to the provisions of section one-a of this
article for conviction of an offense defined in section two,
article five of this chapter, or pursuant to section two of this article, the minimum period of revocation before such the person
is eligible for participation in the test and lock program is
nine months, and the minimum period for the use of the ignition
interlock device is eighteen months, or that period set forth in
subdivision (2), subsection (e) of this section, whichever period
is greater;
(4) For a person whose license has been revoked for any
other period of time pursuant to the provisions of section one-a
of this article for conviction of an offense defined in section
two, article five of this chapter, or pursuant to section two of
this article or pursuant to section seven, article five of this
chapter, the minimum period of revocation is eighteen months,
and the minimum period for the use of the ignition interlock
device is two years, or that the period set forth in subdivision
(3), subsection (e) of this section, whichever period is greater;
(5) An applicant for the test and lock program must may not
have been convicted of any violation of section three, article
four, chapter seventeen-b of this code, for driving while the
applicant's driver's license was suspended or revoked, within the
two-year period preceding the date of application for admission
to the test and lock program;
(6) The commissioner is hereby authorized to allow
individuals in the test and lock program an additional device or
devices if such is necessary for employment purposes.
(d) Upon permitting an eligible person to participate in the
program, the commissioner shall issue to such the person, and
such the person shall be is required to exhibit on demand, a
driver's license which shall reflect that such the person is
restricted to the operation of a motor vehicle which is equipped
with an approved motor vehicle alcohol test and lock system.
(e) Any person who has completed the safety and treatment
program and who has not violated the terms required by the
commissioner of such the person's participation in the motor
vehicle alcohol test and lock program shall be is entitled to the
restoration of such the person's driver's license upon the
expiration of:
(1) One hundred eighty days of the full revocation period
imposed by the commissioner for a person described in subdivision
(1) or (2), subsection (c) of this section;
(2) The full revocation period imposed by the commissioner
for a person described in subdivision (3), subsection (c) of
this section;
(3) One year from the date a person described in subdivision
(4), subsection (c) of this section is permitted to operate a
motor vehicle by the commissioner.
(f) A person whose license has been suspended pursuant to the
provisions of subsection (l), section two of this article, who
has completed the educational program, and who has not violated the terms required by the commissioner of such the person's
participation in the motor vehicle alcohol test and lock program
shall be is entitled to the reinstatement of his or her driver's
license six months from the date the person is permitted to
operate a motor vehicle by the commissioner. When a license has
been reinstated pursuant to this subsection, the records ordering
the suspension, records of any administrative hearing, records of
any blood alcohol test results and all other records pertaining
to the suspension shall be expunged by operation of law:
Provided, That a person shall be is entitled to expungement under
the provisions of this subsection only once. The expungement
shall be accomplished by physically marking the records to show
that such the records have been expunged, and by securely sealing
and filing the records. Expungement shall have has the legal
effect as if the suspension never occurred. The records shall
may not be disclosed or made available for inspection, and in
response to a request for record information, the commissioner
shall reply that no information is available. Information from
the file may be used by the commissioner for research and
statistical purposes so long as the use of such the information
does not divulge the identity of the person.
(g) In addition to any other penalty imposed by this code,
any person who operates a motor vehicle not equipped with an
approved motor vehicle alcohol test and lock system during such person's participation in the motor vehicle alcohol test and lock
program is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof,
shall be confined in the county or regional jail for a period not
less than one month nor more than six months and fined not less
than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars. Any
person who assists another person required by the terms of such
the other person's participation in the motor vehicle alcohol
test and lock program to use a motor vehicle alcohol test and
lock system in any effort to bypass the system is guilty of a
misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in
the county or regional jail not more than six months and fined
not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand
dollars: Provided, That notwithstanding any provision of this
code to the contrary, a person enrolled and participating in the
test and lock program may operate a motor vehicle solely at his
or her job site, if such the operation of a motor vehicle is a
condition of his or her employment.
CHAPTER 33. INSURANCE.
ARTICLE 6A. CANCELLATION OR NONRENEWAL OF AUTOMOBILE LIABILITY

POLICIES.
§33-6A-1. Cancellation prohibited except for specified reasons;

notice.
No insurer once having issued or delivered a policy
providing automobile liability insurance in this state insuring a private passenger automobile may, after the policy has been in
effect for sixty days, or in case of renewal effective
immediately, issue or cause to issue a notice of cancellation
during the term of the policy except for one or more of the
reasons specified in this section:
(a) The named insured fails to discharge when due any of his
or her obligations in connection with the payment of premium for
the policy or any installment of the premium;
(b) The policy was obtained through material
misrepresentation;
(c) The insured violates any of the material terms and
conditions of the policy;
(d) The named insured or any other operator, either resident
in the same household or who customarily operates an automobile
insured under the policy:
(1) Has had his or her operator's license suspended or
revoked during the policy period including suspension or
revocation for failure to comply with the provisions of article
five-a, chapter seventeen-c of this code, regarding consent for
a chemical test for intoxication: Provided, That when a license
is suspended for sixty days by the commissioner of motor vehicles
because a person did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of
twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her
blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight,
pursuant to subsection (l), section two, article five-a, chapter
seventeen-c of this code, the suspension shall may not be grounds
for cancellation; or
(2) Is or becomes subject to epilepsy or heart attacks, and
the individual cannot produce a certificate from a physician
testifying to his or her ability to operate a motor vehicle.
(e) The named insured or any other operator, either resident
in the same household or who customarily operates an automobile
insured under such policy is convicted of or forfeits bail during
the policy period for any of the following:
(1) Any felony or assault involving the use of a motor
vehicle;
(2) Negligent homicide arising out of the operation of a
motor vehicle;
(3) Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of
alcohol or of any controlled substance or while having an alcohol
concentration in his or her blood of ten eight hundredths of one
percent or more, by weight;
(4) Leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident in which
the insured is involved without reporting as required by law;
(5) Theft of a motor vehicle or the unlawful taking of a
motor vehicle;
(6) Making false statements in an application for a motor vehicle operator's license;
(7) A third violation, committed within a period of twelve
months, of any moving traffic violation which constitutes a
misdemeanor, whether or not the violations were repetitious of
the same offense or were different offenses. Notwithstanding any
of the provisions of this section to the contrary, no insurance
company may cancel a policy of automobile liability insurance
without first giving the insured thirty days' notice, by
registered or certified mail, of its intention to cancel:
Provided, That cancellation of the insurance policy by the
insurance carrier for failure of consideration to be paid by the
insured upon initial issuance of the insurance policy is
effective upon the expiration of ten days' notice of cancellation
to the insured.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make it unlawful for
any person to drive a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration
of eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, in the
person's blood.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.