53-3-231. Person under 21 may not operate a vehicle or motorboat with detectable
alcohol in body -- Chemical test procedures -- Temporary license -- Hearing and decision --
Suspension of license or operating privilege -- Fees -- Judicial review -- Referral to local
substance abuse authority or program.
(1) (a) As used in this section:
(i) "Local substance abuse authority" has the same meaning as provided in Section
62A-15-102.
(ii) "Substance abuse program" means any substance abuse program licensed by the
Department of Human Services or the Department of Health and approved by the local substance
abuse authority.
(b) Calculations of blood, breath, or urine alcohol concentration under this section shall
be made in accordance with the procedures in Subsection 41-6a-502(1).
(2) (a) A person younger than 21 years of age may not operate or be in actual physical
control of a vehicle or motorboat with any measurable blood, breath, or urine alcohol
concentration in the person's body as shown by a chemical test.
(b) A person who violates Subsection (2)(a), in addition to any other applicable penalties
arising out of the incident, shall have the person's operator license denied or suspended as
provided in Subsection (8).
(3) (a) When a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person may be
violating or has violated Subsection (2), the peace officer may, in connection with arresting the
person for a violation of Section 32A-12-209, request that the person submit to a chemical test or
tests to be administered in compliance with the standards under Section 41-6a-520.
(b) The peace officer shall advise a person prior to the person's submission to a chemical
test that a test result indicating a violation of Subsection (2)(a) will result in denial or suspension
of the person's license to operate a motor vehicle or a refusal to issue a license.
(c) If the person submits to a chemical test and the test results indicate a blood, breath, or
urine alcohol content in violation of Subsection (2)(a), or if a peace officer makes a
determination, based on reasonable grounds, that the person is otherwise in violation of
Subsection (2)(a), a peace officer shall, on behalf of the division and within 24 hours of the
arrest, give notice of the division's intention to deny or suspend the person's license to operate a
vehicle or refusal to issue a license under this section.
(4) When a peace officer gives notice on behalf of the division, the peace officer shall:
(a) take the Utah license certificate or permit, if any, of the operator;
(b) issue a temporary license certificate effective for only 29 days from the date of arrest
if the driver had a valid operator's license; and
(c) supply to the operator, in a manner specified by the division, basic information
regarding how to obtain a prompt hearing before the division.
(5) A citation issued by a peace officer may, if provided in a manner specified by the
division, also serve as the temporary license certificate under Subsection (4)(b).
(6) As a matter of procedure, a peace officer shall send to the division within ten
calendar days after the day on which notice is provided:
(a) the person's driver license certificate, if any;
(b) a copy of the citation issued for the offense;
(c) a signed report in a manner specified by the Driver License Division indicating the
chemical test results, if any; and
(d) any other basis for a peace officer's determination that the person has violated
Subsection (2).
(7) (a) (i) Upon request in a manner specified by the division, the Driver License
Division shall grant to the person an opportunity to be heard within 29 days after the date of
arrest under Section 32A-12-209.
(ii) The request shall be made within ten calendar days of the day on which notice is
provided.
(b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(b)(ii), a hearing, if held, shall be before the
division in:
(A) the county in which the arrest occurred; or
(B) a county that is adjacent to the county in which the arrest occurred.
(ii) The division may hold a hearing in some other county if the division and the person
both agree.
(c) The hearing shall be documented and shall cover the issues of:
(i) whether a peace officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person was operating a
motor vehicle or motorboat in violation of Subsection (2)(a);
(ii) whether the person refused to submit to the test; and
(iii) the test results, if any.
(d) In connection with a hearing, the division or its authorized agent may administer
oaths and may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant
books and papers and records as defined in Section 46-4-102.
(e) One or more members of the division may conduct the hearing.
(f) Any decision made after a hearing before any number of the members of the division
is as valid as if made after a hearing before the full membership of the division.
(8) If, after a hearing, the division determines that a peace officer had reasonable grounds
to believe that the person was driving a motor vehicle in violation of Subsection (2)(a), if the
person fails to appear before the division as required in the notice, or if the person does not
request a hearing under this section, the division shall:
(a) deny the person's license until the person is 21 years of age or for a period of 120
days, whichever is longer, beginning on the 30th day after the date of arrest for a first offense
under Subsection (2)(a) committed on or after July 1, 2009;
(b) suspend the person's license until the person is 21 years of age or for a period of two
years, whichever is longer, beginning on the 30th day after the date of arrest for a second or
subsequent offense under Subsection (2)(a):
(i) within ten years of a prior denial or suspension; and
(ii) committed on or after July 1, 2009;
(c) deny the person's application for a license or learner's permit until the person is 21
years of age or for a period of one year, whichever is longer, if:
(i) the person has not been issued an operator license; and
(ii) the suspension is for a first offense under Subsection (2)(a) committed on or after
July 1, 2009;
(d) deny the person's application for a license or learner's permit until the person is 21
years of age or for a period of two years, whichever is longer, if:
(i) the person has not been issued an operator license; and
(ii) the suspension is for a second or subsequent offense under Subsection (2)(a):
(A) within ten years of a prior denial or suspension; and
(B) committed on or after July 1, 2009; or
(e) deny or suspend a person's license for the denial and suspension periods in effect
prior to July 1, 2009, for a violation under Subsection (2)(a) that was committed prior to July 1,
2009.
(9) (a) (i) Following denial or suspension the division shall assess against a person, in
addition to any fee imposed under Subsection 53-3-205(12), a fee under Section 53-3-105, which
shall be paid before the person's driving privilege is reinstated, to cover administrative costs.
(ii) This fee shall be canceled if the person obtains an unappealed division hearing or
court decision that the suspension was not proper.
(b) A person whose operator license has been denied, suspended, or postponed by the
division under this section following an administrative hearing may file a petition within 30 days
after the suspension for a hearing on the matter which, if held, is governed by Section 53-3-224.
(10) After reinstatement of an operator license for a first offense under this section, a
report authorized under Section 53-3-104 may not contain evidence of the denial or suspension
of the person's operator license under this section if the person has not been convicted of any
other offense for which the denial or suspension may be extended.
(11) (a) In addition to the penalties in Subsection (8), a person who violates Subsection
(2)(a) shall:
(i) obtain an assessment and recommendation for appropriate action from a substance
abuse program, but any associated costs shall be the person's responsibility; or
(ii) be referred by the division to the local substance abuse authority for an assessment
and recommendation for appropriate action.
(b) (i) Reinstatement of the person's operator license or the right to obtain an operator
license within five years of the effective date of the license sanction under Subsection (8) is
contingent upon successful completion of the action recommended by the local substance abuse
authority or the substance abuse program.
(ii) The local substance abuse authority's or the substance abuse program's recommended
action shall be determined by an assessment of the person's alcohol abuse and may include:
(A) a targeted education and prevention program;
(B) an early intervention program; or
(C) a substance abuse treatment program.
(iii) Successful completion of the recommended action shall be determined by standards
established by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
(c) At the conclusion of the penalty period imposed under Subsection (2), the local
substance abuse authority or the substance abuse program shall notify the division of the person's
status regarding completion of the recommended action.
(d) The local substance abuse authorities and the substance abuse programs shall
cooperate with the division in:
(i) conducting the assessments;
(ii) making appropriate recommendations for action; and
(iii) notifying the division about the person's status regarding completion of the
recommended action.
(e) (i) The local substance abuse authority is responsible for the cost of the assessment of
the person's alcohol abuse, if the assessment is conducted by the local substance abuse authority.
(ii) The local substance abuse authority or a substance abuse program selected by a
person is responsible for:
(A) conducting an assessment of the person's alcohol abuse; and
(B) for making a referral to an appropriate program on the basis of the findings of the
assessment.
(iii) (A) The person who violated Subsection (2)(a) is responsible for all costs and fees
associated with the recommended program to which the person selected or is referred.
(B) The costs and fees under Subsection (11)(e)(iii)(A) shall be based on a sliding scale
consistent with the local substance abuse authority's policies and practices regarding fees for
services or determined by the substance abuse program.
Amended by Chapter 18, 2009 General Session
Amended by Chapter 40, 2009 General Session
Amended by Chapter 390, 2009 General Session
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Last revised: Thursday, May 28, 2009