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H.B. 21 Enrolled

             1     

AMENDMENTS TO DRIVER LICENSE

             2     
SANCTION REQUIREMENTS

             3     
2009 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Richard A. Greenwood

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Jon J. Greiner

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies the Uniform Driver License Act by amending provisions relating to
             11      persons under 21 years of age operating a vehicle with a detectable amount of alcohol
             12      in the person's body.
             13      Highlighted Provisions:
             14          This bill:
             15          .    provides that the requirement that the reinstatement of a person's license for a
             16      person under 21 years of age operating a vehicle with a detectable amount of
             17      alcohol in the person's body is contingent upon the person's completion of an action
             18      recommended by a local substance abuse authority or substance abuse program is
             19      only applicable within five years after the effective date of the license sanction.
             20      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             21          None
             22      Other Special Clauses:
             23          None
             24      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             25      AMENDS:
             26          53-3-231, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 304
             27     
             28      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             29          Section 1. Section 53-3-231 is amended to read:


             30           53-3-231. Person under 21 may not operate a vehicle or motorboat with
             31      detectable alcohol in body -- Chemical test procedures -- Temporary license -- Hearing
             32      and decision -- Suspension of license or operating privilege -- Fees -- Judicial review --
             33      Referral to local substance abuse authority or program.
             34          (1) (a) As used in this section:
             35          (i) "Local substance abuse authority" has the same meaning as provided in Section
             36      62A-15-102 .
             37          (ii) "Substance abuse program" means any substance abuse program licensed by the
             38      Department of Human Services or the Department of Health and approved by the local
             39      substance abuse authority.
             40          (b) Calculations of blood, breath, or urine alcohol concentration under this section
             41      shall be made in accordance with the procedures in Subsection 41-6a-502 (1).
             42          (2) (a) A person younger than 21 years of age may not operate or be in actual physical
             43      control of a vehicle or motorboat with any measurable blood, breath, or urine alcohol
             44      concentration in the person's body as shown by a chemical test.
             45          (b) A person who violates Subsection (2)(a), in addition to any other applicable
             46      penalties arising out of the incident, shall have the person's operator license denied or
             47      suspended as provided in Subsection (8).
             48          (3) (a) When a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person may be
             49      violating or has violated Subsection (2), the peace officer may, in connection with arresting
             50      the person for a violation of Section 32A-12-209 , request that the person submit to a chemical
             51      test or tests to be administered in compliance with the standards under Section 41-6a-520 .
             52          (b) The peace officer shall advise a person prior to the person's submission to a
             53      chemical test that a test result indicating a violation of Subsection (2)(a) will result in denial or
             54      suspension of the person's license to operate a motor vehicle or a refusal to issue a license.
             55          (c) If the person submits to a chemical test and the test results indicate a blood, breath,
             56      or urine alcohol content in violation of Subsection (2)(a), or if a peace officer makes a
             57      determination, based on reasonable grounds, that the person is otherwise in violation of


             58      Subsection (2)(a), a peace officer shall, on behalf of the division and within 24 hours of the
             59      arrest, give notice of the division's intention to deny or suspend the person's license to operate
             60      a vehicle or refusal to issue a license under this section.
             61          (4) When a peace officer gives notice on behalf of the division, the peace officer shall:
             62          (a) take the Utah license certificate or permit, if any, of the operator;
             63          (b) issue a temporary license certificate effective for only 29 days from the date of
             64      arrest if the driver had a valid operator's license; and
             65          (c) supply to the operator, in a manner specified by the division, basic information
             66      regarding how to obtain a prompt hearing before the division.
             67          (5) A citation issued by a peace officer may, if provided in a manner specified by the
             68      division, also serve as the temporary license certificate under Subsection (4)(b).
             69          (6) As a matter of procedure, a peace officer shall send to the division within ten
             70      calendar days after the day on which notice is provided:
             71          (a) the person's driver license certificate, if any;
             72          (b) a copy of the citation issued for the offense;
             73          (c) a signed report in a manner specified by the Driver License Division indicating the
             74      chemical test results, if any; and
             75          (d) any other basis for a peace officer's determination that the person has violated
             76      Subsection (2).
             77          (7) (a) (i) Upon request in a manner specified by the division, the Driver License
             78      Division shall grant to the person an opportunity to be heard within 29 days after the date of
             79      arrest under Section 32A-12-209 .
             80          (ii) The request shall be made within ten calendar days of the day on which notice is
             81      provided.
             82          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(b)(ii), a hearing, if held, shall be before
             83      the division in the county in which the arrest occurred.
             84          (ii) The division may hold a hearing in some other county if the division and the
             85      person both agree.


             86          (c) The hearing shall be documented and shall cover the issues of:
             87          (i) whether a peace officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person was operating
             88      a motor vehicle or motorboat in violation of Subsection (2)(a);
             89          (ii) whether the person refused to submit to the test; and
             90          (iii) the test results, if any.
             91          (d) In connection with a hearing, the division or its authorized agent may administer
             92      oaths and may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant
             93      books and papers and records as defined in Section 46-4-102 .
             94          (e) One or more members of the division may conduct the hearing.
             95          (f) Any decision made after a hearing before any number of the members of the
             96      division is as valid as if made after a hearing before the full membership of the division.
             97          (8) If, after a hearing, the division determines that a peace officer had reasonable
             98      grounds to believe that the person was driving a motor vehicle in violation of Subsection
             99      (2)(a), if the person fails to appear before the division as required in the notice, or if the person
             100      does not request a hearing under this section, the division shall:
             101          (a) deny the person's license for a period of 90 days beginning on the 30th day after
             102      the date of arrest for a first offense under Subsection (2)(a);
             103          (b) suspend the person's license for a period of one year beginning on the 30th day
             104      after the date of arrest for a second or subsequent offense under Subsection (2)(a) within three
             105      years of a prior denial or suspension; or
             106          (c) deny the person's application for a license or learner's permit until the person is 17
             107      years of age or for a period of one year, whichever is longer, if the person has not been issued
             108      an operator license.
             109          (9) (a) (i) Following denial or suspension the division shall assess against a person, in
             110      addition to any fee imposed under Subsection 53-3-205 (12), a fee under Section 53-3-105 ,
             111      which shall be paid before the person's driving privilege is reinstated, to cover administrative
             112      costs.
             113          (ii) This fee shall be canceled if the person obtains an unappealed division hearing or


             114      court decision that the suspension was not proper.
             115          (b) A person whose operator license has been denied, suspended, or postponed by the
             116      division under this section following an administrative hearing may file a petition within 30
             117      days after the suspension for a hearing on the matter which, if held, is governed by Section
             118      53-3-224 .
             119          (10) After reinstatement of an operator license for a first offense under this section, a
             120      report authorized under Section 53-3-104 may not contain evidence of the denial or
             121      suspension of the person's operator license under this section if the person has not been
             122      convicted of any other offense for which the denial or suspension may be extended.
             123          (11) (a) In addition to the penalties in Subsection (8), a person who violates
             124      Subsection (2)(a) shall:
             125          (i) obtain an assessment and recommendation for appropriate action from a substance
             126      abuse program, but any associated costs shall be the person's responsibility; or
             127          (ii) be referred by the division to the local substance abuse authority for an assessment
             128      and recommendation for appropriate action.
             129          (b) (i) Reinstatement of the person's operator license or the right to obtain an operator
             130      license within five years of the effective date of the license sanction under Subsection (8) is
             131      contingent upon successful completion of the action recommended by the local substance
             132      abuse authority or the substance abuse program.
             133          (ii) The local substance abuse authority's or the substance abuse program's
             134      recommended action shall be determined by an assessment of the person's alcohol abuse and
             135      may include:
             136          (A) a targeted education and prevention program;
             137          (B) an early intervention program; or
             138          (C) a substance abuse treatment program.
             139          (iii) Successful completion of the recommended action shall be determined by
             140      standards established by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
             141          (c) At the conclusion of the penalty period imposed under Subsection (2), the local


             142      substance abuse authority or the substance abuse program shall notify the division of the
             143      person's status regarding completion of the recommended action.
             144          (d) The local substance abuse authorities and the substance abuse programs shall
             145      cooperate with the division in:
             146          (i) conducting the assessments;
             147          (ii) making appropriate recommendations for action; and
             148          (iii) notifying the division about the person's status regarding completion of the
             149      recommended action.
             150          (e) (i) The local substance abuse authority is responsible for the cost of the assessment
             151      of the person's alcohol abuse, if the assessment is conducted by the local substance abuse
             152      authority.
             153          (ii) The local substance abuse authority or a substance abuse program selected by a
             154      person is responsible for:
             155          (A) conducting an assessment of the person's alcohol abuse; and
             156          (B) for making a referral to an appropriate program on the basis of the findings of the
             157      assessment.
             158          (iii) (A) The person who violated Subsection (2)(a) is responsible for all costs and fees
             159      associated with the recommended program to which the person selected or is referred.
             160          (B) The costs and fees under Subsection (11)(e)(iii)(A) shall be based on a sliding
             161      scale consistent with the local substance abuse authority's policies and practices regarding fees
             162      for services or determined by the substance abuse program.


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