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S.B. 12 Enrolled

             1     

DUI AMENDMENTS

             2     
2009 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Sheldon L. Killpack

             5     
House Sponsor: Bradley G. Last

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Motor Vehicles Code and the Uniform Driver License Act by
             10      amending provisions relating to driving under the influence.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    defines driving under the influence court;
             14          .    provides that certain reports issued by the Driver License Division may not contain
             15      evidence of an impaired driving conviction if the reporting court notifies the Driver
             16      License Division that the defendant is participating in or has completed the
             17      program of a driving under the influence court with exception for a CDL license
             18      holder or a violation that occurred in a commercial vehicle;
             19          .    provides that if an impaired driving conviction is amended to a driving under the
             20      influence conviction in certain circumstances, the Driver License Division shall
             21      start the applicable suspension or revocation on the date of the amended conviction
             22      and may not subtract any time for which the license was previously suspended or
             23      revoked;
             24          .    requires the Driver License Division to reinstate a person's driver license prior to
             25      completion of a certain 90-day suspension period immediately upon receiving
             26      written verification of the person's conviction of impaired driving if:
             27              .    the written verification is received prior to completion of the suspension period;
             28      and
             29              .    the reporting court notifies the Driver License Division that the defendant is


             30      participating in or has successfully completed the program of a driving under the influence
             31      court; and
             32          .    makes technical changes.
             33      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             34          None
             35      Other Special Clauses:
             36          None
             37      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             38      AMENDS:
             39          41-6a-501, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 226
             40          41-6a-502.5, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 226
             41          41-6a-509, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 2
             42          53-3-223, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 3, 226, and 304
             43     
             44      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             45          Section 1. Section 41-6a-501 is amended to read:
             46           41-6a-501. Definitions.
             47          (1) As used in this part:
             48          (a) "Assessment" means an in-depth clinical interview with a licensed mental health
             49      therapist:
             50          (i) used to determine if a person is in need of:
             51          (A) substance abuse treatment that is obtained at a substance abuse program;
             52          (B) an educational series; or
             53          (C) a combination of Subsections (1)(a)(i)(A) and (B); and
             54          (ii) that is approved by the Board of Substance Abuse and Mental Health in
             55      accordance with Section 62A-15-105 .
             56          (b) "Driving under the influence court" means a court that is approved as a driving
             57      under the influence court by the Utah Judicial Council according to standards established by


             58      the Judicial Council.
             59          [(b)] (c) "Drug" or "drugs" means:
             60          (i) a controlled substance as defined in Section 58-37-2 ;
             61          (ii) a drug as defined in Section 58-17b-102 ; or
             62          (iii) any substance that, when knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly taken into the
             63      human body, can impair the ability of a person to safely operate a motor vehicle.
             64          [(c)] (d) "Educational series" means an educational series obtained at a substance
             65      abuse program that is approved by the Board of Substance Abuse and Mental Health in
             66      accordance with Section 62A-15-105 .
             67          [(d)] (e) "Negligence" means simple negligence, the failure to exercise that degree of
             68      care that an ordinarily reasonable and prudent person exercises under like or similar
             69      circumstances.
             70          [(e)] (f) "Screening" means a preliminary appraisal of a person:
             71          (i) used to determine if the person is in need of:
             72          (A) an assessment; or
             73          (B) an educational series; and
             74          (ii) that is approved by the Board of Substance Abuse and Mental Health in
             75      accordance with Section 62A-15-105 .
             76          [(f)] (g) "Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury that creates or causes:
             77          (i) serious permanent disfigurement;
             78          (ii) protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ; or
             79          (iii) a substantial risk of death.
             80          [(g)] (h) "Substance abuse treatment" means treatment obtained at a substance abuse
             81      program that is approved by the Board of Substance Abuse and Mental Health in accordance
             82      with Section 62A-15-105 .
             83          [(h)] (i) "Substance abuse treatment program" means a state licensed substance abuse
             84      program.
             85          [(i)] (j) (i) "Vehicle" or "motor vehicle" means a vehicle or motor vehicle as defined in


             86      Section 41-6a-102 ; and
             87          (ii) "Vehicle" or "motor vehicle" includes:
             88          (A) an off-highway vehicle as defined under Section 41-22-2 ; and
             89          (B) a motorboat as defined in Section 73-18-2 .
             90          (2) As used in Section 41-6a-503 :
             91          (a) "Conviction" means any conviction for a violation of:
             92          (i) driving under the influence under Section 41-6a-502 ;
             93          (ii) (A) for an offense committed before July 1, 2008, alcohol, any drug, or a
             94      combination of both-related reckless driving under:
             95          (I) Section 41-6a-512 ; and
             96          (II) Section 41-6a-528 ; or
             97          (B) for an offense committed on or after July 1, 2008, impaired driving under Section
             98      41-6a-502.5 ;
             99          (iii) driving with any measurable controlled substance that is taken illegally in the
             100      body under Section 41-6a-517 ;
             101          (iv) local ordinances similar to Section 41-6a-502 , alcohol, any drug, or a combination
             102      of both-related reckless driving, or impaired driving under Section 41-6a-502.5 adopted in
             103      compliance with Section 41-6a-510 ;
             104          (v) automobile homicide under Section 76-5-207 ;
             105          (vi) Subsection 58-37-8 (2)(g);
             106          (vii) a violation described in Subsections (2)(a)(i) through (vi), which judgment of
             107      conviction is reduced under Section 76-3-402 ; or
             108          (viii) statutes or ordinances previously in effect in this state or in effect in any other
             109      state, the United States, or any district, possession, or territory of the United States which
             110      would constitute a violation of Section 41-6a-502 or alcohol, any drug, or a combination of
             111      both-related reckless driving if committed in this state, including punishments administered
             112      under 10 U.S.C. Sec. 815.
             113          (b) A plea of guilty or no contest to a violation described in Subsections (2)(a)(i)


             114      through (viii) which plea was held in abeyance under Title 77, Chapter 2a, Pleas in Abeyance,
             115      prior to July 1, 2008, is the equivalent of a conviction, even if the charge has been
             116      subsequently reduced or dismissed in accordance with the plea in abeyance agreement, for
             117      purposes of:
             118          (i) enhancement of penalties under:
             119          (A) this Chapter 6a, Part 5, Driving Under the Influence and Reckless Driving; and
             120          (B) automobile homicide under Section 76-5-207 ; and
             121          (ii) expungement under Section 77-18-12 .
             122          Section 2. Section 41-6a-502.5 is amended to read:
             123           41-6a-502.5. Impaired driving -- Penalty -- Sentencing requirements.
             124          (1) With the agreement of the prosecutor, a plea to a class B misdemeanor violation of
             125      Section 41-6a-502 committed on or after July 1, 2008, may be entered as a conviction of
             126      impaired driving under this section if:
             127          (a) the defendant completes court ordered probation requirements; or
             128          (b) (i) the prosecutor agrees as part of a negotiated plea; and
             129          (ii) the court finds the plea to be in the interest of justice.
             130          (2) A conviction entered under this section is a class B misdemeanor.
             131          (3) (a) (i) If the entry of an impaired driving plea is based on successful completion of
             132      probation under Subsection (1)(a), the court shall enter the conviction at the time of the plea.
             133          (ii) If the defendant fails to appear before the court and establish successful
             134      completion of the court ordered probation requirements under Subsection (1)(a), the court
             135      shall enter an amended conviction of Section 41-6a-502 .
             136          (iii) The date of entry of the amended order under Subsection (3)(a)(ii) is the date of
             137      conviction.
             138          (b) The court may enter a conviction of impaired driving immediately under
             139      Subsection (1)(b).
             140          (4) For purposes of Section 76-3-402 , the entry of a plea to a class B misdemeanor
             141      violation of Section 41-6a-502 as impaired driving under this section is a reduction of one


             142      degree.
             143          (5) The court shall notify the Driver License Division of each conviction entered under
             144      this section.
             145          (6) (a) The provisions in Subsections 41-6a-505 (1), (2), and (3) that require a
             146      sentencing court to order a convicted person to participate in a screening, an assessment, or an
             147      educational series, or obtain substance abuse treatment or do a combination of those things,
             148      apply to a conviction entered under this section.
             149          (b) The court shall render the same order regarding screening, assessment, an
             150      educational series, or substance abuse treatment in connection with a first, second, or
             151      subsequent conviction under this section as the court would render in connection with
             152      applying respectively, the first, second, or subsequent conviction requirements of Subsection
             153      41-6a-505 (1), (2), or (3).
             154          (7) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (7)(b), a report authorized by Section
             155      53-3-104 may not contain any evidence of a conviction for impaired driving in this state if the
             156      reporting court notifies the Driver License Division that the defendant is participating in or has
             157      successfully completed the program of a driving under the influence court.
             158          (b) The provisions of Subsection (7)(a) do not apply to a report concerning:
             159          (i) a CDL license holder; or
             160          (ii) a violation that occurred in a commercial motor vehicle.
             161          Section 3. Section 41-6a-509 is amended to read:
             162           41-6a-509. Driver license suspension or revocation for a driving under the
             163      influence violation.
             164          (1) (a) The Driver License Division shall:
             165          (i) suspend for 90 days the operator's license of a person convicted for the first time
             166      under Section 41-6a-502 ;
             167          (ii) revoke for one year the license of a person convicted of any subsequent offense
             168      under Section 41-6a-502 or if the person has a prior conviction as defined under Subsection
             169      41-6a-501 (2) if the violation is committed within a period of ten years from the date of the


             170      prior violation; and
             171          (iii) suspend or revoke the license of a person as ordered by the court under Subsection
             172      (2).
             173          (b) The Driver License Division shall subtract from any suspension or revocation
             174      period the number of days for which a license was previously suspended under Section
             175      53-3-223 or 53-3-231 , if the previous suspension was based on the same occurrence upon
             176      which the record of conviction is based.
             177          (c) If a conviction recorded as impaired driving is amended to a driving under the
             178      influence conviction under Section 41-6a-502 in accordance with Subsection
             179      41-6a-502.5 (3)(a)(ii), the Driver License Division:
             180          (i) may not subtract from any suspension or revocation any time for which a license
             181      was previously suspended or revoked under Section 53-3-223 or 53-3-231 ; and
             182          (ii) shall start the suspension or revocation time under Subsection (1)(a) on the date of
             183      the amended conviction.
             184          (2) (a) (i) In addition to any other penalties provided in this section, a court may order
             185      the operator's license of a person who is convicted of a violation of Section 41-6a-502 to be
             186      suspended or revoked for an additional period of 90 days, 180 days, one year, or two years to
             187      remove from the highways those persons who have shown they are safety hazards.
             188          (ii) The additional suspension or revocation period provided in this Subsection (2)
             189      shall begin the date on which the individual would be eligible to reinstate the individual's
             190      driving privilege for a violation of Section 41-6a-502 .
             191          (b) If the court suspends or revokes the person's license under this Subsection (2), the
             192      court shall prepare and send to the Driver License Division an order to suspend or revoke that
             193      person's driving privileges for a specified period of time.
             194          (3) (a) The court shall notify the Driver License Division if a person fails to:
             195          (i) complete all court ordered:
             196          (A) screening;
             197          (B) assessment;


             198          (C) educational series;
             199          (D) substance abuse treatment; and
             200          (E) hours of work in a compensatory-service work program; or
             201          (ii) pay all fines and fees, including fees for restitution and treatment costs.
             202          (b) Upon receiving the notification described in Subsection (3)(a), the division shall
             203      suspend the person's driving privilege in accordance with Subsections 53-3-221 (2) and (3).
             204          Section 4. Section 53-3-223 is amended to read:
             205           53-3-223. Chemical test for driving under the influence -- Temporary license --
             206      Hearing and decision -- Suspension and fee -- Judicial review.
             207          (1) (a) If a peace officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person may be
             208      violating or has violated Section 41-6a-502 , prohibiting the operation of a vehicle with a
             209      certain blood or breath alcohol concentration and driving under the influence of any drug,
             210      alcohol, or combination of a drug and alcohol or while having any measurable controlled
             211      substance or metabolite of a controlled substance in the person's body in violation of Section
             212      41-6a-517 , the peace officer may, in connection with arresting the person, request that the
             213      person submit to a chemical test or tests to be administered in compliance with the standards
             214      under Section 41-6a-520 .
             215          (b) In this section, a reference to Section 41-6a-502 includes any similar local
             216      ordinance adopted in compliance with Subsection 41-6a-510 (1).
             217          (2) The peace officer shall advise a person prior to the person's submission to a
             218      chemical test that a test result indicating a violation of Section 41-6a-502 or 41-6a-517 shall,
             219      and the existence of a blood alcohol content sufficient to render the person incapable of safely
             220      driving a motor vehicle may, result in suspension or revocation of the person's license to drive
             221      a motor vehicle.
             222          (3) If the person submits to a chemical test and the test results indicate a blood or
             223      breath alcohol content in violation of Section 41-6a-502 or 41-6a-517 , or if a peace officer
             224      makes a determination, based on reasonable grounds, that the person is otherwise in violation
             225      of Section 41-6a-502 , a peace officer shall, on behalf of the division and within 24 hours of


             226      arrest, give notice of the division's intention to suspend the person's license to drive a motor
             227      vehicle.
             228          (4) (a) When a peace officer gives notice on behalf of the division, the peace officer
             229      shall:
             230          (i) take the Utah license certificate or permit, if any, of the driver;
             231          (ii) issue a temporary license certificate effective for only 29 days from the date of
             232      arrest; and
             233          (iii) supply to the driver, in a manner specified by the division, basic information
             234      regarding how to obtain a prompt hearing before the division.
             235          (b) A citation issued by a peace officer may, if provided in a manner specified by the
             236      division, also serve as the temporary license certificate.
             237          (5) As a matter of procedure, a peace officer shall send to the division within ten
             238      calendar days after the day on which notice is provided:
             239          (a) the person's license certificate;
             240          (b) a copy of the citation issued for the offense;
             241          (c) a signed report in a manner specified by the division indicating the chemical test
             242      results, if any; and
             243          (d) any other basis for the peace officer's determination that the person has violated
             244      Section 41-6a-502 or 41-6a-517 .
             245          (6) (a) Upon request in a manner specified by the division, the division shall grant to
             246      the person an opportunity to be heard within 29 days after the date of arrest. The request to be
             247      heard shall be made within ten calendar days of the day on which notice is provided under
             248      Subsection (5).
             249          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b)(ii), a hearing, if held, shall be before
             250      the division in the county in which the arrest occurred.
             251          (ii) The division may hold a hearing in some other county if the division and the
             252      person both agree.
             253          (c) The hearing shall be documented and shall cover the issues of:


             254          (i) whether a peace officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person was driving a
             255      motor vehicle in violation of Section 41-6a-502 or 41-6a-517 ;
             256          (ii) whether the person refused to submit to the test; and
             257          (iii) the test results, if any.
             258          (d) (i) In connection with a hearing the division or its authorized agent:
             259          (A) may administer oaths and may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses
             260      and the production of relevant books and papers; or
             261          (B) may issue subpoenas for the attendance of necessary peace officers.
             262          (ii) The division shall pay witness fees and mileage from the Transportation Fund in
             263      accordance with the rates established in Section 78B-1-119 .
             264          (e) The division may designate one or more employees to conduct the hearing.
             265          (f) Any decision made after a hearing before any designated employee is as valid as if
             266      made by the division.
             267          (7) (a) If, after a hearing, the division determines that a peace officer had reasonable
             268      grounds to believe that the person was driving a motor vehicle in violation of Section
             269      41-6a-502 or 41-6a-517 , if the person failed to appear before the division as required in the
             270      notice, or if a hearing is not requested under this section, the division shall suspend the
             271      person's license or permit to operate a motor vehicle for a period of:
             272          (i) 90 days beginning on the 30th day after the date of arrest for a first suspension; or
             273          (ii) one year beginning on the 30th day after the date of arrest for a second or
             274      subsequent suspension for an offense that occurred within the previous ten years.
             275          (b) (i) Notwithstanding the provisions in Subsection (7)(a)(i), the division shall
             276      reinstate a person's license prior to completion of the 90 day suspension period imposed under
             277      Subsection (7)(a)(i):
             278          (A) immediately upon receiving written verification of the person's dismissal of a
             279      charge for a violation of Section 41-6a-502 or 41-6a-517 , if the written verification is received
             280      prior to completion of the suspension period; or
             281          (B) no sooner than 60 days beginning on the 30th day after the date of arrest upon


             282      receiving written verification of the person's reduction of a charge for a violation of Section
             283      41-6a-502 or 41-6a-517 , if the written verification is received prior to completion of the
             284      suspension period.
             285          (ii) Notwithstanding the provisions in Subsection (7)(a)(i) or (7)(b)(i), the division
             286      shall reinstate a person's license prior to completion of the 90-day suspension period imposed
             287      under Subsection (7)(a)(i) immediately upon receiving written verification of the person's
             288      conviction of impaired driving under Section 41-6a-502.5 if:
             289          (A) the written verification is received prior to completion of the suspension period;
             290      and
             291          (B) the reporting court notifies the Driver License Division that the defendant is
             292      participating in or has successfully completed the program of a driving under the influence
             293      court as defined in Section 41-6a-501 .
             294          [(ii)] (iii) If a person's license is reinstated under this Subsection (7)(b), the person is
             295      required to pay the license reinstatement fees under Subsections 53-3-105 (23) and (24).
             296          [(iii)] (iv) The driver license reinstatements authorized under this Subsection (7)(b)
             297      only apply to a 90 day suspension period imposed under Subsection (7)(a)(i).
             298          (8) (a) The division shall assess against a person, in addition to any fee imposed under
             299      Subsection 53-3-205 (12) for driving under the influence, a fee under Section 53-3-105 to
             300      cover administrative costs, which shall be paid before the person's driving privilege is
             301      reinstated. This fee shall be cancelled if the person obtains an unappealed division hearing or
             302      court decision that the suspension was not proper.
             303          (b) A person whose license has been suspended by the division under this section
             304      following an administrative hearing may file a petition within 30 days after the suspension for
             305      a hearing on the matter which, if held, is governed by Section 53-3-224 .


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