Report Title:

Commercial Driver's License

 

Description:

Revises standard for a court-issued license to drive for work‑related purposes.  Effective July 1, 2050.  (SD2)

 


THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

979

TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL DRIVERS.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  Section 291E-61, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

     "(b)  A person committing the offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant shall be sentenced as follows without possibility of probation or suspension of sentence:

     (1)  Except as provided in [[]paragraph[]] (2), for the first offense, or any offense not preceded within a five-year period by a conviction for an offense under this section or section 291E-4(a):

         (A)  A fourteen-hour minimum substance abuse rehabilitation program, including education and counseling, or other comparable program deemed appropriate by the court;

         (B)  Ninety-day prompt suspension of license and privilege to operate a vehicle during the suspension period, or the court may impose, in lieu of the ninety-day prompt suspension of license, a minimum thirty-day prompt suspension of license with absolute prohibition from operating a vehicle and, for the remainder of the ninety-day period, a restriction on [the license] a category (1), (2), or (3) license under section 286-102(b) that allows the person to drive for limited work-related purposes and to participate in substance abuse treatment programs;

         (C)  Any one or more of the following:

              (i)  Seventy-two hours of community service work;

             (ii)  Not less than forty-eight hours and not more than five days of imprisonment; or

            (iii)  A fine of not less than $150 but not more than $1,000;

         (D)  A surcharge of $25 to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

         (E)  May be charged a surcharge of up to $25 to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders;

     (2)  For a first offense committed by a highly intoxicated driver, or for any offense committed by a highly intoxicated driver not preceded within a five-year period by a conviction for an offense under this section or section 291E-4(a):

         (A)  A fourteen-hour minimum substance abuse rehabilitation program, including education and counseling, or other comparable program deemed appropriate by the court;

         (B)  Prompt suspension of a license and privilege to operate a vehicle for a period of six months with an absolute prohibition from operating a vehicle during the suspension period;

         (C)  Any one or more of the following:

              (i)  Seventy-two hours of community service work;

             (ii)  Not less than forty-eight hours and not more than five days of imprisonment; or

            (iii)  A fine of not less than $150 but not more than $1,000;

         (D)  A surcharge of $25 to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

         (E)  May be charged a surcharge of up to $50 to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders;

     (3)  For an offense that occurs within five years of a prior conviction for an offense under this section or section 291E-4(a) by:

         (A)  Prompt suspension of license and privilege to operate a vehicle for a period of one year with an absolute prohibition from operating a vehicle during the suspension period;

         (B)  Either one of the following:

              (i)  Not less than two hundred forty hours of community service work; or

             (ii)  Not less than five days but not more than fourteen days of imprisonment of which at least forty-eight hours shall be served consecutively;

         (C)  A fine of not less than $500 but not more than $1,500;

         (D)  A surcharge of $25 to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

         (E)  May be charged a surcharge of up to $50 to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders;

     (4)  For an offense that occurs within five years of two prior convictions for offenses under this section or section 291E-4(a):

         (A)  A fine of not less than $500 but not more than $2,500;

         (B)  Revocation of license and privilege to operate a vehicle for a period not less than one year but not more than five years;

         (C)  Not less than ten days but not more than thirty days imprisonment of which at least forty-eight hours shall be served consecutively;

         (D)  A surcharge of $25 to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund;

         (E)  May be charged a surcharge of up to $50 to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders; and

         (F)  Forfeiture under chapter 712A of the vehicle owned and operated by the person committing the offense; provided that the department of transportation shall provide storage for vehicles forfeited under this subsection; and

     (5)  Any person eighteen years of age or older who is convicted under this section and who operated a vehicle with a passenger, in or on the vehicle, who was younger than fifteen years of age, shall be sentenced to an additional mandatory fine of $500 and an additional mandatory term of imprisonment of forty-eight hours; provided that the total term of imprisonment for a person convicted under this paragraph shall not exceed the maximum term of imprisonment provided in paragraph (1), (3), or (4)."

     SECTION 2.  Act 171, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, is amended by amending section 8 to read as follows:

     "SECTION 8.  Section 291E-61, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§291E-61  Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.  (a)  A person commits the offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant if the person operates or assumes actual physical control of a vehicle:

     (1)  While under the influence of alcohol in an amount sufficient to impair the person's normal mental faculties or ability to care for the person and guard against casualty;

     (2)  While under the influence of any drug that impairs the person's ability to operate the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner;

     (3)  With .08 or more grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath; or

     (4)  With .08 or more grams of alcohol per one hundred milliliters or cubic centimeters of blood.

     (b)  A person committing the offense of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant shall be sentenced as follows:

     (1)  Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (5), for the first offense, or any offense not preceded within a five-year period by a conviction for an offense under this section or section 291E-4(a), and notwithstanding section 706-623, by probation for not less than one year nor more than two years on the following conditions:

         (A)  A fourteen-hour minimum substance abuse rehabilitation program, including education and counseling, or other comparable program deemed appropriate by the court;

     (B)  (i)  Ninety-day prompt suspension of license and privilege to operate a vehicle during the suspension period, or the court may impose, in lieu of the ninety-day prompt suspension of license, a minimum thirty-day prompt suspension of license with absolute prohibition from operating a vehicle and, for the remainder of the ninety-day period, a restriction on [the license] a category (1), (2), or (3) license under section 286-102(b) that allows the person to drive for limited work-related purposes and to participate in substance abuse treatment programs; or

             (ii)  One-year revocation of license and privilege to operate a vehicle during the revocation period and installation during the revocation period of an ignition interlock device on any vehicle operated by the person;

         (C)  Any one or more of the following:

              (i)  Seventy-two hours of community service work;

             (ii)  Not less than forty-eight hours and not more than five days of imprisonment; or

            (iii)  A fine of not less than $150 but not more than $1,000;

         (D)  A surcharge of $25 to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

         (E)  May be charged a surcharge of up to $25 to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders;

     (2)  For a first offense committed by a highly intoxicated driver, or for any offense committed by a highly intoxicated driver not preceded within a five-year period by a conviction for an offense under this section or section 291E-4(a), and notwithstanding section 706-623, by probation for not less than two years nor more than four years on the following conditions:

         (A)  A fourteen-hour minimum substance abuse rehabilitation program, including education and counseling, or other comparable program deemed appropriate by the court;

         (B)  A two-year revocation of license and privilege to operate a vehicle during the revocation period and installation during the revocation period of an ignition interlock device on any vehicle operated by the person;

         (C)  Any one or more of the following:

              (i)  Seventy-two hours of community service work;

             (ii)  Not less than forty-eight hours and not more than five days of imprisonment; or

            (iii)  A fine of not less than $150 but not more than $1,000;

         (D)  A surcharge of $25 to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

         (E)  May be charged a surcharge of up to $50 to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders;

     (3)  For an offense that occurs within five years of a prior conviction for an offense under this section or section 291E-4(a), and notwithstanding section 706-623, by probation for not less than two years nor more than four years on the following conditions:

         (A)  A two-year revocation of license and privilege to operate a vehicle during the revocation period and installation during the revocation period of an ignition interlock device on any vehicle operated by the person;

         (B)  Either one of the following:

              (i)  Not less than two hundred forty hours of community service work; or

             (ii)  Not less than five days but not more than fourteen days of imprisonment of which at least forty-eight hours shall be served consecutively;

         (C)  A fine of not less than $500 but not more than $1,500;

         (D)  A surcharge of $25 to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

         (E)  May be charged a surcharge of up to $50 to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders;

     (4)  For an offense that occurs within five years of two prior convictions for offenses under this section or section 291E-4(a), and notwithstanding section 706-623, by probation for not less than three years nor more than five years on the following conditions:

         (A)  A fine of not less than $500 but not more than $2,500;

         (B)  Three-year revocation of license and privilege to operate a vehicle during the revocation period and installation during the revocation period of an ignition interlock device on any vehicle operated by the person;

         (C)  Not less than ten days but not more than thirty days imprisonment of which at least forty-eight hours shall be served consecutively;

         (D)  A surcharge of $25 to be deposited into the neurotrauma special fund; and

         (E)  May be charged a surcharge of up to $50 to be deposited into the trauma system special fund if the court so orders; and

     (5)  In addition to a sentence imposed under paragraphs (1) through (4), any person eighteen years of age or older who is convicted under this section and who operated a vehicle with a passenger, in or on the vehicle, who was younger than fifteen years of age, shall be sentenced to an additional mandatory fine of $500 and an additional mandatory term of imprisonment of forty-eight hours; provided that the total term of imprisonment for a person convicted under this paragraph shall not exceed the maximum term of imprisonment provided in paragraph (1), (3), or (4).  Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the probation period for a person sentenced under this paragraph shall be not less than two years.

     (c)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the court shall not issue an ignition interlock permit to:

     (1)  A defendant whose license is expired, suspended, or revoked as a result of action other than the instant offense; or

     (2)  A defendant who holds either a category 4 license under section 286-102(b) or a commercial driver's license under section 286-239(b).

     (d)  The court may issue a separate permit authorizing a defendant to operate a vehicle owned by the defendant's employer during the period of revocation without installation of an ignition interlock device if the defendant is gainfully employed in a position that requires driving and the defendant will be discharged if prohibited from driving a vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock device.

     (e)  A request made pursuant to subsection (d) shall be accompanied by:

     (1)  A sworn statement from the defendant containing facts establishing that the defendant currently is employed in a position that requires driving and that the defendant will be discharged if prohibited from driving a vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock device; and

     (2)  A sworn statement from the defendant's employer establishing that the employer will, in fact, discharge the defendant if the defendant is prohibited from driving a vehicle not equipped with an ignition interlock device and identifying the specific vehicle and hours of the day, not to exceed twelve hours per day, the defendant will drive for purposes of employment.

     (f)  A permit issued pursuant to subsection (d) shall include restrictions allowing the defendant to drive:

     (1)  Only during specified hours of employment, not to exceed twelve hours per day, and only for activities solely within the scope of the employment;

     (2)  Only the vehicle specified; and

     (3)  Only if the permit is kept in the defendant's possession while operating the employer's vehicle.

     (g)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any:

     (1)  Conviction under this section, section 291E-4(a), or section 291E-61.5;

     (2)  Conviction in any other state or federal jurisdiction for an offense that is comparable to operating or being in physical control of a vehicle while having either an unlawful alcohol concentration or an unlawful drug content in the blood or urine or while under the influence of an intoxicant or habitually operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant; or

     (3)  Adjudication of a minor for a law violation that, if committed by an adult, would constitute a violation of this section or an offense under section 291E-4(a), or section 291E-61.5;

shall be considered a prior conviction for the purposes of imposing sentence under this section.  Any judgment on a verdict or a finding of guilty, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or an adjudication, in the case of a minor, that at the time of the offense has not been expunged by pardon, reversed, or set aside shall be deemed a prior conviction under this section.  No license and privilege suspension or revocation shall be imposed pursuant to this section if the person's license and privilege to operate a vehicle has previously been administratively revoked pursuant to part III for the same act; provided that, if the administrative suspension or revocation is subsequently reversed, the person's license and privilege to operate a vehicle shall be suspended or revoked as provided in this section.

     (h)  Whenever a court sentences a person pursuant to subsection (b), it also shall require that the offender be referred to the driver's education program for an assessment, by a certified substance abuse counselor, of the offender's substance abuse or dependence and the need for appropriate treatment.  The counselor shall submit a report with recommendations to the court.  The court shall require the offender to obtain appropriate treatment if the counselor's assessment establishes the offender's substance abuse or dependence.  All costs for assessment and treatment shall be borne by the offender.

     (i)  Upon proof that the defendant has installed an ignition interlock device in the defendant's vehicle pursuant to subsection (b), the court shall issue an ignition interlock permit that will allow the defendant to drive a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device during the revocation period.

     (j)  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, whenever a court revokes a person's driver's license pursuant to this section, the examiner of drivers shall not grant to the person a new driver's license until the expiration of the period of revocation determined by the court.  After the period of revocation is completed, the person may apply for and the examiner of drivers may grant to the person a new driver's license.

     (k)  Any person sentenced under this section may be ordered to reimburse the county for the cost of any blood or urine tests conducted pursuant to section 291E-11.  The court shall order the person to make restitution in a lump sum, or in a series of prorated installments, to the police department or other agency incurring the expense of the blood or urine test.  Except as provided in section 291E-5, installation and maintenance of the ignition interlock device required by subsection (b) shall be at the defendant's own expense.

     (l)  The requirement to provide proof of financial responsibility pursuant to section 287-20 shall not be based upon a sentence imposed under subsection (b)(1).

     (m)  As used in this section, the term "examiner of drivers" has the same meaning as provided in section 286-2."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.