Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5896 Compare Versions

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55 2025 -- H 5896
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99 S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
1010 IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1111 JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
1212 ____________
1313
1414 A N A C T
1515 RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENS ES
1616 Introduced By: Representatives Hull, Corvese, Shallcross Smith, Fascia, Santucci,
1717 Solomon, Bennett, and Noret
1818 Date Introduced: February 28, 2025
1919 Referred To: House Judiciary
2020 (Judiciary)
2121
2222 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
2323 SECTION 1. Section 31-27-2.8 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-27 entitled "Motor 1
2424 Vehicle Offenses" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
2525 31-27-2.8. Ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing imposed as a part 3
2626 of sentence — Requirements. 4
2727 (a) Any person subject to suspension pursuant to §§  31-27-2.1(b)(1) and 31-27-2.1(b)(2) 5
2828 or convicted under the provisions of § 31-27-2(d)(1), § 31-27-2(d)(2), § 31-27-2(d)(3)(i), or § 31-6
2929 27-2(d)(3)(ii), or whose violation is sustained under the provisions of §§  31-27-2.1(b)(1) and 31- 7
3030 27-2.1(b)(2), may be prohibited by the sentencing judge or magistrate from operating a motor 8
3131 vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system, and/or blood and urine testing by a 9
3232 licensed physician with knowledge and clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of drug-10
3333 related disorders, a licensed or certified psychologist, social worker, or EAP professional with like 11
3434 knowledge, or a substance abuse counselor certified by the National Association of Alcohol and 12
3535 Drug Abuse Counselors (all of whom shall be licensed in Rhode Island), pursuant to this section. 13
3636 (1) Notwithstanding any other sentencing and disposition provisions contained in this 14
3737 chapter, if a Rhode Island traffic tribunal magistrate makes a finding that a motorist was operating 15
3838 a vehicle in the state while under the influence of drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as 16
3939 evidenced by the presence of controlled substances on or about the person or vehicle, or other 17
4040 reliable indicia or articulable conditions thereof, but not intoxicating liquor based on a preliminary 18
4141 breath test, results from a breathalyzer that indicates no blood alcohol concentration or both, the 19
4242
4343
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4545 magistrate may exercise his or her discretion and eliminate the requirement of an ignition interlock 1
4646 system; provided, that blood and/or urine testing is mandated as a condition to operating a motor 2
4747 vehicle as provided in this section. 3
4848 (2) Notwithstanding any other sentencing and disposition provisions contained in this 4
4949 chapter, if a Rhode Island traffic tribunal magistrate makes a finding that a motorist was operating 5
5050 a vehicle in the state while under the influence of drugs, toluene, or any controlled substance as 6
5151 evidenced by the presence of controlled substances on or about the person or vehicle, or other 7
5252 reliable indicia or articulable conditions thereof and intoxicating liquor based on a preliminary 8
5353 breath test, results from a breathalyzer that indicates blood alcohol concentration or both, the 9
5454 magistrate may require an ignition interlock system in addition to blood and/or urine testing as a 10
5555 condition to operating a motor vehicle as provided in this section. 11
5656 (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions contained in this chapter, any mandatory period 12
5757 of license suspension shall, upon request, be reduced by the imposition of an ignition interlock 13
5858 system and/or blood and urine testing ordered by the court or traffic tribunal as follows: 14
5959 (1) For a violation of § 31-27-2(d)(1), a person shall be subject to a minimum thirty-day 15
6060 (30) license suspension and an imposition of an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine 16
6161 testing for three (3) months to one year. 17
6262 (2) For a violation of § 31-27-2.1(c)(1), a person shall be subject to a minimum thirty-day 18
6363 (30) license suspension and an imposition of an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine 19
6464 testing for a period of six (6) months to two (2) years. 20
6565 (3) For a violation of § 31-27-2(d)(2), a person shall be subject to a minimum forty-five-21
6666 day (45) license suspension and an imposition of an ignition interlock system and/or blood and 22
6767 urine testing for a period of six (6) months to two (2) years. 23
6868 (4) For a violation of § 31-27-2.1(c)(2), a person shall be subject to a minimum sixty-day 24
6969 (60) license suspension and an imposition of an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine 25
7070 testing for a period of one to four (4) years. 26
7171 (5) For a violation of § 31-27-2(d)(3), a person shall be subject to a minimum sixty-day 27
7272 (60) license suspension and imposition of an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine 28
7373 testing for a period of one to four (4) years. 29
7474 (6) For a violation of § 31-27-2.1(c)(3), a person shall be subject to a minimum ninety-day 30
7575 (90) license suspension and imposition of an ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine 31
7676 testing for a period of two (2) to ten (10) years. 32
7777 (7) No license suspension shall be subject to more than a thirty-day (30) license suspension 33
7878 based solely upon the imposition of an ignition interlock system. 34
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8282 (i) If a conviction pursuant to § 31-27-2(d)(1) or § 31-27-2.1(c)(1) is a first offense, or upon 1
8383 an initial suspension pursuant to § 31-27-2.1(b)(1), where there has been a finding or determination 2
8484 that the motorist was under the influence of intoxicating liquor only, the magistrate shall, upon 3
8585 request, immediately grant a conditional hardship license after a finding of need pursuant to this 4
8686 section and upon proof of the installation of an ignition interlock device. 5
8787 (ii) If a conviction pursuant to § 31-27-2(d)(1) or § 31-27-2.1(c)(1) is a first offense, or 6
8888 upon an initial suspension pursuant to § 31-27-2.1(b)(1), where there has been a finding or 7
8989 determination that the motorist was under the influence of drugs, toluene, or a controlled substance, 8
9090 but not intoxicating liquor, the judge or magistrate shall, upon request immediately grant a 9
9191 conditional hardship license after a finding of need pursuant to this section and upon proof of blood 10
9292 and urine testing pursuant to this section. 11
9393 (iii) If a conviction pursuant to § 31-27-2(d)(1) or § 31-27-2.1(c)(1) is a first offense, or 12
9494 upon an initial suspension pursuant to § 31-27-2.1(b)(1), where there has been a finding or 13
9595 determination that the motorist was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, toluene, a controlled 14
9696 substance, or any combination thereof, the magistrate shall, upon request immediately grant a 15
9797 conditional hardship license after a finding of need pursuant to this section and upon proof of the 16
9898 installation of an ignition interlock device, subject also to the following testing: 17
9999 (A) The testing of either blood or urine is being performed by or monitored by a licensed 18
100100 physician with knowledge and clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of drug-related 19
101101 disorders, a licensed or certified psychologist, social worker, or EAP professional with like 20
102102 knowledge, or a substance abuse counselor certified by the National Association of Alcohol and 21
103103 Drug Abuse Counselors (all of whom shall be licensed in Rhode Island). 22
104104 (B) The motorist is required to pay for the substance abuse professional, any testing, 23
105105 retesting, monitoring, and reporting costs of the blood and urine testing. 24
106106 (C) Samples are to be collected, tested and confirmed by a federally certified laboratory by 25
107107 means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or technology recognized as being at least as 26
108108 scientifically accurate. 27
109109 (D) Samples are to be taken weekly for the first sixty (60) days, thereafter in accordance 28
110110 with the recommendation of the substance abuse professional. The samples taken thereafter may 29
111111 be ordered randomly, but must be provided by the motorist within twenty-four (24) hours of the 30
112112 request. The substance abuse professional shall report to the department of the attorney general 31
113113 within twenty-four (24) hours any failure by the motorist to comply with a request for a sample. 32
114114 (E) A positive test of urine or blood that evidences any controlled substances shall be 33
115115 reported by the substance abuse professional to the motorist and to the department of the attorney 34
116116
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119119 general within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of the results. The motorist may, at his or her own 1
120120 expense, have an opportunity to have the sample retested or reevaluated by an independent testing 2
121121 facility which shall provide the result directly to the substance abuse professional. The attorney 3
122122 general may request, at any time, a copy of any or all test results from the substance abuse 4
123123 professional, who shall forward the requested results within forty-eight (48) hours. 5
124124 (F) Upon completion of the license suspension, conditional hardship, ignition interlock and 6
125125 substance abuse testing periods, a finalized report shall be presented to the department of motor 7
126126 vehicles prior to any license reinstatement. 8
127127 (G) If a judge or magistrate determines after hearing that a motorist either failed, without 9
128128 good cause, to comply with a sample request or tested positive for any controlled substance, he or 10
129129 she the judge or magistrate may adjudge the motorist in contempt of the court's order, and exercise 11
130130 his or her discretion and revoke the conditional hardship license, extend the time period for the 12
131131 ignition interlock system and/or substance abuse testing for an additional period of up to twelve 13
132132 (12) months and/or impose an additional loss of license for up to twenty-four (24) months. 14
133133 (H) A motorist who has failed, without good cause, to comply with a sample request or 15
134134 tested positive for any controlled substance for a second time within twelve (12) months of the first 16
135135 failure and/or positive test determination shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to one 17
136136 year imprisonment, or a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. 18
137137 (c) However, in any case where a motorist is convicted of an alcohol-related offense 19
138138 pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the judge or magistrate may exercise his or her discretion 20
139139 in the granting of the hardship license by imposing up to a ninety (90) day loss of license prior to 21
140140 any imposition of the hardship license. The hardship license shall be valid for twelve (12) 22
141141 continuous hours per day for any valid reason approved in advance by the sentencing judge or 23
142142 magistrate, which shall include employment, medical appointments, job training, schooling, or 24
143143 religious purposes. The hardship license shall not be for less than twelve (12) continuous hours per 25
144144 day. A hardship license shall only be granted in conjunction with the installation of an ignition 26
145145 interlock device and/or blood and urine testing. Any conditional driving privileges must be set by 27
146146 the sentencing judge or magistrate after a hearing in which the motorist must provide proof of 28
147147 employment status and hours of employment, or any other legitimate reasons justifying a hardship 29
148148 license. These shall include, but not be limited to, any unemployment training, schooling, medical 30
149149 appointments, therapy treatments, or any other valid requests set forth by sworn affidavit. Once 31
150150 said hardship period has concluded, the motorist must still be subject to the conditions of the 32
151151 ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing as set forth under this section for the period 33
152152 of time as directed by the court. Any individual who violates the requirements of this subsection 34
153153
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156156 shall be subject to the penalties enumerated in § 31-11-18.1. 1
157157 (d) Any person convicted of an offense of driving under the influence of liquor or drugs 2
158158 resulting in death, § 31-27-2.2; driving under the influence of liquor or drugs resulting in serious 3
159159 bodily injury, § 31-27-2.6; driving to endanger resulting in death, § 31-27-1; or driving to endanger 4
160160 resulting in serious bodily injury, § 31-27-1.1; may, in addition to any other penalties provided by 5
161161 law, be prohibited from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an approved ignition 6
162162 interlock system and/or blood and urine testing for one to five (5) years. 7
163163 (e) Any person who operates a motor vehicle with a suspended license during the period 8
164164 of suspension, and the reason for the suspension was due to a conviction of driving under the 9
165165 influence of drugs or alcohol or a sustained violation or conviction of refusal to submit to a chemical 10
166166 test, shall be subject to the further use of the ignition interlock system and/or blood and urine testing 11
167167 for a period of six (6) months subsequent to the penalties enumerated in § 31-11-18.1. 12
168168 (f) When the court orders the use of an ignition interlock system, the judge or magistrate 13
169169 shall cause an appropriate notation to be made on the person’s record that clearly sets forth the 14
170170 requirement for, and the period of the use of, the ignition interlock system. 15
171171 (g) In addition to the requirements of subsection (f) of this section, the court or traffic 16
172172 tribunal shall: 17
173173 (1) Require proof of the installation of the ignition interlock system and periodic reporting 18
174174 by the person for the purpose of verification of the proper operation of the ignition interlock system; 19
175175 (2) Require the person to have the ignition interlock system monitored for the proper use 20
176176 and accuracy by a person, firm, corporation, or other association to be approved by the division of 21
177177 motor vehicles at least once every six (6) months, or more frequently as the circumstances may 22
178178 require; and 23
179179 (3) Require the person to pay the reasonable cost of leasing or buying, monitoring, and 24
180180 maintenance of the ignition interlock system. 25
181181 (4) The requirements under subsection (g) of this section shall be the responsibility of the 26
182182 probation department or justice assistance, if the individual is under their control, or the division of 27
183183 motor vehicles if the individual is not monitored as a condition of the individual’s plea or finding 28
184184 of guilt. 29
185185 (h) Any person granted a conditional hardship license upon proof of installation of an 30
186186 ignition interlock device, may operate that motor vehicle during the entire twelve-hour (12) period 31
187187 of operation granted by the sentencing judge or magistrate including during the scope of the 32
188188 person’s employment and/or any other valid reason approved by the sentencing judge or magistrate. 33
189189 (i) If a person is required, in the course of the person’s employment, to operate a motor 34
190190
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193193 vehicle owned or provided by the person’s employer, the person may operate that motor vehicle in 1
194194 the course of the person’s employment without installation of an ignition interlock system if the 2
195195 court makes specific findings expressly permitting the person to operate, in the course of the 3
196196 person’s employment, a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system. 4
197197 (j) If a judge or magistrate finds after hearing that a motorist is in violation of an interlock 5
198198 order, or has failed to comply with the terms and conditions imposed with an ignition interlock 6
199199 system including, but not limited to, operating a motor vehicle without an ignition interlock system 7
200200 installed, the judge or magistrate may adjudge the motorist in contempt of the court's order, and 8
201201 exercise their discretion by revoking, modifying or amending the conditional hardship license or 9
202202 ignition interlock order, extending the time period for the ignition interlock system for an additional 10
203203 period of twelve (12) months and/or imposing an additional loss of license for up to twenty-four 11
204204 (24) months. 12
205205 (1) Any person subject to an ignition interlock order and/or blood and urine testing who 13
206206 violates such order shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year imprisonment, 14
207207 or a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. 15
208208 (2) For a second violation within six (6) months from entry of the order, the person 16
209209 violating the order shall be imprisoned for a term of not less than ten (10) days and not more than 17
210210 one year. 18
211211 (k) For the purposes of this subsection, a violation of the interlock order, includes, but is 19
212212 not limited to: 20
213213 (1) Altering, tampering, or in any way attempting to circumvent the operation of an ignition 21
214214 interlock system that has been installed in the motor vehicle of a person under this section; 22
215215 (2) Operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system; or 23
216216 (3) Soliciting or attempting to have another person start a motor vehicle equipped with an 24
217217 ignition interlock system for the purpose of providing an operable motor vehicle to a person who 25
218218 is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system. 26
219219 (l) Any person who attempts to start, or starts, a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition 27
220220 interlock system, tampers with, or in any way attempts to circumvent, the operation of an ignition 28
221221 interlock system that has been installed in the motor vehicle for the purpose of providing an 29
222222 operable motor vehicle to a person who is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle that is not 30
223223 equipped with an ignition interlock system, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by up to 31
224224 one year imprisonment or a fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. 32
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228228 SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 1
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235235 EXPLANATION
236236 BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
237237 OF
238238 A N A C T
239239 RELATING TO MOTOR AN D OTHER VEHICLES -- MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES
240240 ***
241241 This act would provide that a hearing be required before a judge or magistrate may adjudge 1
242242 a motorist in contempt for failure to comply with the court's orders regarding a conditional hardship 2
243243 license, and would define the penalties for violation of a hardship/interlock order. 3
244244 This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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