§291E-65 - Refusal to submit to testing for measurable amount of alcohol; district court hearing; sanctions; appeals; admissibility.

     §291E-65  Refusal to submit to testing for measurable amount of alcohol; district court hearing; sanctions; appeals; admissibility.  [Section effective until December 31, 2010.  For section effective on January 1, 2011, see below.]  (a)  If a person under arrest for operating a vehicle after consuming a measurable amount of alcohol, pursuant to section 291E‑64, refuses to submit to a breath or blood test, none shall be given, except as provided in section 291E‑21, but the arresting law enforcement officer, as soon as practicable, shall submit an affidavit to a district judge of the circuit in which the arrest was made, stating:

     (1)  That at the time of the arrest, the arresting officer had probable cause to believe the arrested person was under the age of twenty-one and had been operating a vehicle upon a public way, street, road, or highway or on or in the waters of the State with a measurable amount of alcohol;

     (2)  That the arrested person was informed that the person may refuse to submit to a breath or blood test, in compliance with section 291E-11;

     (3)  That the person had refused to submit to a breath or blood test;

     (4)  That the arrested person was:

         (A)  Informed of the sanctions of this section; and then

         (B)  Asked if the person still refuses to submit to a breath or blood test, in compliance with the requirements of section 291E-15; and

     (5)  That the arrested person continued to refuse to submit to a breath or blood test.

     (b)  Upon receipt of the affidavit, the district judge shall hold a hearing within twenty days.  The district judge shall hear and determine:

     (1)  Whether the arresting law enforcement officer had probable cause to believe that the person was under the age of twenty-one and had been operating a vehicle upon a public way, street, road, or highway or on or in the waters of the State with a measurable amount of alcohol;

     (2)  Whether the person was lawfully arrested;

     (3)  Whether the person was informed that the person may refuse to submit to a breath or blood test, in compliance with section 291E-11;

     (4)  Whether the person refused to submit to a test of the person's breath or blood;

     (5)  Whether the person was:

         (A)  Informed of the sanctions of this section; and then

         (B)  Asked if the person still refuses to submit to a breath or blood test, in compliance with the requirements of section 291E-15; and

     (6)  Whether the person continued to refuse to submit to a breath or blood test.

     (c)  If the district judge finds the statements contained in the affidavit are true, the judge shall suspend the arrested person's license and privilege to operate a vehicle as follows:

     (1)  For a first suspension, or any suspension not preceded within a five-year period by a suspension under this section, for a period of twelve months; and

     (2)  For any subsequent suspension under this section, for a period not less than two years and not more than five years.

     (d)  An order of a district court issued under this section may be appealed to the supreme court.

     (e)  If a legally arrested person under the age of twenty-one refuses to submit to a test of the person's breath or blood,  proof of refusal shall be admissible only in a hearing under this section or part III and shall not be admissible in any other action or proceeding, whether civil or criminal. [L 2000, c 189, pt of §23; am L 2001, c 157, §29; am L 2006, c 64, §9]

 

 

     §291E-65  Refusal to submit to testing for measurable amount of alcohol; district court hearing; sanctions; appeals; admissibility.  [Section effective on January 1, 2011.  For section effective until December 31, 2010, see above.]  (a)  If a person under arrest for operating a vehicle after consuming a measurable amount of alcohol, pursuant to section 291E-64, refuses to submit to a breath or blood test, none shall be given, except as provided in section 291E-21, but the arresting law enforcement officer, as soon as practicable, shall submit an affidavit to a district judge of the circuit in which the arrest was made, stating:

     (1)  That at the time of the arrest, the arresting officer had probable cause to believe the arrested person was under the age of twenty-one and had been operating a vehicle upon a public way, street, road, or highway or on or in the waters of the State with a measurable amount of alcohol;

     (2)  That the arrested person was informed that the person may refuse to submit to a breath or blood test, in compliance with section 291E-11;

     (3)  That the person had refused to submit to a breath or blood test;

     (4)  That the arrested person was:

         (A)  Informed of the sanctions of this section; and then

         (B)  Asked if the person still refuses to submit to a breath or blood test, in compliance with the requirements of section 291E-15; and

     (5)  That the arrested person continued to refuse to submit to a breath or blood test.

     (b)  Upon receipt of the affidavit, the district judge shall hold a hearing within twenty days.  The district judge shall hear and determine:

     (1)  Whether the arresting law enforcement officer had probable cause to believe that the person was under the age of twenty-one and had been operating a vehicle upon a public way, street, road, or highway or on or in the waters of the State with a measurable amount of alcohol;

     (2)  Whether the person was lawfully arrested;

     (3)  Whether the person was informed that the person may refuse to submit to a breath or blood test, in compliance with section 291E-11;

     (4)  Whether the person refused to submit to a test of the person's breath or blood;

     (5)  Whether the person was:

         (A)  Informed of the sanctions of this section; and then

         (B)  Asked if the person still refuses to submit to a breath or blood test, in compliance with the requirements of section 291E-15; and

     (6)  Whether the person continued to refuse to submit to a breath or blood test.

     (c)  If the district judge finds the statements contained in the affidavit are true, the judge shall suspend the arrested person's license and privilege to operate a vehicle as follows:

     (1)  For a first suspension, or any suspension not preceded within a five-year period by a suspension under this section, for a period of twelve months; and

     (2)  For any subsequent suspension under this section, for a period not less than two years and not more than five years.

     (d)  An order of a district court issued under this section may be appealed to the supreme court. [L 2000, c 189, pt of §23; am L 2001, c 157, §29; am L 2006, c 64, §9; am L 2009, c 88, §§7, 17(1)]