12:7-57 - Refusal to submit to chemical test; revocation of privileges, fines
12:7-57 Refusal to submit to chemical test; revocation of privileges, fines.
9. a. A court shall revoke the privilege of a person to operate a power vessel or a vessel which is 12 feet or greater in length, if after being arrested for a violation of section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46), the person refuses to submit to the chemical test provided for in section 7 of P.L.1986, c.39 (C.12:7-55) when requested to do so. The revocation shall be for one year unless the refusal was in connection with a second offense under section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46), in which case the revocation period shall be for two years. If the refusal was in connection with a third or subsequent offense under section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46), the revocation shall be for 10 years. The court also shall revoke the privilege of a person to operate a motor vehicle over the highways of this State for a period of: not less than seven months or more than one year for a first offense; two years for a second offense; and 10 years for a third or subsequent offense. The court shall also fine a person convicted under this section: not less than $300 nor more than $500 for a first offense; not less than $500 or more than $1,000 for a second offense; and $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense.
b.The court shall determine by a preponderance of the evidence whether the arresting officer had probable cause to believe that the person had been operating or was in actual physical control of the vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or a narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug, whether the person was placed under arrest, and whether the person refused to submit to the test upon request of the officer. If these elements of the violation are not established, no conviction shall issue.
c.In addition to any other requirements provided by law, a person whose privilege to operate a vessel is revoked for refusing to submit to a chemical test shall satisfy the screening, evaluation, referral and program requirements of the Bureau of Alcohol Countermeasures in the Division of Alcoholism in the Department of Health and Senior Services. A fee of $40 shall be payable to the Alcohol Education, Rehabilitation and Enforcement Fund established under section 3 of P.L.1983, c.531 (C.26:2B-32), by the convicted person in order to defray the costs of the screening, evaluation and referral by the Bureau of Alcohol Countermeasures and the cost of an education or rehabilitation program. Failure to satisfy this requirement shall result in the immediate revocation of the privilege to operate a vessel on the waters of this State or the continuation of revocation until the requirements are satisfied. The revocation for a first offense may be concurrent with or consecutive to a revocation imposed for a conviction under the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46) arising out of the same incident; the revocation for a second or subsequent offense shall be consecutive to a revocation imposed for a conviction under the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46).
d.In addition to any other requirements provided by law, a person convicted under this section shall be required after conviction to complete a boat safety course from the list approved by the Superintendent of State Police pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1987, c.453 (C.12:7-60), which shall be completed prior to the restoration of the privilege to operate a vessel which may have been revoked or suspended for a violation of the provisions of this section. Failure to satisfy this requirement shall result in the immediate revocation of the privilege to operate a vessel on the waters of this State, or the continuation of revocation until the requirements of this subsection are satisfied.
L.1986,c.39,s.9; amended 1995, c.401, s.42; 2004, c.80, s.4.
12:7-58.Work release program10. a. A person who has been convicted of violating section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46), and who has been imprisoned in a county jail or workhouse in the county in which the offense was committed, shall not be released after commitment until the term of imprisonment imposed has been served. A person imprisoned in the county jail or workhouse may, at the discretion of the court, be released on a work release program.
b. A warden or other officer having custody of the county jail or workhouse shall not release a person until the sentence has been served, except that a person may be released by the court on a work release program. A person sentenced to an inpatient rehabilitation program may be released by the court, upon the petition of the treating agency, to an outpatient rehabilitation program for the duration of the original sentence.
c. This section shall not be construed to interfere in any way with the operation of a writ of habeas corpus, a proceeding in lieu of the prerogative writ, or an appeal.
L.1986,c.39,s.10; amended 1995,c.401,s.43.
12:7-59.Written notice of penalties
11. A person shall receive written notice of the penalties under section 3 of P.L.1952, c.157 (C.12:7-46) and section 9 of P.L.1986, c.39 (C.12:7-57), when that person is issued a license to operate a vessel, a registration certificate, a certificate of number or a certificate of ownership under chapters 7 and 7A of Title 12 of the Revised Statutes.
L.1986,c.39,s.11; amended 1995,c.401,s.44.