Montana Code Annotated 1995

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     61-8-402. Blood, breath, or urine tests. (1) A person who operates or is in actual physical control of a vehicle upon ways of this state open to the public is considered to have given consent, subject to the provisions of 61-8-401, to a test or tests of the person's blood, breath, or urine for the purpose of determining any measured amount or detected presence of alcohol or drugs in the person's body if arrested by a peace officer for driving or for being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two. The test or tests must be administered at the direction of a peace officer who has reasonable grounds to believe that the person has been driving or has been in actual physical control of a vehicle upon ways of this state open to the public while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two. The arresting officer may designate which test or tests are administered. A test for alcohol must be given first, whether or not that test also tests for drugs, and if the test shows an alcohol concentration of 0.10 or more, a test for drugs may not be given.
     (2) A person who is unconscious or who is otherwise in a condition rendering the person incapable of refusal is considered not to have withdrawn the consent provided by subsection (1).
     (3) If a driver under arrest refuses upon the request of a peace officer to submit to a test or tests designated by the arresting officer as provided in subsection (1), a test may not be given, but the officer shall, on behalf of the department, immediately seize the person's driver's license. The peace officer shall immediately forward the license to the department, along with a sworn report noting that the peace officer had reasonable grounds to believe that the arrested person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a vehicle upon ways of this state open to the public while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of the two and noting that the person refused to submit to the test or tests upon the request of the peace officer. Upon receipt of the report, the department shall suspend the license for the period provided in subsection (5).
     (4) Upon seizure of a driver's license, the peace officer shall issue, on behalf of the department, a temporary driving permit, which is valid for 5 days following the date of issuance and shall provide the driver with written notice of the license suspension or revocation and the right to a hearing provided in 61-8-403.
     (5) The following suspension and revocation periods are applicable upon refusal to submit to a test or tests:
     (a) upon a first refusal, a suspension of 6 months with no provision for a restricted probationary license;
     (b) upon a second or subsequent refusal within 5 years of a previous refusal, as determined from the records of the department, a revocation of 1 year with no provision for a restricted probationary license.
     (6) A nonresident driver's license seized under this section must be sent by the department to the licensing authority of the nonresident's home state with a report of the nonresident's refusal to submit to a test or tests.
     (7) The department may recognize the seizure of a license of a tribal member by a peace officer acting under the authority of a tribal government or an order issued by a tribal court suspending, revoking, or reinstating a license or adjudicating a license seizure if the actions are conducted pursuant to tribal law or regulation requiring alcohol or drug testing of motor vehicle operators and the conduct giving rise to the actions occurred within the exterior boundaries of a federally recognized Indian reservation in this state. Action by the department under this subsection is not reviewable under 61-8-403.
     (8) All suspensions are subject to review as provided in this part.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 131, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 32-2142.1; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 103, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 602, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 659, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 698, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 99, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 789, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 564, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 444, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 447, L. 1995.

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