TITLE 61. MOTOR VEHICLES

CHAPTER 8. TRAFFIC REGULATION

Part 7. Enforcement -- Penalties

Penalty For Driving With Excessive Alcohol Concentration Or Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Level -- First Through Third Offense

61-8-722. Penalty for driving with excessive alcohol concentration or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol level -- first through third offense. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4) or (5), a person convicted of a first violation of 61-8-406 or 61-8-411 shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 6 months and by a fine of not less than $600 or more than $1,000, except that if one or more passengers under 16 years of age were in the vehicle at the time of the offense, the person shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 6 months and by a fine of not less than $1,200 or more than $2,000.

(2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (4) or (5), a person convicted of a second violation of 61-8-406 or 61-8-411 shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 5 days or more than 1 year and by a fine of not less than $1,200 or more than $2,000, except that if one or more passengers under 16 years of age were in the vehicle at the time of the offense, the person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 10 days or more than 1 year and by a fine of not less than $2,400 or more than $4,000.

(b) The mandatory minimum imprisonment sentence may not be served under home arrest and may not be suspended unless the judge finds that imposition of the imprisonment sentence will pose a risk to the person's physical or mental well-being.

(c) The remainder of the imprisonment sentence may be suspended for a period of up to 1 year pending the person's successful completion of a chemical dependency treatment program pursuant to 61-8-732.

(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (4) or (5), a person convicted of a third violation of 61-8-406 or 61-8-411 shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 30 days or more than 1 year and by a fine of not less than $2,500 or more than $5,000, except that if one or more passengers under 16 years of age were in the vehicle at the time of the offense, the person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 60 days or more than 1 year and by a fine of not less than $5,000 or more than $10,000.

(b) The mandatory minimum imprisonment sentence may not be served under home arrest and may not be suspended unless the judge finds that imposition of the imprisonment sentence will pose a risk to the person's physical or mental well-being.

(c) The remainder of the imprisonment sentence may be suspended for a period of up to 1 year pending the person's successful completion of a chemical dependency treatment program pursuant to 61-8-732.

(4) If the person has a prior conviction under 45-5-106, the person shall be punished as provided in 61-8-731 for a fourth or subsequent offense of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or with an excessive alcohol concentration.

(5) If the person has a prior conviction or pending charge for a violation of 61-8-465, the person shall be punished as provided in 61-8-465.

History: En. Sec. 11, Ch. 698, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 242, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 101, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 105, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 262, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 789, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 474, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 447, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 518, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 567, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 255, Ch. 42, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 512, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 525, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 300, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 426, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 477, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 225, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 226, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 282, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 153, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 424, L. 2015.