§ 1216 Persons under 21; alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more

§ 1216. Persons under 21; alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more

    (a) A person under the age of 21 who operates, attempts to operate or is in actual physical control of a vehicle on a highway when the person's alcohol concentration is 0.02 or more, commits a civil traffic violation subject to the jurisdiction of the judicial bureau and subject to the following sanctions:

        (1) For a first violation, the person's license or privilege to operate shall be suspended for six months and until the person complies with subdivision 1209a(a)(1) of this title. However, a person may operate under the terms of an ignition interlock RDL issued pursuant to section 1213 of this title after 30 days of this six-month period unless the offense involved a refusal to consent to a law enforcement officer's reasonable request for an evidentiary test or a collision resulting in serious bodily injury or death to another.

        (2) For a second or subsequent violation, the person's license or privilege to operate shall be suspended until the person reaches the age of 21 or for one year, whichever is longer, and complies with subdivision 1209a(a)(2) of this title. However, a person may operate under the terms of an ignition interlock RDL issued pursuant to section 1213 of this title after 90 days of the applicable suspension period unless the offense involved a refusal to consent to a law enforcement officer's reasonable request for an evidentiary test or a collision resulting in serious bodily injury or death to another.

    (b) A person's license or privilege to operate that has been suspended under this section shall not be reinstated until:

        (1) the commissioner has received satisfactory evidence that the person has complied with section 1209a of this title and the provider of the therapy program has been paid in full;

        (2) the person has no pending criminal charges, civil citations, or unpaid fines or penalties for a violation under this chapter; and

        (3)(A) a person operating under an ignition interlock RDL for a first offense has operated under a valid RDL for a period of nine months or, if the RDL is permanently revoked, after one year from the date of suspension; or

            (B) a person operating under an ignition interlock RDL for a second or subsequent offense has operated under a valid RDL for a period of 18 months or until the person is 21, whichever is longer, or if the RDL is permanently revoked, after two years from the date of suspension or until the person is 21, whichever is longer.

    (c) A person who violates this section may also be subject to recall of his or her provisional license under section 607a of this title.

Text of the introductory paragraph to subsec. (d) effective until March 1, 2012

    (d) If a law enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is violating this section, the officer may request the person to submit to a breath test using a preliminary screening device approved by the commissioner of health. A refusal to submit to the breath test shall be considered a violation of this section. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in sections 1202 and 1203 of this title:

Text of the introductory paragraph to subsec. (d) effective March 1, 2012

    (d) If a law enforcement officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is violating this section, the officer may request the person to submit to a breath test using a preliminary screening device approved by the commissioner of public safety. A refusal to submit to the breath test shall be considered a violation of this section. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in sections 1202 and 1203 of this title:

        (1) the results of the test shall be admissible evidence in a proceeding under this section; and

        (2) there shall be no statutory right to counsel prior to the administration of the test.

    (e) In a proceeding under this section, if there was at any time within two hours of operating, attempting to operate or being in actual physical control of a vehicle on a highway an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that the person's alcohol concentration was 0.02 or more at the time of operating, attempting to operate or being in actual physical control.

    (f) No fine and no points shall be assessed for a violation of this section.

    (g) The alcohol and driving program required under this section shall be administered by the office of alcohol and drug abuse programs and shall take into consideration any particular treatment needs of operators under the age of 21.

    (h) A charge of violating this section shall not bar prosecution for any crime, including a prosecution under section 1201 of this title.

    (i) Suspensions imposed under this section or any comparable statute of any other jurisdiction shall run concurrently with suspensions imposed under sections 1205, 1206, and 1208 of this title or any comparable statutes of any other jurisdiction or with any suspension resulting from a conviction for a violation of section 1091 of this title from the same incident, and a person shall receive credit for any elapsed period of a suspension served in Vermont against a later suspension imposed in this state. In order for suspension credit to be available against a later suspension, the suspension issued under this section must appear and remain on the individual's motor vehicle record.