Drunk Driving Legislative Session

Source:

Adapted from a lesson written by Street Law, Inc. by Margaret Fisher, Institute for Citizen Education in the Law, Seattle, WA. Staff at the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) updated the lesson in 2012. For more information, contact AOC Court Services, 1206 Quince Street SE, PO Box 41170, Olympia, WA 98504-1170. For an electronic copy of this lesson, or to view other lesson plans, visit Educational Resources on the Washington Courts Web site at: www.courts.wa.gov/education/.

Objectives:

1. Students will discuss policy reasons for enacting a law to deal with driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

2. Students will draft a law to deal with driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

3. Students will analyze Washington's law against driving under the influence (DUI) and compare it to the law they draft.

Grade Level:

Grades 9-12

Time:

One class period (approximately 50 minutes)

Materials:

One copy of Handout 1 (Drafting a Law) for each student
One copy of Handout 2 (Driving Under the Influence – Washington State Laws) for each student
Six large sheets of paper
Markers

Procedures:

1. Begin the class by introducing yourself to the students, and telling a little bit about what you do, if this is your first class.

2. Introduce the topic by asking students whether driving under the influence (DUI) is a problem in their town or city. Ask why there might be a need for a law related to DUI.

3. Brainstorm with students for about five minutes. Ask students what should be included in a DUI law. In other words, what issues should the law address? On the board, list any issues the students raise. For example:

   Are drugs included in the law, as well as alcohol?

   • What level of drugs and/or alcohol?
   • How do you determine who should be stopped and tested?
   • How is the refusal to be tested handled?
   • What penalties should be enforced?
   • Should the law treat those under 21 years of age differently than those 21 years and older?

   With the help of students, pick the five or six most important issues to include in the law.

4. Divide students into groups of three to five students. There should be the same number of groups as the number of issues you decided to include in the draft DUI law (five or six). Assign each group one issue.

5. Pass out Handout 1 to each group. Review the directions in the handout, which describe what each group should do. Ask students if they understand the assignment. Allow 15 minutes for the groups to draft their provisions of the law. Ask each group to print its portion of the law on a large piece of paper.

6. Ask a spokesperson from each group to describe the part of the law the group drafted. Lead the class to discuss and analyze the law by asking questions including:
   • What is the purpose of this part of the law, and will it achieve that purpose?
   • Is it clear and understandable?
   • Is it enforceable?

7. After each group has presented its part of the law, pass out Handout 2, which covers selected provisions of Washington State's statute. Give them up to 10 minutes to review at least the portion of Washington's law that corresponds with the section they wrote. Ask students to compare the two laws by asking questions such as:
   • Which law is easier to read and understand?
   • Which law do you think is more effective?
   • Should Washington's law be revised?
   • What would you add or change?

8. Share your experience in dealing with DUI cases. Other areas that could be discussed (time permitting) are Washington State's open container law and the loss of driving privileges for alcohol offenses.

HANDOUT 1

Drafting a Law

Directions:

1. You will draft a drunk driving law. Before you begin, select a student reporter to write down the sentences for the final law drafted by the group. Also, select a spokesperson to explain the law to the rest of the class. All members of the group should work on drafting the law as it is discussed.
   
   
   
   
   

2. Your bill should be divided into sections. The first section should explain the purpose or intent of the bill. Discuss the purpose of the part of the law you are drafting. Agree on one sentence to summarize the purpose behind that provision.

   For example: To keep our streets safe, drunk drivers should lose their right to drive.
   
   
   
   
   

3. Draft a paragraph for each issue covered by intent.

   For example: To take away the “right to drive” from “drunk drivers,” you must define “drunk.” This law would need a paragraph explaining how “drunk” will be defined and tested for.
   
   
   
   
   

4. As you are writing, think about these questions:

   Is your law clear and understandable? Is it enforceable?
   
   
   
   
   

HANDOUT 2

Driving Under the Influence – Washington State Laws*

RCW 46.61.502
DRIVING WHILE UNDER INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING
LIQUOR OR DRUG – WHAT CONSTITUTES

(1) A person is guilty of driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person drives a vehicle within this state:

(a) And the person has, within two hours after driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood; or

(b) While the person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug; or

(c) While the person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor and any drug.

A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.

RCW 46.61.503

DRIVER UNDER TWENTY-ONE CONSUMING ALCOHOL – PENALTIES

(1) A person is guilty of driving or being in physical control of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol if the person operates or is in physical control of a motor vehicle within this state and the person:

(a) Is under the age of 21;

(b) Has, within 2 hours after operating or being in physical control of the motor vehicle, an alcohol concentration of at least 0.02 but less than 0.08, as shown by analysis of the person’s breath or blood.

A violation of this section is a misdemeanor.

*Statutes have been edited.

RCW 46.61.5055
CRIMINAL SANCTIONS
As of January 1, 2011

(1) A person who is convicted of a violation of driving under the influence and who has no prior offense within seven years shall be punished as follows:

(a) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was less than 0.15, or for whom for reasons other than the person's refusal to take a test, there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

(i) By imprisonment for not less than one day nor more than one year (provisions are made in cases for persons who are physically or mentally unable to serve the minimum jail time); and

(ii) By a fine of not less than $350 nor more than $5,000; and

(iii) By suspension of the offender's license, permit, or non-resident privilege to drive for a period of 90 days.

(b) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or for whom by reason of the person's refusal to take a test, there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

(i) By imprisonment for not less than 2 days nor more than 1 year (provisions are made in cases for persons who are physically or mentally unable to serve the minimum jail time); and

(ii) By a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000; and

(iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for one year; and

(2) A person who is convicted of a violation of driving under the influence and who has one prior offense within seven years shall be punished as follows:

(a) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was less than 0.15, or for whom for reasons other than the person's refusal to take a test, there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

(i) By imprisonment for not less than 30 days nor more than 1 year and 60 days of electronic home monitoring. The court may also require the offender’s electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time home monitoring; and

(ii) By a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000; and

(iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for a period of 2 years; and

(b) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or for whom by reason of the person's refusal to take a test, there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

(i) By imprisonment for not less than 45 days nor more than 1 year and 90 days of electronic home monitoring. The court may also require the offender’s electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time home monitoring. The offender pays the cost of the home monitoring; and

(ii) By a fine of not less than $750 nor more than $5,000; and

(iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive for a period of 900 days; and

(3) A person who is convicted of a violation of driving under the influence and who has two or more prior offenses within seven years shall be punished as follows:

(a) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was less than 0.15, or for whom for reasons other than the person's refusal to take a test offered pursuant to RCW 46.20.308 there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

(i) By imprisonment for not less than 90 days nor more than 1 year and 120 days of electronic home monitoring, paid for by the offender. The court may also require the offender’s electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time home monitoring. The offender pays the cost of the home monitoring; and

(ii) By a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000; and

(iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for a period of 3 years; and

(b) In the case of a person whose alcohol concentration was at least 0.15, or for whom by reason of the person's refusal to take a test offered there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:

(i) By imprisonment for not less than 120 days nor more than 1 year and 150 days of electronic home monitoring to be paid for by the offender. The court may also require the offender’s electronic home monitoring device include an alcohol detection breathalyzer, and may restrict the amount of alcohol the offender may consume during the time home monitoring. The offender pays the cost of the home monitoring; and

(ii) By a fine of not less than $1,500 nor more than $5,000; and

(iii) By revocation of the offender's license or permit to drive, or suspension of any nonresident privilege to drive, for a period of 4 years.

(4) A person who is convicted of a violation and has four or more prior offenses within ten years or who has previously been convicted of either vehicular homicide or vehicular assault while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs shall be punished as a level V seriousness crime on the sentencing grid.

The court may waive the home monitoring requirement when the offender does not have a dwelling, telephone, or other necessity to operate such a system, or if the offender does not live in Washington, or, the court believes the offender would violate the home monitoring conditions. In that case, the court must impose an alternative sentence such as more jail time, work crew or work camp.

In all cases of a person convicted of DUI, the court shall require the person to apply for an ignition interlock driver’s device and have it installed on the driver’s vehicles.

In exercising its discretion in setting penalties within the limits allowed by this section, the court shall particularly consider whether, at the time of the offense, the person was responsible for hurting a person or property or had any passengers.

An offender punishable under this section is subject to the alcohol assessment and treatment.

After the period of revocation or suspension has ended, the offender’s driving privilege will be in a probationary status.

Whenver the court orders less than 1 year in jail, the court shall also suspend but shall not defer a period of confinement for not more than 5 years.

Additional probation conditions are required. If a person violates any of these conditions, they must spend 30 days in jail.

DRIVERS UNDER 21 CONSUMING ALCOHOL
RCW 46.61.503

A person person under 21 years of age is guilty of driving or being in physical control of a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol if the person operates or is in physical control of a motor vehicle in Washington or has within two hours after operating or being in physical control of a motor vehicle a blood alcohol concentration of at least 0.02 but less than 0.08. This is a misdemeanor.

ALCOHOL VIOLATORS – VEHICLE SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE
RCW 46.61.5058

On conviction of driving under the influence, where the offender has a prior alcohol or drug offense in the past seven years, the motor vehicle the person was driving or over which the person had actual control at the time of offense, if the person has a financial interest in the vehicle, is subject to seizure and forfeiture.

ALCOHOL VIOLATORS – ADDITIONAL FEE DISTRIBUTION
RCW 46.61.5054

In addition to penalties set forth, $125 fee shall be assessed to a person who is either convicted, sentenced to a lesser charge, or given a deferred prosecution, as a result of an arrest for driving under the influence.

IMPLIED CONSENT – REVOCATION OF DRIVING PRIVILEGES
FOR REFUSAL TO SUBMIT TO BREATH OR BLOOD ALCOHOL TEST
RCW 46.20.308

Any person who operates a motor vehicle within this state is deemed to have given consent to a test or tests of his or her breath or blood for the purpose of determining the alcoholic concentration or presence of any drug in his or her breath or blood if arrested for any offense where, at the time of the arrest, the arresting officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or was in violation of the law against driving under the influence.