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Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2004 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 18.2-270.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 18.2-270.1. Ignition interlock systems; penalty.
A. For purposes of this section and § 18.2-270.2:
"Commission" means the Commission on VASAP.
"Department" means the Department of Motor Vehicles.
"Ignition interlock system" means a device that (i) connects a motor vehicle ignition system to an analyzer that measures a driver's blood alcohol content; (ii) prevents a motor vehicle ignition from starting if a driver's blood alcohol content exceeds 0.025 percent; and (iii) is equipped with the ability to perform a rolling retest and to electronically log the blood alcohol content during ignition, attempted ignition and rolling retest.
"Rolling retest" means a test of the vehicle operator's blood alcohol content required at random intervals during operation of the vehicle, which triggers the sounding of the horn and flashing of lights if (i) the test indicates that the operator has a blood alcohol content which exceeds 0.025 percent or (ii) the operator fails to take the test.
B. In addition to any penalty provided by law for a conviction of a first
offense under § 18.2-51.4 or § 18.2-266 or a substantially similar ordinance of
any county, city or town, any court of proper jurisdiction (i) may, or, for a
first offense, (ii) shall, for a second or subsequent offense and (iii) shall,
for an offense where an offender's blood alcohol content equals or exceeds 0.15
percent, as a condition of a restricted license or as a condition of
license restoration under subsection C of § 18.2-271.1 or § 46.2-391, prohibit
an offender from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with a
functioning, certified ignition interlock system for any period of time not to
exceed the period of license suspension and restriction, not less than six
months, and shall require that such a system be installed on each motor
vehicle, as defined in § 46.2-100, owned by or registered to the offender, in
whole or in part, for such period of time. Such condition shall be in addition to
any purposes for which a restricted license may be issued pursuant to §
18.2-271.1. The court may order the installation of an ignition interlock system to
commence immediately upon conviction. A fee of twenty dollars $20 to cover
court and administrative costs related to the ignition interlock system shall be paid by any such
offender to the clerk of the court. The court shall require the offender to
install an electronic log device with the ignition interlock system on a
vehicle designated by the court to measure the blood alcohol content at each
attempted ignition and random rolling retest during operation of the vehicle.
The offender shall be enrolled in and supervised by an alcohol safety action
program pursuant to § 18.2-271.1 and to conditions established by regulation
under § 18.2-270.2 by the Commission during the period for which the court has
ordered installation of the ignition interlock system. The offender shall be
further required to provide to such program, at least quarterly during the
period of court ordered ignition interlock installation, a printout from such
electronic log indicating the offender's blood alcohol content during such
ignitions, attempted ignitions, and rolling retests, and showing attempts to
circumvent or tamper with the equipment.
C. In any case in which the court requires the installation of an ignition interlock system, the court shall direct the offender not to operate any motor vehicle which is not equipped with such a system for the period of time that installation is ordered. The clerk of the court shall file with the Department of Motor Vehicles a copy of the order, which shall become a part of the offender's operator's license record maintained by the Department. The Department shall issue to the offender for the installation period required by the court, a restricted license which shall appropriately set forth the restrictions required by the court under this subsection and any other restrictions imposed upon the offender's driving privilege, and shall also set forth any exception granted by the court under subsection F.
D. The offender shall be ordered to provide the appropriate ASAP program,
within thirty 30 days of the effective date of the order of court, proof of the
installation of the ignition interlock system. The Program shall require the offender to have the
system monitored and calibrated for proper operation at least every thirty 30
days by an entity approved by the Commission under the provisions of §
18.2-270.2 and to demonstrate proof thereof. The offender shall pay the cost of
leasing or buying and monitoring and maintaining the ignition interlock system.
Absent good cause shown, the court may revoke the offender's driving privilege
for failing to (i) timely install such system or (ii) have the system properly
monitored and calibrated.
E. No person shall start or attempt to start a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock system for the purpose of providing an operable motor vehicle to a person who is prohibited under this section from operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with an ignition interlock system. No person shall tamper with, or in any way attempt to circumvent the operation of, an ignition interlock system that has been installed in the motor vehicle of a person under this section. Except as authorized in subsection G, no person shall knowingly furnish a motor vehicle not equipped with a functioning ignition interlock system to any person prohibited under subsection B from operating any motor vehicle which is not equipped with such system. A violation of this subsection shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
F. Any person prohibited from operating a motor vehicle under subsection B may, solely in the course of his employment, operate a motor vehicle which is owned or provided by his employer without installation of an ignition interlock system, if the court expressly permits such operation as a condition of a restricted license at the request of the employer, but such person may not operate a commercial motor vehicle as defined in § 46.2-341.4. This subsection shall not apply if such employer is an entity wholly or partially owned or controlled by the person otherwise prohibited from operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock system.
G. The Commission shall promulgate such regulations and forms as are necessary to implement the procedures outlined in this section.