H-4958.1 _______________________________________________
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2623
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 55th Legislature 1998 Regular Session
By House Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Representatives Sterk and McDonald)
Read first time 02/05/98. Referred to Committee on .
AN ACT Relating to operating or having actual physical control of a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug; amending RCW 88.12.025 and 10.31.100; adding new sections to chapter 88.12 RCW; prescribing penalties; and providing an effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 88.12.025 and 1993 c 244 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a vessel in a reckless manner.
(2)
((It shall be a violation for a person to operate a vessel while under the
influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug. A person is considered to be
under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if:
(a)
The person has 0.10 grams or more of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of
breath, as shown by analysis of the person's breath made under RCW 46.61.506;
or
(b)
The person has 0.10 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood,
as shown by analysis of the person's blood made under RCW 46.61.506; or
(c)
The person is under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any
drug; or
(d)
The person is under the combined influence of or affected by intoxicating
liquor and any drug.
The
fact that any person charged with a violation of this section is or has been
entitled to use such drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a
defense against any charge of violating this section. A person cited under
this subsection may upon request be given a breath test for breath alcohol or
may request to have a blood sample taken for blood alcohol analysis. An
arresting officer shall administer field sobriety tests when circumstances
permit.
(3))) A
violation of this section is a misdemeanor, punishable as provided under RCW
9.92.030. In addition, the court may order the defendant to pay restitution
for any damages or injuries resulting from the offense.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) A person is guilty of operating a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person operates a vessel within this state:
(a) And the person has, within two hours after operating a vessel, an alcohol concentration at or above the amount specified in RCW 46.61.502 as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood made under section 8 of this act; 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.
(2) The fact that a person charged with a violation of this section is or has been entitled to use a drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against a charge of violating this section.
(3) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section which the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of alcohol after the time of operating a vessel and before the administration of an analysis of the person's breath or blood to cause the defendant's alcohol concentration to be at or above the amount specified in RCW 46.61.502 within two hours after operating a vessel. The court shall not admit evidence of this defense unless the defendant notifies the prosecution prior to the omnibus or pretrial hearing in the case of the defendant's intent to assert the affirmative defense.
(4) Analyses of blood or breath samples obtained more than two hours after the alleged operating a vessel may be used as evidence that within two hours of the alleged operating a vessel, a person had an alcohol concentration at or above the amount specified in RCW 46.61.502 in violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section, and in any case in which the analysis shows an alcohol concentration above 0.00 may be used as evidence that a person was under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug in violation of subsection (1)(b) or (c) of this section.
(5) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a person is guilty of operating a vessel after consuming alcohol if the person operates a vessel within this state and the person:
(a) Is under the age of twenty-one;
(b) Has, within two hours after operating the vessel, an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more, as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood made under section 8 of this act.
(2) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of subsection (1) of this section which the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of alcohol after the time of operating a vessel and before the administration of an analysis of the person's breath or blood to cause the defendant's alcohol concentration to be 0.02 or more within two hours after operating a vessel. The court shall not admit evidence of this defense unless the defendant notifies the prosecution prior to the earlier of: (a) Seven days prior to trial; or (b) the omnibus or pretrial hearing in the case of the defendant's intent to assert the affirmative defense.
(3) Analyses of blood or breath samples obtained more than two hours after the alleged operating a vessel may be used as evidence that within two hours of the alleged operating a vessel, a person had an alcohol concentration of 0.02 or more in violation of subsection (1) of this section.
(4) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) A person is guilty of being in actual physical control of a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug if the person has actual physical control of a vessel within this state:
(a) And the person has, within two hours after being in actual physical control of the vessel, an alcohol concentration at or above the amount specified in RCW 46.61.504 as shown by analysis of the person's breath or blood made under section 8 of this act; 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.
(2) The fact that a person charged with a violation of this section is or has been entitled to use a drug under the laws of this state does not constitute a defense against any charge of violating this section. No person may be convicted under this section if he or she is on a vessel moored at a place of moorage that is owned, leased, or rented by the owner of the vessel.
(3) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section which the defendant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of alcohol after the time of being in actual physical control of the vessel and before the administration of an analysis of the person's breath or blood to cause the defendant's alcohol concentration to be at or above the amount specified in RCW 46.61.504 within two hours after being in such control. The court shall not admit evidence of this defense unless the defendant notifies the prosecution prior to the omnibus or pretrial hearing in the case of the defendant's intent to assert the affirmative defense.
(4) Analyses of blood or breath samples obtained more than two hours after the alleged being in actual physical control of a vessel may be used as evidence that within two hours of the alleged being in such control, a person had an alcohol concentration at or above the amount specified in RCW 46.61.504 in violation of subsection (1)(a) of this section, and in any case in which the analysis shows an alcohol concentration above 0.00 may be used as evidence that a person was under the influence of or affected by intoxicating liquor or any drug in violation of subsection (1)(b) or (c) of this section.
(5) A violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1)(a) In addition to penalties set forth in section 6 of this act, a one hundred twenty-five dollar fee shall be assessed to a person who is either convicted, sentenced to a lesser charge, or given deferred prosecution, as a result of an arrest for violating section 2 or 4 of this act. This fee is for the purpose of funding the Washington state toxicology laboratory and the Washington state parks and recreation commission for grants and activities to increase the conviction rate and decrease the incidence of persons operating vessels under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
(b) Upon a verified petition by the person assessed the fee, the court may suspend payment of all or part of the fee if it finds that the person does not have the ability to pay.
(c) When a minor has been adjudicated a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a violation of section 2 or 4 of this act, the court shall assess the one hundred twenty-five dollar fee under (a) of this subsection. Upon a verified petition by a minor assessed the fee, the court may suspend payment of all or part of the fee if it finds that the minor does not have the ability to pay the fee.
(2) The fee assessed under subsection (1) of this section shall be collected by the clerk of the court and distributed as follows:
(a) Ninety percent shall be subject to distribution under RCW 3.46.120, 3.50.100, 35.20.220, 3.62.020, 3.62.040, or 10.82.070.
(b) The remainder of the fee shall be forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit in the death investigations account to be used solely for funding the state toxicology laboratory blood or breath testing programs.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) A person who is convicted of a violation of section 2 or 4 of this act and who has no prior offense within five 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 section 11 of this act 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. Twenty-four consecutive hours of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than three hundred fifty dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. Three hundred fifty dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent.
(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 pursuant to section 11 of this act there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than two days nor more than one year. Two consecutive days of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. Five hundred dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent.
(2) A person who is convicted of a violation of section 2 or 4 of this act and who has one prior offense within five 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 section 11 of this act there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than one year. Thirty days of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. Five hundred dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent.
(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 pursuant to section 11 of this act there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than forty-five days nor more than one year. Forty-five days of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. Seven hundred fifty dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent.
(3) A person who is convicted of a violation of section 2 or 4 of this act and who has two or more prior offenses within five 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 section 11 of this act there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than ninety days nor more than one year. Ninety days of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. One thousand dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent.
(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 pursuant to section 11 of this act there is no test result indicating the person's alcohol concentration:
(i) By imprisonment for not less than one hundred twenty days nor more than one year. One hundred twenty days of the imprisonment may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds that the imposition of this mandatory minimum sentence would impose a substantial risk to the offender's physical or mental well-being. Whenever the mandatory minimum sentence is suspended or deferred, the court shall state in writing the reason for granting the suspension or deferral and the facts upon which the suspension or deferral is based; and
(ii) By a fine of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. One thousand five hundred dollars of the fine may not be suspended or deferred unless the court finds the offender to be indigent.
(4) In exercising its discretion in setting penalties within the limits allowed by this section, the court shall particularly consider whether the person's vessel operation at the time of the offense was responsible for injury or damage to another or another's property.
(5) An offender punishable under this section is subject to the alcohol assessment and treatment provisions of RCW 46.61.5056.
(6) An offender punishable under subsection (2) or (3) of this section shall be required by the court to complete a course in boating safety approved by the commission pursuant to section 7 of this act.
(7)(a) In addition to any nonsuspendable and nondeferrable jail sentence required by this section, whenever the court imposes less than one year in jail, the court shall also suspend but shall not defer a period of confinement for a period not exceeding two years. The court shall impose conditions of probation that include: (i) Not operating a vessel within this state while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more within two hours after operating a vessel; and (ii) not refusing to submit to a test of his or her breath or blood to determine alcohol concentration upon request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable grounds to believe the person was operating or was in actual physical control of a vessel within this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor. The court may impose conditions of probation that include nonrepetition, alcohol or drug treatment, supervised probation, or other conditions that may be appropriate. The sentence may be imposed in whole or in part upon violation of a condition of probation during the suspension period.
(b) For each violation of mandatory conditions of probation under (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection, the court shall order the convicted person to be confined for thirty days, which shall not be suspended or deferred.
(8)(a) A "prior offense" means any of the following:
(i) A conviction for a violation of section 2 of this act or an equivalent local ordinance;
(ii) A conviction for a violation of section 4 of this act or an equivalent local ordinance;
(iii) An out-of-state conviction for a violation that would have been a violation of (a)(i) or (ii) of this subsection if committed in this state; or
(iv) A deferred prosecution under chapter 10.05 RCW granted in a prosecution for a violation of section 2 or 4 of this act, or an equivalent local ordinance.
(b) "Within five years" means that the arrest for a prior offense occurred within five years of the arrest for the current offense.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The commission shall prescribe standards for approval of boating safety courses qualifying for referral of offenders pursuant to section 6 of this act. The commission shall adopt such rules as are necessary to carry out this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. (1) Upon the trial of any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any person while operating or in actual physical control of a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug, if the person's alcohol concentration is less than the amount specified in RCW 46.61.502, it is evidence that may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.
(2) The breath analysis shall be based upon grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath. The foregoing provisions of this section shall not be construed as limiting the introduction of any other competent evidence bearing upon the question whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug.
(3) Analysis of the person's blood or breath to be considered valid under the provisions of this section or section 2 or 4 of this act shall have been performed according to methods approved by the state toxicologist and by an individual possessing a valid permit issued by the state toxicologist for this purpose pursuant to RCW 46.61.506.
(4) When a blood test is administered under the provisions of section 11 of this act, the withdrawal of blood for the purpose of determining its alcoholic or drug content may be performed only by a physician, a registered nurse, or a qualified technician. This limitation shall not apply to the taking of breath specimens.
(5) The person tested may have a physician, or a qualified technician, chemist, registered nurse, or other qualified person of his or her own choosing administer one or more tests in addition to any administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer. The failure or inability to obtain an additional test by a person shall not preclude the admission of evidence relating to the test or tests taken at the direction of a law enforcement officer.
(6) Upon the request of the person who shall submit to a test or tests at the request of a law enforcement officer, full information concerning the test or tests shall be made available to him or her or his or her attorney.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A sentencing court may allow persons convicted of violating section 2 or 4 of this act to fulfill the terms of the sentence provided in section 6 of this act in nonconsecutive or intermittent time periods. However, any mandatory minimum sentence under section 6 of this act shall be served consecutively unless suspended or deferred as otherwise provided by law.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. The refusal of a person to submit to a test of the alcoholic content of the person's blood or breath under section 11 of this act is admissible into evidence at a subsequent criminal trial.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) Any person who operates a vessel within this state is deemed to have given consent, subject to the provisions of section 8 of this act, to a test or tests of his or her breath or blood for the purpose of determining the alcohol 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 operating or was in actual physical control of a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug or was in violation of section 3 of this act.
(2) The test or tests of breath shall be administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer having reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been operating or in actual physical control of a vessel within this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or the person to have been operating or in actual physical control of a vessel while having alcohol in a concentration of 0.02 or more in his or her system and being under the age of twenty-one. However, in those instances where the person is incapable due to physical injury, physical incapacity, or other physical limitation, of providing a breath sample or where the person is being treated in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office, emergency medical vehicle, ambulance, or other similar facility in which a breath testing instrument is not present or where the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person is under the influence of a drug, a blood test shall be administered by a qualified person as provided in section 8 of this act. The officer shall inform the person of his or her right to refuse the breath or blood test, and of his or her right to have additional tests administered by any qualified person of his or her choosing as provided in section 8 of this act. The officer shall warn the operator that:
(a) The operator's refusal to take the test may subject him or her to civil penalty; and
(b) His or her refusal to take the test may be used in a criminal trial.
(3) Except as provided in this section, the test administered shall be of the breath only. If an individual is unconscious or is under arrest for the crime of operating a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs as provided in section 2 of this act, which arrest results from an accident in which there has been serious bodily injury to another person, a breath or blood test may be administered without the consent of the individual so arrested.
(4) Any person who is dead, unconscious, or who is otherwise in a condition rendering him or her incapable of refusal, shall be deemed not to have withdrawn the consent provided by subsection (1) of this section and the test or tests may be administered, subject to the provisions of section 8 of this act, and the person shall be deemed to have received the warnings required under subsection (2) of this section.
(5) If, following his or her arrest and receipt of warnings under subsection (2) of this section, the person arrested refuses upon the request of a law enforcement officer to submit to a test or tests of his or her breath or blood, no test shall be given except as authorized under subsection (3) or (4) of this section.
(6) A person's refusal to submit to a test or tests pursuant to subsection (5) of this section shall constitute a class 1 civil infraction, pursuant to RCW 7.80.120.
Sec. 12. RCW 10.31.100 and 1997 c 66 s 10 are each amended to read as follows:
A police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a felony shall have the authority to arrest the person without a warrant. A police officer may arrest a person without a warrant for committing a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor only when the offense is committed in the presence of the officer, except as provided in subsections (1) through (10) of this section.
(1) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor, involving physical harm or threats of harm to any person or property or the unlawful taking of property or involving the use or possession of cannabis, or involving the acquisition, possession, or consumption of alcohol by a person under the age of twenty-one years under RCW 66.44.270, or involving criminal trespass under RCW 9A.52.070 or 9A.52.080, shall have the authority to arrest the person.
(2) A police officer shall arrest and take into custody, pending release on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe that:
(a) An order has been issued of which the person has knowledge under RCW 10.99.040(2), 10.99.050, 26.09.050, 26.09.060, 26.10.040, 26.10.115, 26.44.063, chapter 26.26 RCW, or chapter 26.50 RCW restraining the person and the person has violated the terms of the order restraining the person from acts or threats of violence or restraining the person from going onto the grounds of or entering a residence, workplace, school, or day care or, in the case of an order issued under RCW 26.44.063, imposing any other restrictions or conditions upon the person; or
(b) The person is sixteen years or older and within the preceding four hours has assaulted a family or household member as defined in RCW 10.99.020 and the officer believes: (i) A felonious assault has occurred; (ii) an assault has occurred which has resulted in bodily injury to the victim, whether the injury is observable by the responding officer or not; or (iii) that any physical action has occurred which was intended to cause another person reasonably to fear imminent serious bodily injury or death. Bodily injury means physical pain, illness, or an impairment of physical condition. When the officer has probable cause to believe that family or household members have assaulted each other, the officer is not required to arrest both persons. The officer shall arrest the person whom the officer believes to be the primary physical aggressor. In making this determination, the officer shall make every reasonable effort to consider: (i) The intent to protect victims of domestic violence under RCW 10.99.010; (ii) the comparative extent of injuries inflicted or serious threats creating fear of physical injury; and (iii) the history of domestic violence between the persons involved.
(3) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a violation of any of the following traffic laws shall have the authority to arrest the person:
(a) RCW 46.52.010, relating to duty on striking an unattended car or other property;
(b) RCW 46.52.020, relating to duty in case of injury to or death of a person or damage to an attended vehicle;
(c) RCW 46.61.500 or 46.61.530, relating to reckless driving or racing of vehicles;
(d) RCW 46.61.502 or 46.61.504, relating to persons under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs;
(e) RCW 46.20.342, relating to driving a motor vehicle while operator's license is suspended or revoked;
(f) RCW 46.61.5249, relating to operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner.
(4) A law enforcement officer investigating at the scene of a motor vehicle accident may arrest the driver of a motor vehicle involved in the accident if the officer has probable cause to believe that the driver has committed in connection with the accident a violation of any traffic law or regulation.
(5) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a violation of RCW 88.12.025 or section 2, 3, or 4 of this act shall have the authority to arrest the person.
(6) An officer may act upon the request of a law enforcement officer in whose presence a traffic infraction was committed, to stop, detain, arrest, or issue a notice of traffic infraction to the driver who is believed to have committed the infraction. The request by the witnessing officer shall give an officer the authority to take appropriate action under the laws of the state of Washington.
(7) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing any act of indecent exposure, as defined in RCW 9A.88.010, may arrest the person.
(8) A police officer may arrest and take into custody, pending release on bail, personal recognizance, or court order, a person without a warrant when the officer has probable cause to believe that an order has been issued of which the person has knowledge under chapter 10.14 RCW and the person has violated the terms of that order.
(9) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has, within twenty-four hours of the alleged violation, committed a violation of RCW 9A.50.020 may arrest such person.
(10) A police officer having probable cause to believe that a person illegally possesses or illegally has possessed a firearm or other dangerous weapon on private or public elementary or secondary school premises shall have the authority to arrest the person.
For purposes of this subsection, the term "firearm" has the meaning defined in RCW 9.41.010 and the term "dangerous weapon" has the meaning defined in RCW 9.41.250 and 9.41.280(1) (c) through (e).
(11) Except as specifically provided in subsections (2), (3), (4), and (6) of this section, nothing in this section extends or otherwise affects the powers of arrest prescribed in Title 46 RCW.
(12) No police officer may be held criminally or civilly liable for making an arrest pursuant to RCW 10.31.100 (2) or (8) if the police officer acts in good faith and without malice.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. Sections 2 through 11 of this act are each added to chapter 88.12 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. This act takes effect July 1, 1998.
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