Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Public Safety Committee |
HB 2503
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Concerning the operation of a vessel under the influence of an intoxicant.
Sponsors: Representatives Klippert, Hayes and Haler.
Brief Summary of Bill |
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Hearing Date: 2/4/14
Staff: Jenna Zwang (786-7290).
Background:
Vessel is defined as every watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water, other than a seaplane.
It is unlawful for a person to operate a vessel while intoxicated. Any person who operates a vessel in Washington is deemed to have given consent to tests of the person's breath or blood for the purpose of determining the alcohol concentration, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) concentration or presence of any drug, if under arrest and if an officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the person was operating a vessel while under the influence of a alcohol, marijuana, or any drug.
Refusal to take a blood or breath test is grounds for a class 1 civil infraction. Operating a vessel while under the influence of an intoxicant is a gross misdemeanor.
A blood draw is a search under the federal and state Constitutions. As such, a blood draw is only constitutional when it is consensual, pursuant to a search warrant, or in exigent circumstances. The recent United States Supreme Court decision in Missouri v. McNeely states that the metabolization of alcohol in the body does not by itself create an exigent circumstance. As a result, routine blood draws from a person suspected of driving under the influence without consent or a warrant are unconstitutional, unless there is some special complicating factor to justify exigency. McNeely has created some questions about the constitutionality of blood draws based on implied consent, the practice of deeming drivers or vessel operators to have consented to blood draws, based on their operation of a vehicle within the state.
Summary of Bill:
Any person who operates a vessel is deemed to have given consent to tests of the person's breath for the purposes of determining alcohol concentration.
Refusal to take a breath test is grounds for a class 1 civil infraction.
A blood test may be administered to a vessel operator in two situations: (1) when an arrest results from an accident in which there has been serious bodily injury to another person; or (2) when the arresting officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person was operating a vessel while under the influence of a drug. The blood test may only be administered in these situations when:
the arrested person has given consent and waived the warrant requirement;
the arrested person has not given consent but a search warrant has been procured; or
when exigent circumstances exist.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 30, 2014.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.