Reference is to Printer's Date 3/25/12-S.
Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:
/ SECTION 1. Section 56-5-2910 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 56-5-2910.
(A) When the death of a person ensues
within three years as a proximate result of injury received by
the driving of a vehicle in reckless disregard of the safety of
others, the person operating the vehicle is guilty of reckless
vehicular homicide. A person who is convicted of, pleads
guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere to reckless
vehicular homicide is guilty of a felony, and must
be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five
thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
The Department of Motor Vehicles must
shall revoke for five years the driver's license of a
person convicted of reckless vehicular homicide.
(B) After one year from
the date of revocation, the person whose driver's
license has been revoked for five years pursuant to Subsection
(A) may petition the circuit court in the county of
his the person's residence for
reinstatement of his the person's
driver's license. HeThe person shall
serve a copy of the petition upon the solicitor of the county
and. The solicitor shall notify the
representative of the victim of the reckless homicide of
his the person's intent to seek
reinstatement of his the person's
driver's license. The solicitor or his designee within thirty
days may respond to the petition and demand a hearing on the
merits of the petition. If the solicitor or his designee does
not demand a hearing, the circuit court shall consider any
affidavit submitted by the petitioner and the solicitor or his
designee when determining whether the conditions required for
driving privilege reinstatement have been met by the petitioner.
The court may order the reinstatement of the person's driver's
license upon the following conditions:
(1)
intoxicating alcohol, beer, wine, drugs, or
narcotics were not involved in the vehicular accident which
resulted in the reckless homicide conviction or plea;
(2)
the petitioner has served his the
term of imprisonment or paid his the
fine, assessment, and restitution in full, or both; and
(3)
the person's overall driving record, attitude, habits,
character, and driving ability would make it safe to reinstate
the privilege of operating a motor vehicle.
The circuit court may order the reinstatement of the driver's
license before the completion of the full five-year revocation
period, or the judge may order the granting of a
provisional route restricted license for
the remainder of the five-year period to allow the person to
drive to and from employment or school, or the judge may
place other restrictions on the driver's license reinstatement.
The order of the judge must be transmitted to the Department of
Motor Vehicles within ten days.
(C) If the person's
privilege to operate a motor vehicle is reinstated
pursuant to subsection (B), a subsequent
violation of the motor vehicle laws for any moving violation
requires the automatic cancellation of the person's driver's
license and imposition of the full period of revocation for the
reckless vehicular homicide violation."
SECTION 2. Section 56-5-2946 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 56-5-2946.
(A) Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, a person must submit to either one or a
combination of chemical tests of his breath, blood, or urine for
the purpose of determining the presence of alcohol, drugs, or a
combination of alcohol and drugs if there is probable cause to
believe that the person violated or is under arrest for a
violation of Section 56-5-2945.
(B) The tests
must be administered at the direction of a law enforcement
officer who has probable cause to believe that the
person violated or is under arrest for a violation of Section
56-5-2945. The administration of one test does not
preclude the administration of other tests. The resistance,
obstruction, or opposition to testing pursuant to this section
is evidence admissible at the trial of the offense which
precipitated the requirement for testing. A person who is
tested or gives samples for testing may have a qualified person
of his choice conduct additional tests at his expense and must
be notified of that right. A person's request or failure to
request additional blood or urine tests is not admissible
against the person in the criminal trial.
(C) The
provisions of Section 56-5-2950, relating to the administration
of tests to determine a person's alcohol concentration,
additional tests at the person's expense, the availability of
other evidence on the question of whether or not the person was
under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of them,
availability of test information to the person or his attorney,
and the liability of medical institutions and persons
administering the tests are applicable to this section and also
extend to the officer requesting the test, the State or its
political subdivisions, or governmental agency, or entity which
employs the officer making the request, and the agency,
institution, or employer, either governmental or private, of
persons administering the tests. Notwithstanding any other
provision of state law pertaining to confidentiality of hospital
records or other medical records, information regarding tests
performed pursuant to this section must be released, upon
subpoena, to a court, prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, or
law enforcement officer in connection with an alleged violation
of Section 56-5-2945."
SECTION 3. Article 23, Chapter 5, Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 56-5-2948. When a person is suspected of causing a motor vehicle incident resulting in the death of another person by the investigating law enforcement officer on the scene of the incident, the driver must submit to field sobriety tests if he is physically able to do so."
SECTION 4. This act takes effect six months after approval by the Governor. /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.