PacLII Home | Databases | WorldLII | Search | Feedback

Marshall Islands Consolidated Legislation

You are here:  PacLII >> Databases >> Marshall Islands Consolidated Legislation >> Driving Under the Influence Act [13 MIRC Ch 3]

Database Search | Name Search | Noteup | Download | Help

Driving Under the Influence Act [13 MIRC Ch 3]

13 MIRC Ch. 3


MARSHALL ISLANDS REVISED CODE 2004


TITLE 13 - MOTOR VEHICLES


CHAPTER 3.


DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE


ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS


Section
§301. Short Title.
§302. Interpretation
§303. Defined.
§304. Implied Consent.
§305. Refusing a Test.
§306. Failing a Test.
§307. Test Result.
§308. Punishment.
§309. Regulations; Evidence.

--------------------------------


An Act detailing the prohibition on driving under the influence.


Commencement: March 16, 1993


Source: P.L. 1993-46


§301. Short Title.


This Chapter shall be known as the Driving Under the Influence Act. [For ease of reference this legislation was excerpted, along with that Chapter’s definitions, from Chapter 1 and assigned its own Chapter. A short title was supplied by the Reviser. Note. the tense and style of language differs significantly from the remainder of the Code. Section numbering style modified]


§302. Interpretation.


In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

§303. Defined.


(1) It is a crime if you drive a vehicle on a street and you -

(2) If you fail a breath test and have 0.1 percent or more of alcohol in your blood within two hours after being arrested for driving under the influence you will be presumed to be under the influence at the time you were driving. [P.L. 1993-46, §4, 41(1)].


§304. Implied Consent.


(1) If you drive a vehicle on a street you must take a breath test if asked to do so by a policeman. If a policeman believes that a breath test is not available, is not practical, is not possible, if the testing machine is not working properly, or may harm someone you must take a blood test. A policeman may ask you to take a test only if he has reasonable grounds to believe you were driving under the influence and only after you are lawfully arrested and told that you are required to take a test and what the penalty is for not taking it.

(2) If you are unconscious or unable to refuse a test it will be presumed that you have agreed to a test as under subsection (1). [P.L. 1993-46, §4, 41(2)].

§305. Refusing a Test


(1) Before you can be punished for refusing to take a test, a policeman must tell you that if you refuse your driver’s license will immediately be taken away by the policeman and that you will not get it back for six months. If you still refuse to take a test, you will not be forced to do so, but the policeman will take your driver’s license on the spot and you will not get it back for six months. The policeman will give you a receipt for your driver’s license which will tell you that you may request a hearing to get it back.

(2) You may request a hearing concerning the return of your driver’s license. You must request this hearing in writing and file it with the District Court within 30 days of your refusal of a test. The District Court must hold a Driver’s License Hearing within 30 days of your request, or it may combine the hearing with your arraignment on your driving under the influence charge if that is sooner. The District Court will decide if your drivers license should be kept by the police department for the full six months or returned after the hearing. This hearing is separate from any hearing or trial on your driving under the influence charge. A record of the hearing will be made.

(3) The District Court will determine whether or not your refusal was lawful. It will decide:


(4) The District Court will tell you in writing of its decision; you may appeal that decision to the High Court. If the District Court does not hold a hearing within 30 days after your request you will immediately get your license back. However, even if the District Court orders the police to return your driver’s license after the hearing, the Court may take it away again if it finds you guilty of driving under the influence at your trial. [P.L. 1993-46, §4, 41(3a)].

§306. Failing a Test.


(1) If you fail a test you will automatically be given a hearing concerning the return of your driver’s license. This hearing will be combined with your arraignment on the driving under the influence charge, or if no charges are filed by the Attorney-General’s Office within 30 days of your arrest, then at a separate hearing held within 30 days of your written request, as provided for in Subsection (2). The District Court will determine if your driver’s license should be kept for the full six months or returned after your hearing. A record of the hearing will be made.


(2) The District Court will decide:


(a) if the policeman had reasonable grounds to believe you were driving under the influence: and


(b) if you failed the test.


(3) The District Court will tell you in writing of its decision: you may appeal that decision to the High Court. However, even if the District Court orders the police to return your driver’s license after your hearing, the Court may take it away again if it finds you guilty of driving under the influence at your trial. [P.L. 1993-46, §4, 41(3b)]

§307. Test Results.


(1) The test results of the amount of alcohol or drugs in your blood may be used as evidence in a trial or a hearing.

(2) If you take a test you must be given the complete results of the test if you or your attorney asks for them.

(3) If you refuse to take a test the fact that you refused may be used as evidence in a trial or hearing. [P.L. 1993-46, §4, 41(4)]

§308. Punishment.


(1) The first time you are convicted of driving under the influence you shall be liable to:

(a) be put in jail for at least 3 days but not over 1 year;

(b) pay a fine of at least $100 but not over $1,000; and

(c) have your driver’s license taken away by the Court for at least 30 days but not over 6 months.

(2) The second or more times you are convicted of driving under the influence within 5 years you shall be liable to:


(3) The District Court must give you at least the minimum punishment listed above. The Court may however give you community service duty instead of the fine.

(4) If you are convicted of driving under the influence and you seriously injure anyone other than yourself you shall be liable to:


(5) The District Court must give you at least the minimum punishment listed in subsection (4). The Court may however give you community service duty instead of a fine. [P.L. 1993-46, §4, 41(5)].

§309. Regulations; Evidence.


(1) The Police Department shall make regulations to ensure the accuracy of breath test results.


(2) Failure to follow the regulations affects the weight not the admissibility of test results as evidence. If the regulations are followed test results are presumed accurate.


(3) The Rules of Evidence do not apply to hearings concerning the return of a driver’s license.


(4) Published materials concerning the validity of testing equipment and interpretation of test results are admissible as evidence.

(5) Published materials concerning the relationship between levels of alcohol in the blood at the time of driving and test results are admissible as evidence.

(6) Published materials concerning the relationship between levels of alcohol in the blood and being under the influence are admissible as evidence.

------------------------------


PacLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback
URL: http://www.paclii.org/mh/legis/consol_act_2004/dutia264