Bill Text: TX HB2246 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to the restriction of certain intoxication offenders to the operation of a motor vehicle with an ignition interlock device in lieu of a license suspension.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-19 - Effective on 9/1/15 [HB2246 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB2246-Enrolled.html

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H.B. No. 2246

AN ACT
relating to the restriction of certain intoxication offenders to
the operation of a motor vehicle with an ignition interlock device
in lieu of a license suspension.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 13, Article 42.12, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (o) to read as follows:
(o) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
defendant whose license is suspended for an offense under Sections
49.04-49.08, Penal Code, may operate a motor vehicle during the
period of suspension if the defendant:
(1) obtains and uses an ignition interlock device as
provided by Subsection (i) for the entire period of the suspension;
and
(2) applies for and receives an occupational driver's
license with an ignition interlock designation under Section
521.2465, Transportation Code.
SECTION 2. Section 49.09(h), Penal Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(h) This subsection applies only to a person convicted of a
second or subsequent offense relating to the operating of a motor
vehicle while intoxicated committed within five years of the date
on which the most recent preceding offense was committed. The court
shall enter an order that requires the defendant to have a device
installed, on each motor vehicle owned or operated by the
defendant, that uses a deep-lung breath analysis mechanism to make
impractical the operation of the motor vehicle if ethyl alcohol is
detected in the breath of the operator, and that requires that
before the first anniversary of the ending date of the period of
license suspension under Section 521.344, Transportation Code, the
defendant not operate any motor vehicle that is not equipped with
that device. The court shall require the defendant to obtain the
device at the defendant's own cost on or before that ending date,
require the defendant to provide evidence to the court on or before
that ending date that the device has been installed on each
appropriate vehicle, and order the device to remain installed on
each vehicle until the first anniversary of that ending date. If
the court determines the offender is unable to pay for the device,
the court may impose a reasonable payment schedule not to extend
beyond the first anniversary of the date of installation. The
Department of Public Safety shall approve devices for use under
this subsection. Section 521.247, Transportation Code, applies to
the approval of a device under this subsection and the consequences
of that approval. Failure to comply with an order entered under
this subsection is punishable by contempt. For the purpose of
enforcing this subsection, the court that enters an order under
this subsection retains jurisdiction over the defendant until the
date on which the device is no longer required to remain installed.
To the extent of a conflict between this subsection and Section 13
[13(i)], Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, this subsection
controls.
SECTION 3. Section 521.242(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A person whose license has been suspended for a cause
other than a physical or mental disability or impairment or a
conviction of an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08 [Section
49.04], Penal Code, may apply for an occupational license by filing
a verified petition with the clerk of a justice, county, or district
court with jurisdiction that includes the precinct or county in
which:
(1) the person resides; or
(2) the offense occurred for which the license was
suspended.
SECTION 4. Section 521.243(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) The clerk of the court shall send by certified mail to
the attorney representing the state a copy of the petition and
notice of the hearing if the petitioner's license was suspended
following a conviction for:
(1) an offense under Section 19.05 or Sections
49.04-49.08, [49.04, 49.07, or 49.08,] Penal Code; or
(2) an offense to which Section 521.342 applies.
SECTION 5. Section 521.244, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) A person convicted of an offense under Sections
49.04-49.08, Penal Code, who is restricted to the operation of a
motor vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device is
entitled to receive an occupational license without a finding that
an essential need exists for that person, provided that the person
shows:
(1) evidence of financial responsibility under
Chapter 601; and
(2) proof the person has had an ignition interlock
device installed on each motor vehicle owned or operated by the
person.
SECTION 6. Sections 521.246(a), (b), (d), and (f),
Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) If the person's license has been suspended after a
conviction of an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08 [Section 49.04,
49.07, or 49.08], Penal Code, the judge[, before signing an order,]
shall [determine from the criminal history record information
maintained by the department whether the person has any previous
conviction under those laws.
[(b) As part of the order the judge may] restrict the person
to the operation of a motor vehicle equipped with an ignition
interlock device [if the judge determines that the person's license
has been suspended following a conviction under Section 49.04,
49.07, or 49.08, Penal Code. As part of the order, the judge shall
restrict the person to the operation of a motor vehicle equipped
with an ignition interlock device if the judge determines that:
[(1) the person has two or more convictions under any
combination of Section 49.04, 49.07, or 49.08, Penal Code; or
[(2) the person's license has been suspended after a
conviction under Section 49.04, Penal Code, for which the person
has been punished under Section 49.09, Penal Code].
(d) The court shall order the ignition interlock device to
remain installed for the duration of the period of suspension [at
least half of the period of supervision].
(f) A previous conviction may not be used for purposes of
restricting a person to the operation of a motor vehicle equipped
with an interlock ignition device under this section if:
(1) the previous conviction was a final conviction for
an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08 [Section 49.04, 49.07, or
49.08], Penal Code, and was for an offense committed more than 10
years before the instant offense for which the person was
convicted; and
(2) the person has not been convicted of an offense
under Sections 49.04-49.08 [Section 49.04, 49.07, or 49.08] of that
code committed within 10 years before the date on which the instant
offense for which the person was convicted.
SECTION 7. Section 521.2465, Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 521.2465. RESTRICTED LICENSE. (a) On receipt of
notice that a person has been restricted to the use of a motor
vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device, the department
shall notify that person that the person's driver's license expires
on the 30th day after the date of the notice. On application by the
person and payment of a fee of $10, the department shall issue a
special restricted license that conspicuously indicates that
[authorizes] the person is authorized to operate only a motor
vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device.
(b) On receipt of a copy of a court order removing the
restriction or at the end of the period of suspension, as
applicable, the department shall issue the person a driver's
license without the restriction.
SECTION 8. Section 521.248, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) A person who is restricted to the operation of a motor
vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device may not be
subject to any time of travel, reason for travel, or location of
travel restrictions described by Subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) or
(b).
SECTION 9. Section 521.251, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (c) and (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to
read as follows:
(c) If the person's driver's license has been suspended as a
result of a conviction of an offense under Sections 49.04-49.08
[Section 49.04, 49.07, or 49.08], Penal Code, during the five years
preceding the date of the person's arrest, the order may not take
effect before the 181st day after the effective date of the
suspension.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision in this section, if
the person's driver's license has been suspended as a result of a
second or subsequent conviction under Sections 49.04-49.08
[Section 49.04, 49.07, or 49.08], Penal Code, committed within five
years of the date on which the most recent preceding offense was
committed, an order granting the person an occupational license may
not take effect before the first anniversary of the effective date
of the suspension.
(d-1) Notwithstanding Subsections (b), (c), and (d), the
court may issue an occupational license to a person if the person
submits proof the person has an ignition interlock device installed
on each motor vehicle owned or operated by the person. If a person
issued an occupational license under this subsection fails to
maintain an installed ignition interlock device on each motor
vehicle owned or operated by the person, the court shall revoke the
occupational license under Section 521.252 and reinstate the
suspension of the person's driver's license. A person granted an
occupational license under this subsection may not be ordered to
submit to the supervision of the local community supervision and
corrections department under Section 521.2462, unless the order is
entered by a court of record.
SECTION 10. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a person whose driver's license is suspended on or after the
effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the underlying
incident giving rise to the suspension occurred before, on, or
after that date.
SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2246 was passed by the House on May 5,
2015, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 1, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2246 was passed by the Senate on May
27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor