40-5-67.1
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40-5-67.1.
(a)
The test or tests required under Code Section 40-5-55 shall be administered as
soon as possible at the request of a law enforcement officer having reasonable
grounds to believe that the person has been driving or was in actual physical
control of a moving motor vehicle upon the highways or elsewhere throughout this
state in violation of Code Section 40-6-391 and the officer has arrested such
person for a violation of Code Section 40-6-391, any federal law in conformity
with Code Section 40-6-391, or any local ordinance which adopts Code Section
40-6-391 by reference or the person has been involved in a traffic accident
resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Subject to Code Section 40-6-392,
the requesting law enforcement officer shall designate which test or tests shall
be administered initially and may subsequently require a test or tests of any
substances not initially tested.
(b)
At the time a chemical test or tests are requested, the arresting officer shall
select and read to the person the appropriate implied consent notice from the
following:
(1)
Implied consent notice for suspects under age 21:
'Georgia
law requires you to submit to state administered chemical tests of your blood,
breath, urine, or other bodily substances for the purpose of determining if you
are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you refuse this testing, your
Georgia
driveŕs
license or privilege to drive on the highways of this state will be suspended
for a minimum period of one year. Your refusal to submit to the required
testing may be offered into evidence against you at trial. If you submit to
testing and the results indicate an alcohol concentration of 0.02 grams or more,
your Georgia
driveŕs
license or privilege to drive on the highways of this state may be suspended for
a minimum period of one year. After first submitting to the required state
tests, you are entitled to additional chemical tests of your blood, breath,
urine, or other bodily substances at your own expense and from qualified
personnel of your own choosing. Will you submit to the state administered
chemical tests of your
(designate
which tests) under the implied consent
law?'
(2)
Implied consent notice for suspects age 21 or over:
'Georgia
law requires you to submit to state administered chemical tests of your blood,
breath, urine, or other bodily substances for the purpose of determining if you
are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you refuse this testing, your
Georgia
driveŕs
license or privilege to drive on the highways of this state will be suspended
for a minimum period of one year. Your refusal to submit to the required
testing may be offered into evidence against you at trial. If you submit to
testing and the results indicate an alcohol concentration of 0.08 grams or more,
your Georgia
driveŕs
license or privilege to drive on the highways of this state may be suspended for
a minimum period of one year. After first submitting to the required state
tests, you are entitled to additional chemical tests of your blood, breath,
urine, or other bodily substances at your own expense and from qualified
personnel of your own choosing. Will you submit to the state administered
chemical tests of your
(designate
which tests) under the implied consent
law?'
(3)
Implied consent notice for commercial motor vehicle driver suspects:
'Georgia
law requires you to submit to state administered chemical tests of your blood,
breath, urine, or other bodily substances for the purpose of determining if you
are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you refuse this testing, you
will be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a minimum
period of one year. Your refusal to submit to the required testing may be
offered into evidence against you at trial. If you submit to testing and the
results indicate the presence of any alcohol, you will be issued an
out-of-service order and will be prohibited from operating a motor vehicle for
24 hours. If the results indicate an alcohol concentration of 0.04 grams or
more, you will be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a
minimum period of one year. After first submitting to the required state tests,
you are entitled to additional chemical tests of your blood, breath, urine, or
other bodily substances at your own expense and from qualified personnel of your
own choosing. Will you submit to the state administered chemical tests of your
(designate
which tests) under the implied consent
law?'
If
any such notice is used by a law enforcement officer to advise a person of his
or her rights regarding the administration of chemical testing, such person
shall be deemed to have been properly advised of his or her rights under this
Code section and under Code Section 40-6-392 and the results of any chemical
test, or the refusal to submit to a test, shall be admitted into evidence
against such person. Such notice shall be read in its entirety but need not be
read exactly so long as the substance of the notice remains unchanged.
(c)
If a person under arrest or a person who was involved in any traffic accident
resulting in serious injuries or fatalities submits to a chemical test upon the
request of a law enforcement officer and the test results indicate that a
suspension or disqualification is required under this Code section, the results
shall be reported to the department. Upon the receipt of a sworn report of the
law enforcement officer that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe the
arrested person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a moving
motor vehicle upon the highways or elsewhere throughout this state in violation
of Code Section 40-6-391 or that such person had been driving or was in actual
physical control of a moving motor vehicle upon the highways or elsewhere
throughout this state and was involved in a traffic accident involving serious
injuries or fatalities and that the person submitted to a chemical test at the
request of the law enforcement officer and the test results indicate either an
alcohol concentration of 0.08 grams or more or, for a person under the age of
21, an alcohol concentration of 0.02 grams or more, the department shall suspend
the
persońs
driveŕs
license, permit, or nonresident operating privilege pursuant to Code Section
40-5-67.2, subject to review as provided for in this chapter. Upon the receipt
of a sworn report of the law enforcement officer that the arrested person had
been operating or was in actual physical control of a moving commercial motor
vehicle and the test results indicate an alcohol concentration of 0.04 grams or
more, the department shall disqualify the person from operating a motor vehicle
for a minimum period of one year.
(d)
If a person under arrest or a person who was involved in any traffic accident
resulting in serious injuries or fatalities refuses, upon the request of a law
enforcement officer, to submit to a chemical test designated by the law
enforcement officer as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, no test
shall be given; but the law enforcement officer shall report the refusal to the
department. Upon the receipt of a sworn report of the law enforcement officer
that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe the arrested person had been
driving or was in actual physical control of a moving motor vehicle upon the
highways or elsewhere throughout this state in violation of Code Section
40-6-391 or that such person had been driving or was in actual physical control
of a moving motor vehicle upon the highways or elsewhere throughout this state
and was involved in a traffic accident which resulted in serious injuries or
fatalities and that the person had refused to submit to the test upon the
request of the law enforcement officer, the department shall suspend the
persońs
driveŕs
license, permit, or nonresident operating privilege for a period of one year or
if the person was operating or in actual physical control of a commercial motor
vehicle, the department shall disqualify the person from operating a commercial
motor vehicle and shall suspend the
persońs
driveŕs
license, permit, or nonresident operating privilege, subject to review as
provided for in this chapter.
(d.1)
Nothing in this Code section shall be deemed to preclude the acquisition or
admission of evidence of a violation of Code Section 40-6-391 if obtained by
voluntary consent or a search warrant as authorized by the Constitution or laws
of this state or the United States.
(e)
If the person is a resident without a
driveŕs
license, commercial
driveŕs
license, or permit to operate a motor vehicle in this state, the department
shall deny issuance of a license or permit to such person for the same period
provided in subsection (c) or (d) of this Code section, whichever is applicable,
for suspension of a license or permit or disqualification to operate a
commercial motor vehicle subject to review as provided for in this chapter.
(f)(1)
The law enforcement officer, acting on behalf of the department, shall
personally serve the notice of intention to suspend or disqualify the license of
the arrested person or other person refusing such test on such person at the
time of the
persońs
refusal to submit to a test or at the time at which such a test indicates that
suspension or disqualification is required under this Code section. The law
enforcement officer shall take possession of any
driveŕs
license or permit held by any person whose license is subject to suspension
pursuant to subsection (c) or (d) of this Code section, if any, and shall issue
a 30 day temporary permit. The officer shall forward the
persońs
driveŕs
license to the department along with the notice of intent to suspend or
disqualify and the sworn report required by subsection (c) or (d) of this Code
section within ten calendar days after the date of the arrest of such person.
This paragraph shall not apply to any person issued a 180 day temporary permit
pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 40-5-67. The failure of the officer
to transmit the sworn report required by this Code section within ten calendar
days shall not prevent the department from accepting such report and utilizing
it in the suspension of a
driveŕs
license as provided in this Code section.
(2)
If notice has not been given by the arresting officer, the department, upon
receipt of the sworn report of such officer, shall suspend the
persońs
driveŕs
license, permit, or nonresident operating privilege or disqualify such person
from operating a motor vehicle and, by regular mail, at the last known address,
notify such person of such suspension or disqualification. The notice shall
inform the person of the grounds of suspension or disqualification, the
effective date of the suspension or disqualification, and the right to review.
The notice shall be deemed received three days after mailing.
(g)(1)
A person whose
driveŕs
license is suspended or who is disqualified from operating a commercial motor
vehicle pursuant to this Code section shall request, in writing, a hearing
within ten business days from the date of personal notice or receipt of notice
sent by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt
requested, or the right to said hearing shall be deemed waived. Within 30 days
after receiving a written request for a hearing, the department shall hold a
hearing as is provided in Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia Administrative
Procedure Act.' The hearing shall be recorded.
(2)
The scope of the hearing shall be limited to the following issues:
(A)
Whether the law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person
was driving or in actual physical control of a moving motor vehicle while under
the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and was lawfully placed under
arrest for violating Code Section 40-6-391; or
(B)
Whether the person was involved in a motor vehicle accident or collision
resulting in serious injury or fatality; and
(C)
Whether at the time of the request for the test or tests the officer informed
the person of the
persońs
implied consent rights and the consequence of submitting or refusing to submit
to such test; and
(D)
Whether the person refused the test; or
(E)
Whether a test or tests were administered and the results indicated an alcohol
concentration of 0.08 grams or more or, for a person under the age of 21, an
alcohol concentration of 0.02 grams or more or, for a person operating or having
actual physical control of a commercial motor vehicle, an alcohol concentration
of 0.04 grams or more; and
(F)
Whether the test or tests were properly administered by an individual possessing
a valid permit issued by the Division of Forensic Sciences of the Georgia Bureau
of Investigation on an instrument approved by the Division of Forensic Sciences
or a test conducted by the Division of Forensic Sciences, including whether the
machine at the time of the test was operated with all its electronic and
operating components prescribed by its manufacturer properly attached and in
good working order, which shall be required. A copy of the
operatoŕs
permit showing that the operator has been trained on the particular type of
instrument used and one of the original copies of the test results or, where the
test is performed by the Division of Forensic Sciences, a copy of the crime lab
report shall satisfy the requirements of this subparagraph.
(3)
The hearing officer shall, within five calendar days after such hearing, forward
a decision to the department to rescind or sustain the
driveŕs
license suspension or disqualification. If no hearing is requested within the
ten business days specified above, and the failure to request such hearing is
due in whole or in part to the reasonably avoidable fault of the person, the
right to a hearing shall have been waived. The request for a hearing shall not
stay the suspension of the
driveŕs
license; provided, however, that if the hearing is timely requested and is not
held before the expiration of the temporary permit and the delay is not due in
whole or in part to the reasonably avoidable fault of the person, the suspension
shall be stayed until such time as the hearing is held and the hearing
officeŕs
decision is made.
(4)
In the event the person is acquitted of a violation of Code Section 40-6-391 or
such charge is initially disposed of other than by a conviction or plea of nolo
contendere, then the suspension shall be terminated and deleted from the
driveŕs
license record. An accepted plea of nolo contendere shall be entered on the
driveŕs
license record and shall be considered and counted as a conviction for purposes
of any future violations of Code Section 40-6-391. In the event of an acquittal
or other disposition other than by a conviction or plea of nolo contendere, the
driveŕs
license restoration fee shall be promptly returned by the department to the
licensee.
(h)
If the suspension is sustained after such a hearing, the person whose license
has been suspended under this Code section shall have a right to file for a
judicial review of the
department́s
final decision, as provided for in Chapter 13 of Title 50, the 'Georgia
Administrative Procedure Act'; while such appeal is pending, the order of the
department shall not be stayed.
(i)
Subject to the limitations of this subsection, any law enforcement officer who
attends a hearing provided for by subsection (g) of this Code section for the
purpose of giving testimony relative to the subject of such hearing shall be
compensated in the amount of $20.00 for each
daýs
attendance at such hearing. In the event a law enforcement officer gives
testimony at two or more different hearings on the same day, such officer shall
receive only $20.00 for attendance at all hearings. The compensation provided
for in this subsection shall not be paid to any law enforcement officer who is
on regular duty or who is on a lunch or other break from regular duty at the
time the officer attends any such hearing. The compensation provided for by
this subsection shall be paid to the law enforcement officer by the department
from department funds at such time and in such manner as the commissioner shall
provide by rules or regulations. The commissioner shall also require
verification of a law enforcement
officeŕs
qualifying to receive the payment authorized by this subsection by requiring the
completion of an appropriate document in substantially the following form:
IMPLIED
CONSENT HEARING ATTENDANCE RECORD
OFFICER:
_____________________ S.S. No.
_______________
ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: ___________________________________________________________
Street City State
ZIP Code
DATE: ___________________
TIME: __________________ A.M.
P.M.
CASE: _______________________________________________________________
P.M.
CASE: _______________________________________________________________
This
is to certify that the police officer named above attended an implied consent
hearing as a witness or complainant on the date and time shown above.
HEARING OFFICER:
_______________ TITLE: _______________
I
certify that I appeared at the implied consent hearing described above on the
date and time shown above and that I was not on regular duty at the time of
attending the hearing and that I have not received and will not receive
compensation from my regular employer for attending the hearing.
Signature of officer:
_______________________
APPROVED FOR PAYMENT: _______________________
Comptroller
APPROVED FOR PAYMENT: _______________________
Comptroller
(j)
Each time an approved breath-testing instrument is inspected, the inspector
shall prepare a certificate which shall be signed under oath by the inspector
and which shall include the following language:
'This
breath-testing instrument (serial no. __________) was thoroughly inspected,
tested, and standardized by the undersigned on (date ______________) and all of
its electronic and operating components prescribed by its manufacturer are
properly attached and are in good working order.'
When
properly prepared and executed, as prescribed in this subsection, the
certificate shall, notwithstanding any other provision of law, be
self-authenticating, shall be admissible in any court of law, and shall satisfy
the pertinent requirements of paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of Code Section
40-6-392 and subparagraph (g)(2)(F) of this Code section.