CHAPTER 39-20
CHEMICAL TEST FOR INTOXICATION, IMPLIED CONSENT 39-20-01. Implied consent to determine alcohol concentration and presence of drugs. Any individual who operates a motor vehicle on a highway or on public or private areas to which the public has a right of access for vehicular use in this state is deemed to have given consent, and shall consent, subject to the provisions of this chapter, to a chemical test, or tests, of the blood, breath, or urine for the purpose of determining the alcohol concentration or presence of other drugs, or combination thereof, in the individual's blood, breath, or urine. As used in this chapter, the word "drug" means any drug or substance or combination of drugs or substances which renders an individual incapable of safely driving, and the words "chemical test" or "chemical analysis" mean any test to determine the alcohol concentration or presence of other drugs, or combination thereof, in the individual's blood, breath, or urine, approved by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee under this chapter. The test or tests must be administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer only after placing the individual, except individuals mentioned in section 39-20-03, under arrest and informing that individual that the individual is or will be charged with the offense of driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle upon the public highways while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or a combination thereof. For the purposes of this chapter, the taking into custody of a child under section 27-20-13 or an individual under twenty-one years of age satisfies the requirement of an arrest. The law enforcement officer shall also inform the individual charged that refusal of the individual to submit to the test determined appropriate will result in a revocation for up to four years of the individual's driving privileges. The law enforcement officer shall determine which of the tests is to be used. When an individual under the age of eighteen years is taken into custody for violating section 39-08-01 or an equivalent ordinance, the law enforcement officer shall attempt to contact the individual's parent or legal guardian to explain the cause for the custody. Neither the law enforcement officer's efforts to contact, nor any consultation with, a parent or legal guardian may be permitted to interfere with the administration of chemical testing requirements under this chapter. The law enforcement officer shall mail a notice to the parent or legal guardian of the minor within ten days after the test results are received or within ten days after the minor is taken into custody if the minor refuses to submit to testing. The notice must contain a statement of the test performed and the results of that test; or if the minor refuses to submit to the testing, a statement notifying of that fact. The attempt to contact or the contacting or notification of a parent or legal guardian is not a precondition to the admissibility of chemical test results or the finding of a consent to, or refusal of, chemical testing by the individual in custody. 39-20-01.1. Chemical test of driver in serious bodily injury or fatal crashes. 1. Notwithstanding section 39-20-01 or 39-20-04, when the driver of a vehicle is involved in an accident resulting in the death of another person, and there is probable cause to believe that the driver is in violation of section 39-08-01 or has committed a moving violation as defined in section 39-06.1-09, the driver must be compelled by a police officer to submit to a test or tests of the driver's blood, breath, or urine to determine the alcohol concentration or the presence of other drugs or substances. 2. Notwithstanding section 39-20-01 or 39-20-04, when the driver of a vehicle is involved in an accident resulting in the serious bodily injury, as defined in section 12.1-01-04, of another person, and there is probable cause to believe that the driver is in violation of section 39-08-01, a law enforcement officer may compel the driver to submit to a test or tests of the driver's blood, breath, or urine to determine the alcohol concentration or the presence of other drugs or substances. The methods and techniques established by the director of the state crime laboratory must be followed in collecting and preserving a specimen or conducting a test.
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39-20-02. Individuals qualified to administer test and opportunity for additional test. Only an individual medically qualified to draw blood, acting at the request of a law enforcement officer, may withdraw blood for the purpose of determining the alcohol concentration or presence of other drugs, or combination thereof, in the individual's blood. The director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee shall determine the qualifications or credentials for being medically qualified to draw blood, and shall issue a list of approved designations including medical doctor and registered nurse. This limitation does not apply to the taking of a breath or urine specimen. The director of the state crime laboratory, or the director's designee, shall electronically post a copy of the certified list of approved designations, including medical doctor and registered nurse, with the state crime laboratory division of the attorney general at the attorney general website and shall make the certified records required by this section available for download in a printable format on the attorney general website. The individual tested may have an individual of the individual's choosing, who is medically qualified to draw blood, administer a chemical test or tests in addition to any administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer with all costs of an additional test or tests to be the sole responsibility of the individual charged. The failure or inability to obtain an additional test by an individual does not preclude the admission of the test or tests taken at the direction of a law enforcement officer. Upon the request of the individual who is tested, a copy of the operational checklist and test record of a breath sample test or analytical report of a blood or urine sample test taken at the direction of the law enforcement officer must be made available to that individual by the law enforcement agency that administered the test or tests. 39-20-03. Consent of person incapable of refusal not withdrawn. Any person who is dead, unconscious, or otherwise in a condition rendering the person incapable of refusal, must be deemed not to have withdrawn the consent provided by section 39-20-01 and the test or tests may be given. 39-20-03.1. Action following test result for a resident operator. If a person submits to a test under section 39-20-01, 39-20-02, or 39-20-03 and the test shows that person to have an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to a person under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight at the time of the performance of a chemical test within two hours after the driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle, the following procedures apply: 1. The law enforcement officer shall immediately issue to that person a temporary operator's permit if the person then has valid operating privileges, extending driving privileges for the next twenty-five days, or until earlier terminated by the decision of a hearing officer under section 39-20-05. The law enforcement officer shall sign and note the date on the temporary operator's permit. The temporary operator's permit serves as the director's official notification to the person of the director's intent to revoke, suspend, or deny driving privileges in this state. 2. If a test administered under section 39-20-01 or 39-20-03 was by urine sample or by drawing blood as provided in section 39-20-02 and the individual tested is not a resident of an area in which the law enforcement officer has jurisdiction, the law enforcement officer shall, on receiving the analysis of the urine or blood from the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee and if the analysis shows that individual had an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to an individual under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight, either proceed in accordance with subsection 1 during that individual's reappearance within the officer's jurisdiction, proceed in accordance with subsection 3, or notify a law enforcement agency having jurisdiction where the individual lives. On that notification, that law enforcement agency shall, within twenty-four hours, forward a copy of the temporary operator's permit to the law enforcement agency making the arrest or to the director. The law enforcement agency shall issue to that individual a temporary
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operator's permit as provided in this section, and shall sign and date the permit as provided in subsection 1. If the test results indicate an alcohol concentration at or above the legal limit, the law enforcement agency making the arrest may mail a temporary operator's permit to the individual who submitted to the blood or urine test, whether or not the individual is a resident of the area in which the law enforcement officer has jurisdiction. The third day after the mailing of the temporary operator's permit is considered the date of issuance. Actual notice of the opportunity for a hearing under this section is deemed to have occurred seventy-two hours after the notice is mailed by regular mail to the address submitted by the individual to the law enforcement officer. The temporary operator's permit serves as the director's official notification to the individual of the director's intent to revoke, suspend, or deny driving privileges in this state. The law enforcement officer, within five days of the issuance of the temporary operator's permit, shall forward to the director a certified written report in the form required by the director. If the individual was issued a temporary operator's permit because of the results of a test, the report must show that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe the individual had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while in violation of section 39-08-01, or equivalent ordinance, that the individual was lawfully arrested, that the individual was tested for alcohol concentration under this chapter, and that the results of the test show that the individual had an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to an individual under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight. In addition to the operator's license and report, the law enforcement officer shall forward to the director a certified copy of the operational checklist and test records of a breath test and a copy of the certified copy of the analytical report for a blood or urine test for all tests administered at the direction of the officer.
39-20-03.2. Action following test result or on refusing test by nonresident operator. If a person licensed in another state refuses in this state to submit to a test provided under section 39-20-01 or 39-20-14, or who submits to a test under section 39-20-01, 39-20-02, or 39-20-03 and the test results show the person to have an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to a person under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight at the time of performance of a test within two hours after driving or being in physical control of a motor vehicle, the following procedures apply: 1. Without taking possession of the person's out-of-state operator's license, the law enforcement officer shall issue to the person a notification of the test results and a temporary operator's permit extending nonresident operating privileges in this state for twenty-five days from the date of issuance or until earlier terminated by the decision of a hearing officer under section 39-20-05. The temporary permit must be signed and dated by the officer and serves as the director's official notification to the person of the director's intent to revoke, suspend, or deny driving privileges in this state, and of the hearing procedures under this chapter. 2. If the test was administered by urine sample or by drawing blood, the law enforcement officer, on reviewing the alcohol concentration analysis showing the individual had an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to an individual under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight, shall mail or issue to the individual a notification of the test results, a temporary operator's permit extending nonresident operating privileges in this state for twenty-five days from the date of mailing or issuance or until earlier terminated by the decision of a hearing officer under section 39-20-05, and notice of the intent to revoke, suspend, or deny driving privileges in this state, together with the notice provided under section 39-06.1-07 of the procedures available under this chapter. The temporary operator's permit must be
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signed and dated by the officer. The third day after the mailing of the temporary operator's permit is considered the date of issuance. The law enforcement officer, within five days of issuing the temporary operator's permit, shall forward to the director a certified written report in the form required by the director and a certified copy of the operational checklist and test records of a breath test and a copy of the certified copy of the analytical report for a blood or urine test for all tests administered at the direction of the officer. If the individual was issued a temporary operator's permit because of the individual's refusal to submit to a test under sections 39-20-01 and 39-20-14, the report must include information as provided in section 39-20-04. If the individual was issued a temporary operator's permit because of the results of a test, the report must show that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe the individual had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while in violation of section 39-08-01, or equivalent ordinance, that the individual was lawfully arrested, that the individual was tested for alcohol concentration under this chapter, and that the results of the test show that the individual had an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to an individual under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight.
39-20-04. Revocation of privilege to drive motor vehicle upon refusal to submit to testing. 1. If a person refuses to submit to testing under section 39-20-01 or 39-20-14, none may be given, but the law enforcement officer shall immediately take possession of the person's operator's license if it is then available and shall immediately issue to that person a temporary operator's permit, if the person then has valid operating privileges, extending driving privileges for the next twenty-five days or until earlier terminated by a decision of a hearing officer under section 39-20-05. The law enforcement officer shall sign and note the date on the temporary operator's permit. The temporary operator's permit serves as the director's official notification to the person of the director's intent to revoke driving privileges in this state and of the hearing procedures under this chapter. The director, upon the receipt of that person's operator's license and a certified written report of the law enforcement officer in the form required by the director, forwarded by the officer within five days after issuing the temporary operator's permit, showing that the officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while in violation of section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance or, for purposes of section 39-20-14, had reason to believe that the person committed a moving traffic violation or was involved in a traffic accident as a driver, and in conjunction with the violation or accident the officer has, through the officer's observations, formulated an opinion that the person's body contains alcohol, that the person was lawfully arrested if applicable, and that the person had refused to submit to the test or tests under section 39-20-01 or 39-20-14, shall revoke that person's license or permit to drive and any nonresident operating privilege for the appropriate period under this section, or if the person is a resident without a license or a permit to operate a motor vehicle in this state, the director shall deny to the person the issuance of a license or permit for the appropriate period under this section after the date of the alleged violation, subject to the opportunity for a prerevocation hearing and postrevocation review as provided in this chapter. In the revocation of the person's operator's license the director shall give credit for time in which the person was without an operator's license after the day of the person's refusal to submit to the test except that the director may not give credit for time in which the person retained driving privileges through a temporary operator's permit issued under this section or section 39-20-03.2. The period of revocation or denial of issuance of a license or permit under this section is: a. One year if the person's driving record shows that within the five years preceding the most recent violation of this section, the person's operator's license has not
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previously been suspended, revoked, or issuance denied for a violation of this chapter or section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance. b. Three years if the person's driving record shows that within the five years preceding the most recent violation of this section, the person's operator's license has been once previously suspended, revoked, or issuance denied for a violation of this chapter or section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance. c. Four years if the person's driving record shows that within the five years preceding the most recent violation of this section, the person's operator's license has at least twice previously been suspended, revoked, or issuance denied under this chapter, or for a violation of section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance, or any combination of the same, and the suspensions, revocations, or denials resulted from at least two separate arrests. A person's driving privileges are not subject to revocation under subdivision a of subsection 1 if all of the following criteria are met: a. An administrative hearing is not held under section 39-20-05; b. The person mails an affidavit to the director within twenty-five days after the temporary operator's permit is issued. The affidavit must state that the person: (1) Intends to voluntarily plead guilty to violating section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance within twenty-five days after the temporary operator's permit is issued; (2) Agrees that the person's driving privileges must be suspended as provided under section 39-06.1-10; (3) Acknowledges the right to a section 39-20-05 administrative hearing and section 39-20-06 judicial review and voluntarily and knowingly waives these rights; and (4) Agrees that the person's driving privileges must be revoked as provided under this section without an administrative hearing or judicial review, if the person does not plead guilty within twenty-five days after the temporary operator's permit is issued, or the court does not accept the guilty plea, or the guilty plea is withdrawn; c. The person pleads guilty to violating section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance within twenty-five days after the temporary operator's permit is issued; d. The court accepts the person's guilty plea and a notice of that fact is mailed to the director within twenty-five days after the temporary operator's permit is issued; e. A copy of the final order or judgment of conviction evidencing the acceptance of the person's guilty plea is received by the director prior to the return or reinstatement of the person's driving privileges; and f. The person has never been convicted under section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance. The court must mail a copy of an order granting a withdrawal of a guilty plea to violating section 39-08-01, or equivalent ordinance, to the director within ten days after it is ordered. Upon receipt of the order, the director shall immediately revoke the person's driving privileges as provided under this section without providing an administrative hearing.
39-20-04.1. Administrative sanction for driving or being in physical control of a vehicle while having certain alcohol concentration. 1. After the receipt of the certified report of a law enforcement officer and if no written request for hearing has been received from the arrested person under section 39-20-05, or if that hearing is requested and the findings, conclusion, and decision from the hearing confirm that the law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to arrest the person and test results show that the arrested person was driving or in physical control of a vehicle while having an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to a person under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight at the time of the performance of a test within two hours after
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driving or being in physical control of a motor vehicle, the director shall suspend the person's driving privileges as follows: a. For ninety-one days if the person's driving record shows that, within the five years preceding the date of the arrest, the person has not previously violated section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance or the person's operator's license has not previously been suspended or revoked under this chapter and the violation was for an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to a person under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight, and under eighteen one-hundredths of one percent by weight. b. For one hundred eighty days if the operator's record shows the person has not violated section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance within five years preceding the last violation and the last violation was for an alcohol concentration of at least eighteen one-hundredths of one percent by weight. c. For three hundred sixty-five days if the person's driving record shows that, within the five years preceding the date of the arrest, the person has once previously violated section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance or the person's operator's license has once previously been suspended or revoked under this chapter with the last violation or suspension for an alcohol concentration under eighteen one-hundredths of one percent by weight. d. For two years if the person's driving record shows that within the five years preceding the date of the arrest, the person's operator's license has once been suspended, revoked, or issuance denied under this chapter, or for a violation of section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance, with the last violation or suspension for an alcohol concentration of at least eighteen one-hundredths of one percent by weight or if the person's driving record shows that within the five years preceding the date of arrest, the person's operator's license has at least twice previously been suspended, revoked, or issuance denied under this chapter, or for a violation of section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance, or any combination thereof, and the suspensions, revocations, or denials resulted from at least two separate arrests with the last violation or suspension for an alcohol concentration of under eighteen one-hundredths of one percent by weight. e. For three years if the operator's record shows that within five years preceding the date of the arrest, the person's operator's license has at least twice previously been suspended, revoked, or issuance denied under this chapter, or for a violation of section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance, or any combination thereof, and the suspensions, revocations, or denials resulted from at least two separate arrests and the last violation or suspension was for an alcohol concentration of at least eighteen one-hundredths of one percent by weight. In the suspension of the person's operator's license the director shall give credit for the time the person was without an operator's license after the day of the offense, except that the director may not give credit for the time the person retained driving privileges through a temporary operator's permit issued under section 39-20-03.1 or 39-20-03.2.
39-20-05. Administrative hearing on request. 1. Before issuing an order of suspension, revocation, or denial under section 39-20-04 or 39-20-04.1, the director shall afford that person an opportunity for a hearing if the person mails or communicates by other means authorized by the director a request for the hearing to the director within ten days after the date of issuance of the temporary operator's permit. The hearing must be held within thirty days after the date of issuance of the temporary operator's permit. If no hearing is requested within the time limits in this section, and no affidavit is submitted within the time limits under subsection 2 of section 39-20-04, the expiration of the temporary operator's permit serves as the director's official notification to the person of the revocation, suspension, or denial of driving privileges in this state.
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If the issue to be determined by the hearing concerns license suspension for operating a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to an individual under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight, the hearing must be before a hearing officer assigned by the director and at a time and place designated by the director. The hearing must be recorded and its scope may cover only the issues of whether the arresting officer had reasonable grounds to believe the individual had been driving or was in actual physical control of a vehicle in violation of section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance or, with respect to an individual under twenty-one years of age, the individual had been driving or was in actual physical control of a vehicle while having an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight; whether the individual was placed under arrest, unless the individual was under twenty-one years of age and the alcohol concentration was less than eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight, then arrest is not required and is not an issue under any provision of this chapter; whether the individual was tested in accordance with section 39-20-01 or 39-20-03 and, if applicable, section 39-20-02; and whether the test results show the individual had an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to an individual under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight. For purposes of this section, a copy of a certified copy of an analytical report of a blood or urine sample from the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee or a certified copy of the checklist and test records from a certified breath test operator establish prima facie the alcohol concentration or the presence of drugs, or a combination thereof, shown therein. Whether the individual was informed that the privilege to drive might be suspended based on the results of the test is not an issue. If the issue to be determined by the hearing concerns license revocation for refusing to submit to a test under section 39-20-01 or 39-20-14, the hearing must be before a hearing officer assigned by the director at a time and place designated by the director. The hearing must be recorded. The scope of a hearing for refusing to submit to a test under section 39-20-01 may cover only the issues of whether a law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a vehicle in violation of section 39-08-01 or equivalent ordinance or, with respect to a person under twenty-one years of age, the person had been driving or was in actual physical control of a vehicle while having an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight; whether the person was placed under arrest; and whether that person refused to submit to the test or tests. The scope of a hearing for refusing to submit to a test under section 39-20-14 may cover only the issues of whether the law enforcement officer had reason to believe the person committed a moving traffic violation or was involved in a traffic accident as a driver, whether in conjunction with the violation or the accident the officer has, through the officer's observations, formulated an opinion that the person's body contains alcohol and, whether the person refused to submit to the onsite screening test. Whether the person was informed that the privilege to drive would be revoked or denied for refusal to submit to the test or tests is not an issue. At a hearing under this section, the regularly kept records of the director and state crime laboratory may be introduced. Those records establish prima facie their contents without further foundation. For purposes of this chapter, the following are deemed regularly kept records of the director and state crime laboratory: a. Any copy of a certified copy of an analytical report of a blood or urine sample received by the director from the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee or a law enforcement officer or a certified copy of the checklist and test records received by the director from a certified breath test operator; and b. Any copy of a certified copy of a certificate of the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee relating to approved methods, devices, operators, materials, and checklists used for testing for alcohol concentration or
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the presence of drugs received by the director from the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee, or that have been electronically posted with the state crime laboratory division of the attorney general at the attorney general website. At the close of the hearing, the hearing officer shall notify the person of the hearing officer's findings of fact, conclusions of law, and decision based on the findings and conclusions and shall immediately deliver to the person a copy of the decision. If the hearing officer does not find in favor of the person, the copy of the decision serves as the director's official notification to the person of the revocation, suspension, or denial of driving privileges in this state. If the hearing officer finds, based on a preponderance of the evidence, that the person refused a test under section 39-20-01 or 39-20-14 or that the person had an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to a person under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight, the hearing officer shall immediately take possession of the person's temporary operator's permit issued under this chapter. If the hearing officer does not find against the person, the hearing officer shall sign, date, and mark on the person's permit an extension of driving privileges for the next twenty days and shall return the permit to the person. The hearing officer shall report the findings, conclusions, and decisions to the director within ten days of the conclusion of the hearing. If the hearing officer has determined in favor of the person, the director shall return the person's operator's license by regular mail to the address on file with the director under section 39-06-20. If the person who requested a hearing under this section fails to appear at the hearing without justification, the right to the hearing is waived, and the hearing officer's determination on license revocation, suspension, or denial will be based on the written request for hearing, law enforcement officer's report, and other evidence as may be available. The hearing officer shall, on the date for which the hearing is scheduled, mail to the person, by regular mail, at the address on file with the director under section 39-06-20, or at any other address for the person or the person's legal representative supplied in the request for hearing, a copy of the decision which serves as the director's official notification to the person of the revocation, suspension, or denial of driving privileges in this state. Even if the person for whom the hearing is scheduled fails to appear at the hearing, the hearing is deemed to have been held on the date for which it is scheduled for purposes of appeal under section 39-20-06.
39-20-06. Judicial review. Any person whose operator's license or privilege has been suspended, revoked, or denied by the decision of the hearing officer under section 39-20-05 may appeal within seven days after the date of the hearing under section 39-20-05 as shown by the date of the hearing officer's decision, section 28-32-42 notwithstanding, by serving on the director and filing a notice of appeal and specifications of error in the district court in the county where the events occurred for which the demand for a test was made, or in the county in which the administrative hearing was held. The court shall set the matter for hearing, and the petitioner shall give twenty days' notice of the hearing to the director and to the hearing officer who rendered the decision. Neither the director nor the court may stay the decision pending decision on appeal. Within twenty days after receipt of the notice of appeal, the director or the hearing officer who rendered the decision shall file in the office of the clerk of court to which the appeal is taken a certified transcript of the testimony and all other proceedings. It is the record on which the appeal must be determined. No additional evidence may be heard. The court shall affirm the decision of the director or hearing officer unless it finds the evidence insufficient to warrant the conclusion reached by the director or hearing officer. The court may direct that the matter be returned to the director or hearing officer for rehearing and the presentation of additional evidence. 39-20-07. Interpretation of chemical tests. Upon the trial of any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any individual while driving or in actual physical control of a motor vehicle
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while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or a combination thereof, evidence of the amount of alcohol concentration or presence of other drugs, or a combination thereof, in the individual's blood, breath, or urine at the time of the act alleged as shown by a chemical analysis of the blood, breath, or urine is admissible. For the purpose of this section: 1. An individual having, at that time, an alcohol concentration of not more than five one-hundredths of one percent by weight is presumed not to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor. This presumption has no application to the administration of chapter 39-06.2. 2. Evidence that there was at that time more than five one-hundredths of one percent by weight alcohol concentration in an individual is relevant evidence, but it is not to be given prima facie effect in indicating whether the individual was under the influence of intoxicating liquor. 3. An individual having an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent by weight or, with respect to an individual under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight at the time of the performance of a chemical test within two hours after driving or being in physical control of a vehicle is under the influence of intoxicating liquor at the time of driving or being in physical control of a vehicle. 4. Alcohol concentration is based upon grams of alcohol per one hundred milliliters of blood or grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of end expiratory breath or grams of alcohol per sixty-seven milliliters of urine. 5. The results of the chemical analysis must be received in evidence when it is shown that the sample was properly obtained and the test was fairly administered, and if the test is shown to have been performed according to methods and with devices approved by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee, and by an individual possessing a certificate of qualification to administer the test issued by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee. The director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee is authorized to approve satisfactory devices and methods of chemical analysis and determine the qualifications of individuals to conduct such analysis, and shall issue a certificate to all qualified operators who exhibit the certificate upon demand of the individual requested to take the chemical test. 6. The director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee may appoint, train, certify, and supervise field inspectors of breath testing equipment and its operation, and the inspectors shall report the findings of any inspection to the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee for appropriate action. Upon approval of the methods or devices, or both, required to perform the tests and the individuals qualified to administer them, the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee shall prepare, certify, and electronically post a written record of the approval with the state crime laboratory division of the attorney general at the attorney general website, and shall include in the record: a. An annual register of the specific testing devices currently approved, including serial number, location, and the date and results of last inspection. b. An annual register of currently qualified and certified operators of the devices, stating the date of certification and its expiration. c. The operational checklist and forms prescribing the methods currently approved by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee in using the devices during the administration of the tests. d. The certified records electronically posted under this section may be supplemented when the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee determines it to be necessary, and any certified supplemental records have the same force and effect as the records that are supplemented. e. The state crime laboratory shall make the certified records required by this section available for download in a printable format on the attorney general website.
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Copies of the state crime laboratory certified records referred to in subsections 5 and 6 that have been electronically posted with the state crime laboratory division of the attorney general at the attorney general website must be admitted as prima facie evidence of the matters stated in the records. A certified copy of the analytical report of a blood or urine analysis referred to in subsection 5 and which is issued by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee must be accepted as prima facie evidence of the results of a chemical analysis performed under this chapter. The certified copy satisfies the directives of subsection 5. Notwithstanding any statute or rule to the contrary, a defendant who has been found to be indigent by the court in the criminal proceeding at issue may subpoena, without cost to the defendant, the individual who conducted the chemical analysis referred to in this section to testify at the trial on the issue of the amount of alcohol concentration or presence of other drugs, or a combination thereof in the defendant's blood, breath, or urine at the time of the alleged act. If the state toxicologist, the director of the state crime laboratory, or any employee of either, is subpoenaed to testify by a defendant who is not indigent and the defendant does not call the witness to establish relevant evidence, the court shall order the defendant to pay costs to the witness as provided in section 31-01-16. An indigent defendant may also subpoena the individual who withdrew the defendant's blood by following the same procedure. A signed statement from the individual medically qualified to draw the blood sample for testing as set forth in subsection 5 is prima facie evidence that the blood sample was properly drawn and no further foundation for the admission of this evidence may be required.
39-20-08. Proof of refusal admissible in any civil or criminal action or proceeding. If the person under arrest refuses to submit to the test or tests, proof of refusal is admissible in any civil or criminal action or proceeding arising out of acts alleged to have been committed while the person was driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle upon the public highways while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or a combination thereof. 39-20-09. Effect of evidence of chemical test. This chapter does not limit the introduction of any other competent evidence bearing on the question of whether the person was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or a combination thereof, but, if the test results show an alcohol concentration of at least eight one-hundredths of one percent or, with respect to a person under twenty-one years of age, an alcohol concentration of at least two one-hundredths of one percent by weight, the purpose of such evidence must be limited to the issues of probable cause, whether an arrest was made prior to the administering of the test, and the validity of the test results. 39-20-10. Notice to other states. When it has been finally determined under the procedures of this chapter that a nonresident's privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state has been revoked or denied, the director shall give information in writing of the action taken to the official in charge of traffic control or public safety of the state of the person's residence and of any state in which the person has a license. 39-20-11. Application to prosecutions under municipal ordinances. The provisions of this chapter also apply to prosecutions for the violation of municipal ordinances prohibiting the driving or control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or a combination thereof. 39-20-12. Liability. Any individual medically qualified to draw blood or any licensed physician, nurse, technician, or an employee of a hospital who draws blood from any person pursuant to a
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request of any arresting officer is not liable in any civil action for damages arising out of said act except for gross negligence. 39-20-13. State crime laboratory to examine specimens of fatalities in accidental deaths involving a motor vehicle - Record use. In cases of death resulting from a motor vehicle accident or other unnatural death occurring in a motor vehicle, the county coroner shall require that specimens of blood, urine, and vitreous humor be withdrawn from the body of the decedent within twenty-four hours after the decedent's death by a coroner, coroner's physician, or other qualified person, prior to embalming. The specimens must be collected and preserved by methods and techniques established by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee. The specimens so drawn must be sent to the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee for analysis for alcohol, carbon monoxide, and other drug content. The director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee shall keep a record of all such examinations to be used for statistical purposes. The records must be made available to the director for use by the national highway traffic safety administration in analyzing fatal accidents. The information in the possession of the director may be obtained from the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee only as provided in this section. Except as provided, the results of the examinations referred to in this section must be used only for statistical purposes, except that the results must be released upon the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum by a court of competent jurisdiction in any civil or criminal action. The cumulative results of the examinations, without identifying the individuals involved, must be disseminated to interested state and local officials and made public by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee. Any person drawing the specimens and any person making any examination under the terms of this section are immune from all liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. 39-20-14. Screening tests. Any individual who operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways of this state is deemed to have given consent to submit to an onsite screening test or tests of the individual's breath for the purpose of estimating the alcohol concentration in the individual's breath upon the request of a law enforcement officer who has reason to believe that the individual committed a moving traffic violation or was involved in a traffic accident as a driver, and in conjunction with the violation or the accident the officer has, through the officer's observations, formulated an opinion that the individual's body contains alcohol. An individual may not be required to submit to a screening test or tests of breath while at a hospital as a patient if the medical practitioner in immediate charge of the individual's case is not first notified of the proposal to make the requirement, or objects to the test or tests on the ground that such would be prejudicial to the proper care or treatment of the patient. The screening test or tests must be performed by an enforcement officer certified as a chemical test operator by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee and according to methods and with devices approved by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee. The results of such screening test must be used only for determining whether or not a further test shall be given under the provisions of section 39-20-01. The officer shall inform the individual that refusal of the individual to submit to a screening test will result in a revocation for up to four years of that individual's driving privileges. If such individual refuses to submit to such screening test or tests, none may be given, but such refusal is sufficient cause to revoke such individual's license or permit to drive in the same manner as provided in section 39-20-04, and a hearing as provided in section 39-20-05 and a judicial review as provided in section 39-20-06 must be available. However, the director must not revoke an individual's driving privileges for refusing to submit to a screening test requested under this section if the individual provides a sufficient breath, blood, or urine sample for a chemical test requested under section 39-20-01 for the same incident. No provisions of this section may supersede any provisions of chapter 39-20, nor may any provision of chapter 39-20 be construed to supersede this section except as provided herein. For the purposes of this section, "chemical test operator" means an individual certified by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee as qualified to perform analysis for alcohol in an individual's blood, breath, or urine.
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