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                                                       PRINTER'S NO. 718

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 674 Session of 1989


        INTRODUCED BY HESS, MARCH 13, 1989

        REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 13, 1989

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     2     Statutes, providing for the use of an ignition interlock
     3     device; and providing for related penalties.

     4     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     5  hereby enacts as follows:
     6     Section 1.  Section 102 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
     7  Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
     8  § 102.  Definitions.
     9     Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
    10  provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
    11  provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
    12  used in this title shall have, unless the context clearly
    13  indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section:
    14     * * *
    15     "Ignition interlock device."  A device which prevents a motor
    16  vehicle from being started at any time without first determining
    17  through a deep lung sample the operator's blood-alcohol
    18  concentration equivalent breath-alcohol level, or determining

     1  through a performance test the operator's psychomotor reaction.
     2     * * *
     3     Section 2.  Section 1548(c) of Title 75 is amended to read:
     4  § 1548.  Requirements for driving under influence offenders.
     5     * * *
     6     (c)  Results of evaluation.--Based on the results of
     7  evaluation and any additional information and evidence, the
     8  court may in addition to any other requirements of the court or
     9  this title determine and require, as part of sentencing or
    10  condition of parole, probation or Accelerated Rehabilitative
    11  Disposition or other preliminary disposition, that the person
    12  successfully complete a prescribed program of individual or
    13  group intervention or supervised inpatient or outpatient
    14  treatment or any combination of these programs or treatments for
    15  a period of up to two years in duration. Any program of
    16  individual or group intervention or supervised inpatient or
    17  outpatient treatment shall [be of a type approved] take place in
    18  a facility licensed by the Department of Health. Based on
    19  periodic reviews of the person's progress, the court may alter,
    20  modify or shorten or extend the duration of the requirements.
    21     * * *
    22     Section 3.  Title 75 is amended by adding sections to read:
    23  § 1553.  Notice of court-required ignition interlock device.
    24     (a)  General rule.--If a person has been convicted of a
    25  violation of section 3731 (relating to driving under influence
    26  of alcohol or controlled substance) or has been offered and has
    27  accepted Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition as a result of a
    28  charge of a violation of section 3731, and if the court, as a
    29  part of sentencing or as a condition of parole, probation or
    30  acceptance of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition under
    19890S0674B0718                  - 2 -

     1  general rules, has required that person to drive only a motor
     2  vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device,
     3  the court shall promptly notify the department of the
     4  restriction, the length of time it shall apply, and any
     5  subsequent changes. The department shall maintain a record that
     6  a person may only drive a motor vehicle equipped with a
     7  functioning ignition interlock device.
     8     (b)  Report of violation.--If a police officer has reasonable
     9  grounds to believe a person subject to a court-imposed
    10  restriction to drive only a motor vehicle equipped with a
    11  functioning ignition interlock device has been driving a motor
    12  vehicle in violation of the restriction, the police officer
    13  shall notify the department or the court which imposed the
    14  restriction. The department, whenever notified, shall promptly
    15  forward the information to the court which imposed the
    16  restriction.
    17  § 3716.  Limitations on ignition interlock devices.
    18     (a)  General rule.--It is unlawful for a person who has been
    19  convicted of a violation of section 3731 (relating to driving
    20  under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) or has been
    21  offered and has accepted Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
    22  as a result of a charge of a violation of section 3731 and the
    23  court, as a part of sentencing or as a condition of parole,
    24  probation or acceptance of Accelerated Rehabilitative
    25  Disposition under general rules, has required that person to
    26  drive only a motor vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition
    27  interlock device, to request or solicit any other person to
    28  start a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device for
    29  the purpose of providing the person whose driving privilege is
    30  restricted with an operable vehicle.
    19890S0674B0718                  - 3 -

     1     (b)  Unlawful assistance.--It is unlawful for another person
     2  to start a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device
     3  for the purpose of providing an operable vehicle to a person who
     4  has a court-ordered interlock device installed.
     5     (c)  Penalty.--Any person violating any of the provisions of
     6  this section commits a summary offense and shall, upon
     7  conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000.
     8  § 4537.  Ignition interlock devices.
     9     (a)  Authority of department.--The department shall
    10  promulgate regulations providing for the approval, installation,
    11  periodic inspection, repair and removal of ignition interlock
    12  devices designed to prevent a person subject to court
    13  restriction from operating a motor vehicle after having consumed
    14  an alcoholic beverage or using a controlled substance.
    15     (b)  Warning label.--The department shall design a warning
    16  label which shall be promptly affixed by the person who has a
    17  court-required ignition interlock device installed to each
    18  ignition interlock device upon installation. The label shall
    19  contain a warning that any person tampering with, circumventing
    20  or otherwise misusing the device commits a summary offense
    21  punishable as provided by law.
    22     (c)  Limitation on alteration of device.--No person shall
    23  tamper with, circumvent or otherwise misuse an ignition
    24  interlock device installed on any vehicle so as to limit the
    25  ability of the device to prevent a person subject to court
    26  restriction from operating the vehicle after having consumed an
    27  alcoholic beverage or using a controlled substance.
    28     (d)  Penalty.--Any person tampering with, circumventing or
    29  otherwise misusing an ignition interlock device commits a
    30  summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay
    19890S0674B0718                  - 4 -

     1  a fine of not more than $1,000.
     2     Section 4.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.



















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