Revision: Dec. 11, 2023, 1:20 p.m.
2024 SESSION
24-2977.0
09/08
SENATE BILL [bill number]
AN ACT relative to THC concentrations for driving offenses.
SPONSORS: [sponsors]
COMMITTEE: [committee]
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ANALYSIS
This bill sets maximum THC concentration levels for various driving offenses.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2977.0
09/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT relative to THC concentrations for driving offenses.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Motor Vehicles; Words and Phrases Defined; THC Concentration. Amend RSA 259 by inserting after section 107-a the following new section:
259:107-b THC Concentration. "THC concentration" shall mean nanograms of tetrahydrocannabinol per milliliters of blood.
2 Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Driving or Operating With Excess Alcohol Concentration. Amend RSA 265-A:2 to read as follows:
265-A:2 Driving or Operating Under Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Driving or Operating With Excess Alcohol Concentration.
I. No person shall drive or attempt to drive a vehicle upon any way or operate or attempt to operate an OHRV:
(a) While such person is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any controlled drug, prescription drug, over-the-counter drug, or any other chemical substance, natural or synthetic, which impairs a person's ability to drive or any combination of intoxicating liquor and controlled drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or any other chemical substances, natural or synthetic, which impair a person's ability to drive; [or]
(b) While such person has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21, 0.02 or more; or
(c) While such person has a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21, 1 ng/ml or more.
II. No person shall operate or attempt to operate a boat while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled drug, prescription drug, over-the-counter drug, or any other chemical substance, natural or synthetic, which impairs a person's ability to drive or any combination of intoxicating liquor and a controlled drug or drugs, prescription drug or drugs, over-the-counter drug or drugs, or any other chemical substance or substances, natural or synthetic, which impair a person's ability to drive or while such person has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or in the case of persons under the age of 21, 0.02 or more; or while such person has a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21, 1 ng/ml or more.
3 Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 265-A:3, II to read as follows:
II. While having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or, in the case of a person under the age of 21 at the time of the offense, 0.02 or more, or while having a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21, 1 ng/ml or more, and, at the time alleged:
4 Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Implied Consent of Driver or Operator to Submit to Testing to Determine Alcohol Concentration. Amend RSA 265-A:4 to read as follows:
265-A:4 Implied Consent of Driver or Operator to Submit to Testing to Determine Alcohol Concentration. Any person who drives, operates, or attempts to operate an OHRV, drives or attempts to drive a vehicle upon the ways of this state, or operates or attempts to operate a boat upon the public waters of the state shall be deemed to have given consent to physical tests and examinations for the purpose of determining whether such person is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or controlled drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or any other chemical substances, natural or synthetic, which impair a person's ability to drive and to a chemical, infrared molecular absorption, or liquid or gas chromatograph test or tests of any or all of any combination of the following: blood, urine, or breath, for the purpose of determining the controlled drug, prescription drug, over-the-counter drug, or any other chemical substance, natural or synthetic, which impairs a person's ability to drive content of such person's blood or alcohol concentration if arrested for any offense arising out of acts alleged to have been committed while the person was driving, operating, attempting to operate, or in actual physical control of an OHRV, driving, attempting to drive, or in actual physical control of a vehicle, or operating, attempting to operate, or in actual physical control of a boat while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or controlled drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or any other chemical substances, natural or synthetic, which impair a person's ability to drive or while having an alcohol concentration in excess of the statutory limits contained in RSA 265-A:2 or RSA 265-A:3. The test or tests shall be administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer, peace officer, or authorized agent having reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been driving, operating, attempting to operate, or in actual physical control of an OHRV, driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle, or operating or in actual physical control of a boat while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or controlled drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or any other chemical substances, natural or synthetic, which impair a person's ability to drive, [or] while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, or in the case of a person under the age of 21, 0.02 or more, or while having a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21, 1 ng/ml or more. A copy of the report of any such test shall be furnished by the law enforcement agency to the person tested within 48 hours of receipt of the report by the agency by certified mail directed to the address shown on such person's license or other identification furnished by the person. Results of a test of the breath shall be furnished immediately in writing to the person tested by the certified breath testing operator conducting the test. When the incident involves an accident resulting in death or serious bodily injury to any person as provided in RSA 265-A:16, the prerequisites of RSA 265-A:8 shall not apply. Properly trained personnel of the United States Coast Guard may arrest and conduct tests on persons who are believed to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor or controlled drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or any other chemical substances, natural or synthetic, which impair a person's ability to drive or a combination thereof, and who are in physical control of a boat operating upon the public coastal waters of this state.
5 Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Evidence. Amend RSA 265-A:11 to read as follows:
265-A:11 Evidence.
I. Upon complaint, information, indictment, or trial of any person charged with the violation of RSA 265-A:2, the court may admit evidence of physical testing of the defendant for being under the influence of intoxicating liquor or controlled drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or any other chemical substances, natural or synthetic, which impair a person's ability to drive as provided in RSA 265-A:4, and of the controlled drug, prescription drug, over-the-counter drug, or any other chemical substance, natural or synthetic, which impairs a person's ability to drive content of the defendant's blood and the defendant's alcohol concentration, as shown by a test of his or her breath, blood, or urine as provided in RSA 265-A:4. Evidence that there was, at the time alleged, an alcohol concentration of 0.03 or less is prima facie evidence that the defendant was not under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Evidence that there was, at the time alleged, an alcohol concentration of more than 0.03 and less than 0.08 is relevant evidence but is not to be given prima facie effect in indicating whether or not the defendant was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, but such fact may be considered with other competent evidence in determining the guilt or innocence of the defendant. Evidence that there was, at the time alleged, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more is prima facie evidence that the defendant was under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Evidence that there was, at the time alleged, a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more is prima facie evidence that the defendant was under the influence of cannabis. In addition, evidence that there was, at the time alleged, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more shall, in conjunction with the evidence otherwise required by RSA 265-A:2, I(b) of driving or attempting to drive a vehicle upon a way, constitute a separate offense under RSA 265-A:2, I(b); and evidence that there was, at the time alleged, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more shall, in conjunction with the evidence otherwise required by RSA 265-A:3, II of driving or attempting to drive a vehicle upon a way and of one or more of the circumstances specified in RSA 265-A:3, II(a), (b), (c), and (d) constitute a separate offense under RSA 265-A:3, II; and evidence that there was, at the time alleged, an alcohol concentration of 0.16 or more shall, in conjunction with the evidence otherwise required by RSA 265-A:3, III of driving or attempting to drive a vehicle upon a way, constitute a separate offense under RSA 265-A:3, III.
II. Upon complaint, information, indictment, or trial of any person charged with a violation of the provisions of RSA 265-A:2, II relative to the operation of boats by a person under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled drug, prescription drug, over-the-counter drug, or any other chemical substance, natural or synthetic, which impairs a person's ability to drive the court may admit evidence of the defendant's alcohol concentration or THC concentration at the time alleged, as shown by a chemical, infrared molecular absorption, or liquid or gas chromatograph test or tests of his or her breath, urine, or blood. Evidence that there was, at the time alleged, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, is prima facie evidence that the defendant was under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Evidence that there was, at the time alleged, a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more, is prima facie evidence that the defendant was under the influence of cannabis. Evidence that the defendant had, at the time alleged, an alcohol concentration of more than 0.03 and less than 0.08 is relevant evidence and may be considered with other competent evidence in determining whether or not the defendant was under the influence of intoxicating liquor. Evidence that the defendant had, at the time alleged, an alcohol concentration of 0.03 or less is prima facie evidence that the defendant was not under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
6 Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Annulment; Plea Bargaining. Amend RSA 265-A:21 to read as follows:
265-A:21 Annulment; Plea Bargaining.
I. Notwithstanding the provisions of RSA 651:5, no court shall order an annulment of any record of conviction of driving or attempting to drive a vehicle upon any way or driving, operating, attempting to operate, or being in actual physical control of an OHRV or operating or attempting to operate a boat on the waters of this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any controlled drug, prescription drug, over-the-counter drug, or any other chemical substance, natural or synthetic, which impairs a person's ability to drive or while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more, or of aggravated drunken driving until 10 years after the date of conviction. Any record thus annulled shall be retained in a permanent file, to be opened only for purposes of sentencing in the case of an offense under RSA 265-A:3.
II. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, in any case in which a person is arrested for and charged with the offense of driving or attempting to drive a vehicle on any way or driving, operating, attempting to operate, or being in actual physical control of an OHRV or operating or attempting to operate a boat while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more and that charge is reduced from a second or subsequent offense to a first offense or in which the original charge is reduced to or in any manner substituted with another charge or a nolle prosequi entered in exchange for an agreement to plead guilty or nolo contendere to another charge, the prosecutor shall submit to the attorney general a written report describing such agreement. All such written reports shall be submitted to the attorney general on a monthly basis. The report shall contain such information as the attorney general shall prescribe; provided, however, that the attorney general shall not be subject to the provisions of RSA 541-A in prescribing such information. The report required by this paragraph shall be a public record and shall be available for public inspection as provided in RSA 91-A:4.
III. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if a person is arrested for driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle upon any way or driving, operating, attempting to operate, or being in actual physical control of an OHRV or operating or attempting to operate a boat while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more, no prosecutor shall enter into any agreement with such person or such person's attorney if such agreement would result in a charge that removed the case from consideration under any provision of RSA 259-RSA 266. The provisions of this paragraph, however, shall not prevent the bringing of any charge under RSA 630:2 or RSA 630:3.
7 Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Administrative License Suspension. Amend RSA 265-A:30 to read as follows:
265-A:30 Administrative License Suspension.
I. If any person refuses a test as provided in RSA 265-A:14 or submits to a test described in RSA 265-A:4 which discloses an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or, in the case of a person under the age of 21 at the time of the violation, 0.02 or more, or a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21 at the time of the violation a THC concentration of 1 ng/ml or more, the law enforcement officer shall submit a sworn report to the department. In the report the officer shall certify that the test was requested pursuant to RSA 265-A:4 and that the person refused to submit to testing or submitted to a test which disclosed an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, or, in the case of a person under the age of 21, 0.02 or more, or a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21 at the time of the violation a THC concentration of 1 ng/ml or more.
II. Upon receipt of the sworn report of a law enforcement officer submitted under paragraph I, the department shall suspend the person's driver's license or privilege to drive as follows:
(a) In the case of a refusal to take a test described in RSA 265-A:4, the suspension shall be for the period specified in RSA 265-A:14.
(b) In the case of a person who submits to a test described in RSA 265-A:4 which discloses an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or, in the case of a person under the age of 21 at the time of the violation, 0.02 or more, or a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21 at the time of the violation a THC concentration of 1 ng/ml or more, the suspension shall be for:
(1) Six months if there is no prior refusal under RSA 265-A:14, no prior driving while intoxicated or aggravated driving while intoxicated convictions, and no prior administrative license suspension pursuant to RSA 265-A:30.
(2) Two years if there is a prior refusal under RSA 265-A:14, or a prior driving while intoxicated or aggravated driving while intoxicated conviction, or a prior administrative suspension pursuant to RSA 265-A:30.
III. On behalf of the department, the law enforcement officer submitting the sworn report under paragraph I shall serve immediate notice of suspension on the person, and the suspension shall be effective 30 days after the date of service. If the person has a valid New Hampshire driver's license, an officer shall take the driver's license of the person, and issue a temporary license valid for the notice period. The officer shall send the license to the department along with the sworn report under paragraph I.
IV. If the person submits to a test described in RSA 265-A:4 and the results of the test are not immediately available and therefore no notice has been served by the law enforcement officer, the department shall mail such notice and the suspension shall be effective 30 days after the date of service. If the address shown in the law enforcement officer's report differs from that shown on the department records, the notice shall be mailed to both addresses. The notice shall be presumed to have been served 3 days after mailing. Upon receipt of the notice of suspension and before requesting any review or hearing under RSA 265-A:31, if the person has a New Hampshire driver's license that has not been surrendered, the person shall surrender such person's license at a place designated by the department and shall be issued a temporary driving permit valid for the notice period.
V. In the case of a person who has a driver's license from another jurisdiction, all provisions of this subdivision shall apply except that surrender of the out-of-state driver's license and issuance of a temporary driving permit shall not be required. The department shall transmit a copy of the suspension order to the motor vehicle authorities in the jurisdiction where the person's license was issued, and also in the jurisdiction of the person's residence if different from that where the license was issued.
8 Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor; Administrative Review and Hearings. Amend RSA 265-A:31, II(d) to read as follows:
(d) Whether the person has refused to submit to the test upon the request of the law enforcement officer or whether a properly administered test or tests disclosed an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, or, in the case of a person under 21 years of age, 0.02 or more, or a THC concentration of 2 ng/ml or more or in the case of a person under the age of 21 at the time of the violation a THC concentration of 1 ng/ml or more;
9 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2025.