Senate Bill No. 152–Committee on Transportation

(On Behalf of Clark County)

February 10, 1999

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Referred to Committee on Transportation

 

SUMMARY—Revises definition regarding minimum content of alcohol required to be in blood or breath of person to be considered driving under influence of intoxicating liquor. (BDR 43-275)

FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.

Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

AN ACT relating to traffic laws; providing in skeleton form for a revised definition of the phrase describing the minimum content of alcohol required to be in the blood or breath of a person for the person to be considered to be driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

1-1 Section 1. NRS 484.0135 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2 484.0135 The phrase ["0.10 percent] "concentration of alcohol of

1-3 0.10 or more [by weight of alcohol] in his [blood" includes] blood or

1-4 breath" means a concentration of alcohol [in the blood or breath of a

1-5 person] of 0.10 gram or more [by weight of alcohol:

1-6 1. Per] per 100 milliliters of his blood [; or

1-7 2. Per] or 210 liters of his breath.

1-8 Sec. 2. NRS 484.379 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-9 484.379 1. It is unlawful for any person who:

1-10 (a) Is under the influence of intoxicating liquor;

1-11 (b) Has [0.10 percent] a concentration of alcohol of 0.10 or more [by

1-12 weight of alcohol] in his blood [;] or breath; or

2-1 (c) Is found by measurement within 2 hours after driving or being in

2-2 actual physical control of a vehicle to have a concentration of alcohol of

2-3 0.10 [percent] or more [by weight of alcohol] in his blood [,] or breath,

2-4 to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle on a highway or on

2-5 premises to which the public has access.

2-6 2. It is unlawful for any person who is an habitual user of or under the

2-7 influence of any controlled substance, or is under the combined influence

2-8 of intoxicating liquor and a controlled substance, or any person who

2-9 inhales, ingests, applies or otherwise uses any chemical, poison or organic

2-10 solvent, or any compound or combination of any of these, to a degree

2-11 which renders him incapable of safely driving or exercising actual physical

2-12 control of a vehicle to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle on

2-13 a highway or on premises to which the public has access. The fact that any

2-14 person charged with a violation of this subsection is or has been entitled to

2-15 use that drug under the laws of this state is not a defense against any charge

2-16 of violating this subsection.

2-17 3. If consumption is proven by a preponderance of the evidence, it is

2-18 an affirmative defense under paragraph (c) of subsection 1 that the

2-19 defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of alcohol after driving or being

2-20 in actual physical control of the vehicle, and before his blood or breath was

2-21 tested, to cause [the] him to have a concentration of alcohol of 0.10 or

2-22 more in his blood [to equal or exceed 0.10 percent.] or breath. A defendant

2-23 who intends to offer this defense at a trial or preliminary hearing must, not

2-24 less than 14 days before the trial or hearing or at such other time as the

2-25 court may direct, file and serve on the prosecuting attorney a written notice

2-26 of that intent.

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