§ 32-5-200 — Consent to Tests; Incapacity; Refusal to Submit to Tests; Notice of Suspension, Etc., of License; Hearing; Appeal

Alabama § 32-5-200

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 32: Motor Vehicles and Traffic
• Ch. 5: Regulation of Operation of Motor Vehicles, Etc., Generally
• Art. 8: Driving Under Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Narcotic Drugs
• Div. 3: Consent to Chemical Testing for Accidents Involving Death or Serious Injury

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(a) Any person who operates a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state who is involved in a crash that results in death or a serious physical injury to any person shall be deemed to have given consent to a chemical test or tests of his or her blood for the purpose of determining the alcoholic content of his or her blood or the presence of any other impairing substance. The test or tests shall be administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer having reasonable grounds to believe that the person, while driving a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state, was under the influence of alcohol or any other impairing substance. The person shall be informed by the law enforcement officer who is investigating the crash that failure to submit to a test will result in the suspension of his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle for a period of two years.
(b) For purposes of this section, the term “serious physical injury” means physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death, or which causes serious and protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ.
(c) Any person who is dead, unconscious, or who is otherwise in a condition in which they are incapable of refusal, shall be deemed not to have withdrawn the consent provided by subsection (a).
(d) If a person refuses to submit to a chemical test or tests, none shall be given, unless a court order has been obtained ordering the person to submit to a chemical test or tests. If the person is found not to have been at fault in causing the crash, the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency may reduce the period of suspension.
(e) (1) Upon suspending the license or permit to drive or the privilege of driving a motor vehicle on the highways of this state that is given to a nonresident or any person, or upon determining that the issuance of a license or permit shall be denied to the person, the secretary, or his or her authorized agent, shall within three days of suspension notify the person in writing. Upon a request filed by the person within five days from the date of the notice of suspension or denial, the secretary shall schedule a hearing with notice of the hearing to be provided by certified mail to the person stating the date, time, place, and scope of the hearing. The scope of the hearing shall determine all of the following:
a. Whether a law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving a motor vehicle on the public highways of this state while under the influence of alcohol or any impairing substance.
b. Whether the person was at fault in causing the crash.
c. Whether the person refused to submit to the test upon request of a law enforcement officer.
(2) Whether the person was informed that his or her privilege to drive would be suspended or denied if he or she refused to submit to the test shall not be an issue.
(f) If the suspension or determination that there should be a denial or issuance is sustained by the secretary, or his or her authorized agent, the person whose license or permit to drive or a nonresident operating privilege has been suspended, or to whom a license or permit is denied, shall have the right to file a petition to review the final order, suspension, or denial within 30 days after the entry of the final order of suspension or denial by the secretary in the appropriate court to review the final order of suspension.
(g) Upon a determination that a nonresident’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle in this state has been suspended, the secretary shall provide, in writing, the action taken to the motor vehicle administrator of the state of the person’s residence and to any state in which the person has a license.

Legislative History

(Act 97-939, p. 508, §1; Act 2021-498, §2.)