(a) If a person refuses to permit chemical testing, after being informed of the penalty of revocation for such refusal, the test shall not be given but the police officer shall report the refusal to the Department. The police officer may, however, take reasonable steps to conduct such chemical testing even without the consent of the person if the officer seeks to conduct such test or tests without informing the person of the penalty of revocation for such refusal and thereby invoking the implied consent law.
(b) (1) Upon certification by the police officer that there existed probable cause to believe that the person had been acting in violation of § 4177 of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto and that the person refused to submit to a chemical test after being informed of the penalty of revocation for such refusal, the Secretary shall revoke the person’s driver’s license and/or driving privilege for a period of 1 year for a person with no previous violation of § 4177 of this title or this section or a similar statute of any state or the District of Columbia or local government, within 5 years of the date of the charge in question; 18 months’ revocation for a person with 1 previous violation of such statutes as described above; and 24 months’ revocation for a person with 2 or more previous violations of such statutes as described above.
(2) Upon certification by the police officer that there existed probable cause to believe that the person had been acting in violation of § 4177L of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto and that the person refused to submit to a chemical test after being informed of the penalty of revocation for such refusal, the Secretary shall revoke the person’s driver’s license and/or driving privilege for a period of 2 months for a person with no previous violation of § 4177L of this title or this section or a similar statute of any state or the District of Columbia or local government; 6 months for a person with a previous violation of such statutes as described above; and 12 months revocation for a person with 2 or more previous violations of such statutes as described above.
(c) Except in those cases wherein the police officer acts pursuant to subsection (b) of this section:
(1) Upon certification by the police officer that there existed probable cause to believe that the person was in violation of § 4177 of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto and the person was arrested on that occasion for a violation of § 4177 of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto or for violation of a criminal statute dealing with injury or death caused to another person by the person’s driving or operation of the vehicle, if driving under the influence is included as an element of such charge, the Secretary shall revoke the person’s driver’s license and/or driving privilege for a period of 3 months for a first time DUI offender, 1 year for a second DUI offender, or 18 months for more than 2 DUI offenses. For purposes of this subsection, a DUI offender shall include anyone who has previously committed a first offense as defined in § 4177B(e) or lost their license pursuant to this section and any person convicted of a violation of § 4177 of this title or similar statutes of any state or the District of Columbia or local government within 5 years of the date of the charge in question, a revocation within 5 years of said date for an implied consent violation or a revocation within 5 years of said date under this subsection.
(2) Upon certification by the police officer that there existed probable cause to believe that the person was in violation of § 4177L of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto, and the person was arrested on that occasion for a violation of § 4177L of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto, the Secretary shall revoke the person’s driver’s license and/or driving privileges for a period of 2 months for the first offense under said section or from 6 to 12 months for each subsequent offense pursuant to said section.
(d) No revocation under subsection (b) or (c) of this section is effective until the Secretary or a police officer or other person acting on the Secretary’s behalf notifies the person of the revocation and allows the person a 15-day period to request of the Secretary in writing a hearing as herein provided. If no request is filed in writing with the Division of Motor Vehicles within the 15-day period, the order of revocation becomes effective. If a request for a hearing is filed, a revocation is not effective until the final decision of the hearing officer resulting in a decision adverse to the person.
(e) On behalf of the Secretary, the police officer offering a chemical test or directing the administration of a chemical test shall serve immediate notice of revocation on a person who refuses to permit chemical testing after being informed of the penalty of revocation for such refusal, or on a person who is arrested on that occasion, either for a violation of § 4177 or § 4177L of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto or for violation of a criminal statute dealing with injury or death caused to another person by the person’s driving or operation of the vehicle, if driving under the influence is included as an element of such charge. The officer shall take the Delaware license or permit of the driver in any such case and issue a temporary license effective only for 15 days with a provision for an additional period if a written request for a hearing is received by the Division of Motor Vehicles within the 15-day period. The police officer shall send the person’s driver’s license or permit to the Secretary along with the certificate required by subsection (b) or (c) of this section.
(f) The hearing under this section shall be before the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee. The scope of the hearing shall cover the issues of:
(1) With respect to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, whether the police officer had probable cause to believe the person was in violation of § 4177 or § 4177L of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto.
(2) With respect to paragraph (c)(1) of this section, whether by a preponderance of the evidence it appears that the person was in violation of § 4177 of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto. For purposes of this subsection an alcohol concentration of .08 or more pursuant to testing provided for in this section, or § 4177 of this title, or a positive indication of the presence of drugs, shall be conclusive evidence of said violation.
(3) With respect to paragraph (c)(2) of this section, whether by a preponderance of the evidence it appears that the person was in violation of § 4177L of this title or a local ordinance substantially conforming thereto. For purposes of this subsection an alcohol concentration of .02 or more pursuant to the testing referred to in this section shall be conclusive evidence of said violation.
(4) With respect to subsection (b) of this section, whether the person refused to permit the test after being informed of the penalty of revocation for such refusal.
(g) The hearing specified in this section shall be scheduled within 60 days following the filing of the request for a hearing.
(h) In addition to the revocation authorized by this section, the Secretary shall require attendance of the person whose license is revoked at a course of instruction or rehabilitation program established under § 4177D of this title.
(i) If a person’s driver’s license is revoked pursuant to subsections (b) or (c) of this section and the person has not yet been adjudicated guilty and sentenced to the charge of driving under the influence, the Justice of the Peace Court may request in writing that the Division of Motor Vehicles issue a conditional license to the revoked driver as a condition of pretrial release pursuant to § 2108 or § 2112 of Title 11 if the person is subject to continuous sobriety monitoring.
(1) When the Division of Motor Vehicles receives a request from the Justice of the Peace Court to issue a conditional license to a revoked driver, the Division may issue a conditional license during the period of revocation provided the person’s driver’s license is not suspended, revoked, denied, or otherwise unavailable for any other violation of the law of any jurisdiction that would prohibit the issuance of the conditional license unless it is determined by the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary’s designee that the individual is eligible for reinstatement. This conditional license only permits the driver to operate a motor vehicle to travel to and from work, school, medical appointments, any Court, or any appointments related to the driver’s continuous sobriety monitoring.
(2) If at any point the revoked driver ceases to be subject to continuous sobriety monitoring, the Justice of the Peace Court must promptly notify the Division of Motor Vehicles of the change in the revoked driver’s status. The Division of Motor Vehicles must direct such person to surrender said conditional license to the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Division of Motor Vehicles will restore the full revocation of the driver’s license for the remainder of the term of the revocation.
(3) If at any point the Justice of the Peace Court determines, in its discretion, that the revoked driver is no longer entitled to a conditional license, the Justice of the Peace Court must promptly notify the Division of Motor Vehicles of that determination. The Division of Motor Vehicles must direct such person to surrender said conditional license to the Division of Motor Vehicles and must restore the full revocation of the driver’s license for the remainder of the term of the revocation.
(4) Any person whose driver’s license has been revoked and to whom a conditional license has been issued under this chapter, and who drives any motor vehicle upon the highways of this State contrary to the conditions placed upon such conditional license during the period of such conditional license, is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $28.75 or more than $230. The Division, upon receiving a record of conviction of any person operating a motor vehicle in violation of the conditions imposed upon said conditional license, must forthwith direct such person to surrender said conditional license to the Division of Motor Vehicles and must notify the Justice of the Peace Court of the cancellation of the conditional license.