K.S.A. § 8-2,144 — KS Code / Chapter 8 / Article 2 / Section 8-2,144
8-2,144 - Driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence; penalties.
Status: in_force

8-2,144. Driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence; penalties. (a) Driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence is operating or attempting to operate any commercial motor vehicle, as defined in K.S.A. 8-2,128, and amendments thereto, within this state while:

(1) The alcohol concentration in the person's blood or breath, as shown by any competent evidence, including other competent evidence, as defined in K.S.A. 8-1013(f)(1), and amendments thereto, is 0.04 or more;

(2) the alcohol concentration in the person's blood or breath, as measured within three hours of the time of driving a commercial motor vehicle, is 0.04 or more; or

(3) committing a violation of K.S.A. 8-1567(a), and amendments thereto, or the ordinance of a city or resolution of a county which prohibits any of the acts prohibited thereunder or is otherwise comparable.

(b) (1) Driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence is:

(A) On a first conviction, a class B, nonperson misdemeanor. The person convicted shall be sentenced to not less than 48 consecutive hours nor more than six months' imprisonment, or in the court's discretion, 100 hours of public service, and fined not less than $750 nor more than $1,000;

(B) on a second conviction, a class A, nonperson misdemeanor. The person convicted shall be sentenced to not less than 90 days nor more than one year's imprisonment and fined not less than $1,250 nor more than $1,750. The following conditions shall apply to such sentence:

(i) As a condition of any probation granted under this subsection, the person shall serve at least 120 hours of confinement. The hours of confinement shall include at least 48 hours of imprisonment and otherwise may be served by a combination of: Imprisonment; a work release program, if such work release program requires such person to return to the confinement at the end of each day in the work release program; or a house arrest program pursuant to K.S.A. 21-6609, and amendments thereto; and

(ii) (a) if the person is placed into a work release program or placed under a house arrest program for any portion of the minimum of 120 hours of confinement mandated by this subsection, the person shall receive hour-for-hour credit for time served in such program until the minimum sentence is met. If the person is placed into a work release program or placed under a house arrest program for more than the minimum of 120 hours of confinement mandated by this subsection, the person shall receive hour-for-hour credit for time served in such program until the minimum of 120 hours of confinement is completed, and thereafter, the person shall receive day-for-day credit for time served in such program unless otherwise ordered by the court; and

(b) when in a work release program, the person shall only be given credit for the time served in confinement at the end of and continuing to the beginning of the person's work day. When under a house arrest program, the person shall be monitored by an electronic monitoring device that verifies the person's location and shall only be given credit for the time served within the boundaries of the person's residence; and

(C) on a third or subsequent conviction, a severity level 6, nonperson felony. The following conditions shall apply to such sentence:

(i) As a condition of any probation granted under this subsection, the person shall serve at least 30 days of confinement. After at least 48 consecutive hours of imprisonment, the remainder of the period of confinement may be served by a combination of: Imprisonment; a work release program, if such work release program requires such person to return to the confinement at the end of each day in the work release program; or a house arrest program pursuant to K.S.A. 21-6609, and amendments thereto; and

(ii) (a) if the person is placed into a work release program or placed under a house arrest program for any portion of the minimum of 30 days of confinement mandated by this subsection, the person shall receive hour-for-hour credit for time served in such program for the first 240 hours of confinement, and thereafter, the person shall receive day-for-day credit for time served in such program unless otherwise ordered by the court; and

(b) when in a work release program, the person shall only be given credit for the time served in confinement at the end of and continuing to the beginning of the person's work day. When under a house arrest program, the person shall be monitored by an electronic monitoring device that verifies the person's location and shall only be given credit for the time served within the boundaries of the person's residence.

(2) In addition, prior to sentencing for any conviction pursuant to subsection (b)(1)(A) or (b)(1)(B), the court shall order the person to participate in an alcohol and drug evaluation conducted by a provider in accordance with K.S.A. 8-1008, and amendments thereto. The person shall be required to follow any recommendation made by the provider after such evaluation, unless otherwise ordered by the court.

(c) Any person 18 years of age or older convicted of a violation of this section, or a violation of a city ordinance or county resolution prohibiting the acts prohibited by this section, who had one or more children under the age of 18 years in the vehicle at the time of the offense shall have such person's punishment enhanced by one month of imprisonment. This imprisonment shall be served consecutively to any other minimum mandatory penalty imposed for a violation of this section, or a violation of a city ordinance or county resolution prohibiting the acts prohibited by this section. Any enhanced penalty imposed shall not exceed the maximum sentence allowable by law. During the service of the enhanced penalty, the judge may order the person on house arrest, work release or other conditional release.

(d) If a person is charged with a violation of K.S.A. 8-1567(a)(4) or (a)(5), and amendments thereto, as incorporated in this section, the fact that the person is or has been entitled to use the drug under the laws of this state shall not constitute a defense against the charge.

(e) The court may establish the terms and time for payment of any fines, fees, assessments and costs imposed pursuant to this section. Any assessment and costs shall be required to be paid not later than 90 days after imposed, and any remainder of the fine shall be paid prior to the final release of the defendant by the court.

(f) (1) In lieu of payment of a fine imposed pursuant to this section, the court may order that the person perform community service specified by the court. The person shall receive a credit on the fine imposed in an amount equal to $5 for each full hour spent by the person in the specified community service. The community service ordered by the court shall be required to be performed not later than one year after the fine is imposed or by an earlier date specified by the court. If by the required date the person performs an insufficient amount of community service to reduce to zero the portion of the fine required to be paid by the person, the remaining balance of the fine shall become due on that date.

(2) The court may, in its discretion, waive any portion of a fine imposed pursuant to this section, except the $250 required to be remitted to the state treasurer pursuant to subsection (q), upon a showing that the person successfully completed court-ordered education or treatment.

(g) Prior to filing a complaint alleging a violation of this section, a prosecutor shall request and shall receive from the:

(1) Division a record of all prior convictions obtained against such person for any violations of any of the motor vehicle laws of this state; and

(2) Kansas bureau of investigation central repository all criminal history record information concerning such person.

(h) The court shall electronically report every conviction of a violation of this section to the division. Prior to sentencing under the provisions of this section, the court shall request and shall receive from the:

(1) Division a record of all prior convictions obtained against such person for any violation of any of the motor vehicle laws of this state; and

(2) Kansas bureau of investigation central repository all criminal history record information concerning such person.

(i) Upon conviction of a person of a violation of this section or a violation of a city ordinance or county resolution prohibiting the acts prohibited by this section, the division, upon receiving a report of conviction, shall:

(1) Disqualify the person from driving a commercial motor vehicle under K.S.A. 8-2,142, and amendments thereto; and

(2) suspend, restrict or suspend and restrict the person's driving privileges as provided by K.S.A. 8-1014, and amendments thereto.

(j) (1) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as preventing any city from enacting ordinances, or any county from adopting resolutions, declaring acts prohibited or made unlawful by this section as unlawful or prohibited in such city or county and prescribing penalties for violation thereof.

(2) The minimum penalty prescribed by any such ordinance or resolution shall not be less than the minimum penalty prescribed by this section for the same violation, and the maximum penalty in any such ordinance or resolution shall not exceed the maximum penalty prescribed for the same violation.

(3) Any such ordinance or resolution shall authorize the court to order that the convicted person pay restitution to any victim who suffered loss due to the violation for which the person was convicted.

(k) (1) Upon the filing of a complaint, citation or notice to appear alleging a person has violated a city ordinance prohibiting the acts prohibited by this section, and prior to conviction thereof, a city attorney shall request and shall receive from the:

(A) Division of vehicles a record of all prior convictions obtained against such person for any violations of any of the motor vehicle laws of this state; and

(B) Kansas bureau of investigation central repository all criminal history record information concerning such person.

(2) If the elements of such ordinance violation are the same as the elements of a violation of this section that would constitute, and be punished as, a felony, the city attorney shall refer the violation to the appropriate county or district attorney for prosecution. The county or district attorney shall accept such referral and pursue a disposition of such violation, and shall not refer any such violation back to the city attorney.

(l) No plea bargaining agreement shall be entered into nor shall any judge approve a plea bargaining agreement entered into for the purpose of permitting a person charged with a violation of this section, or a violation of any ordinance of a city or resolution of any county in this state which prohibits the acts prohibited by this section, to avoid the mandatory penalties established by this section or by the ordinance or resolution. This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit an amendment or dismissal of any charge where the admissible evidence is not sufficient to support a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt on such charge.

(m) The alternatives set out in subsection (a) may be pleaded in the alternative, and the state, city or county may, but shall not be required to, elect one or more of such alternatives prior to submission of the case to the fact finder.

(n) For the purpose of determining whether a conviction is a first, second, third or subsequent conviction in sentencing under this section:

(1) Convictions for a violation of K.S.A. 8-1567, and amendments thereto, or a violation of an ordinance of any city or resolution of any county that prohibits the acts that such section prohibits, or entering into a diversion agreement in lieu of further criminal proceedings on a complaint alleging any such violations, shall be taken into account, but only convictions or diversions occurring on or after July 1, 2001. Nothing in this provision shall be construed as preventing any court from considering any convictions or diversions occurring during the person's lifetime in determining the sentence to be imposed within the limits provided for a first, second, third, fourth or subsequent offense;

(2) any convictions for a violation of the following sections occurring during a person's lifetime shall be taken into account:

(A) This section;

(B) operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs, K.S.A. 32-1131, and amendments thereto;

(C) involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, K.S.A. 21-3442, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 21-5405(a)(3) or (a)(5), and amendments thereto;

(D) aggravated battery as described in K.S.A. 21-5413(b)(3) or (b)(4), and amendments thereto; and

(E) aggravated vehicular homicide, K.S.A. 21-3405a, prior to its repeal, or vehicular battery, K.S.A. 21-3405b, prior to its repeal, if the crime was committed while committing a violation of K.S.A. 8-1567, and amendments thereto;

(3) "conviction" includes:

(A) Entering into a diversion agreement in lieu of further criminal proceedings on a complaint alleging a violation of a crime described in subsection (n)(2); and

(B) conviction of a violation of an ordinance of a city in this state, a resolution of a county in this state or any law of another jurisdiction that would constitute an offense that is comparable to the offense described in subsection (n)(1) or (n)(2);

(4) it is irrelevant whether an offense occurred before or after conviction for a previous offense; and

(5) multiple convictions of any crime described in subsection (n)(1) or (n)(2) arising from the same arrest shall only be counted as one conviction.

(o) For the purposes of determining whether an offense is comparable, the following shall be considered:

(1) The name of the out-of-jurisdiction offense;

(2) the elements of the out-of-jurisdiction offense; and

(3) whether the out-of-jurisdiction offense prohibits similar conduct to the conduct prohibited by the closest approximate Kansas offense.

(p) For the purpose of this section:

(1) "Alcohol concentration" means the number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or per 210 liters of breath;

(2) "imprisonment" includes any restrained environment in which the court and law enforcement agency intend to retain custody and control of a defendant and such environment has been approved by the board of county commissioners or the governing body of a city; and

(3) "drug" includes toxic vapors as such term is defined in K.S.A. 21-5712, and amendments thereto.

(q) On and after July 1, 2011, the amount of $250 from each fine imposed pursuant to this section shall be remitted by the clerk of the district court to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall credit the entire amount to the community corrections supervision fund established by K.S.A. 75-52,113, and amendments thereto.