The bill was introduced into the Senate on January 13, 2005 by Senators: Yukiwo Dengokl, Surangel Whipps, Sr., Santy Asanuma and Mlib Tmetuchel.
Earlier in May, the bill, having passed through both houses of the Olbiil Er a Kelulau (OEK), was forwarded to the President for review and approval. The President referred the bill back to the OEK with recommended changes.The Senate had, through its Committee on Judiciary and Governmental, incorporated the changes into the bill, and unanimously voted to re-pass the bill; and sent it to HOD on June 23.The new version of the bill, if approved by the President and becomes law, would impose stricter and sequential penalties against those who get caught driving on public roads intoxicated or under the influence.Under Title 42 of the PNC § 514 (a), it is stated “it shall be unlawful for any person who is under the influence of intoxicating liquor or alcohol, or narcotic drugs, to drive any vehicle upon any highway within the Republic;” and that any one who is caught in violation of this mandate shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and is liable to be imprisoned or fined or both.The recommended changes to the bill dictate that a person who is caught and convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) – first offense – will have his or her driver’s license suspended for a year; be jailed for a least a day to a year; pay a fine of up to $1,000; and serve, at maximum, 60 hours of community service. If a person is convicted of the same offense within two years of the first, he or she will received a jail sentence of not less than twenty days and not more than a year, pay a fine of up to $2,500, have his or her license suspended for two years, and serve a maximum of 120 hours of community service. If within two years of the second conviction, a person charged and convicted of DUI for the third time will be jailed for a minimum of ninety days or more, but not exceeding a year, fined up to $5,000, have his or her license revoked, and serve up to 200 hours of community service.In addition to the penalties, it is stated that upon convicting a person of DUI, “the Court may in its discretion require the convicted person to participate in a drug or alcohol program.”Moreover, a person whose driver’s license is revoked as a result of a conviction will not be eligible to be issued another for three years.The new version of the bill has been revised and re-passed through both house of the OEK. It has been forwarded to the President and would soon become law.
