RSSComprehensive Impaired Driving Act of 2012
Councilmember Phil Mendelson, Chairperson of the Committee on the Judiciary, announces a public hearing on Bill 19-777, the "Comprehensive Impaired Driving Act of 2012." The hearing will be held at 12PM on Friday, June 8, 2012 in the Council Chamber of the John A. Wilson Building.
The stated purpose of Bill 19-777 is to update and clarify definitions and provisions regarding impaired driving offenses; to authorize the Mayor to promulgate regulations regarding the District's impaired driving program; to specify the type of chemical testing and the admissibility of chemical test results; to expand the list of individuals authorized to draw blood; and provide immunity from civil liability for those indivuduals; to provide subpoena authority for medical records in impaired driving cases involving injury or death; to separate out the offenses of fleeing from scene of an accident and driving under the influence of liquor or drugs; to clarify or increase certain mandatory-minimum sentences for alcohol or drug related offenses; to permit plea options for the offense of operating a vehicle while impaired when they have prior convictions; to provide for a per se impaired driving offense for persons operating under a commercial drivers license; to modernize the implied consent provisions; to modify provisions related to boating while intoxicated; and to make other confirming amendments.
Those who wish to testify should register online or contact Mr. Brian Moore, Committee Clerk, at (202) 724-7808, by fax at (202) 724-6664, or via e-mail at bmoore@dccouncil.us, and provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business Wednesday, June 6, 2012. Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit 15 copies of written testimony. If submitted by the close of business on June 6, 2012 the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing. Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.
If you are unable to testify at the roundtable, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted either to Mr. Moore, or to Ms. Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council, Room 5 of the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004. The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 22, 2012.