House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to revise Montana's laws regarding driving under the influence (DUI) by increasing penalties and redefining the term "misdemeanor." The bill introduces provisions that allow misdemeanor sentences to be served consecutively or on weekends, specifically from 5 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Sunday, with credit for two days. It also stipulates that if an offender's misdemeanor term exceeds 104 days or if the local jail is at capacity during the first 104 weekend days, the sentence may extend into multiple calendar years. The bill amends Sections 45-2-101 and 61-8-1007 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to clarify the legal framework surrounding DUI offenses and enhance penalties for offenders.

In addition to the changes in misdemeanor sentencing, the bill modifies penalties for DUI offenses, including adjustments to imprisonment durations and fines for first, second, and third violations. For first offenses, the minimum imprisonment is changed from 6 months to 180 weekend days, with fines increased from $600 to a range of $600 to $1,000. Similar increases apply to subsequent offenses, along with stricter penalties for DUI incidents involving passengers under 16 years of age. The bill also raises the minimum imprisonment for aggravated DUI offenses from 2 days to 6 months and imposes mandatory compliance with chemical dependency education and treatment programs. Overall, the legislation aims to deter repeat offenders and enhance public safety on the roads.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 45-2-101, 61-8-1007
HB0816_1(1): 45-2-101, 61-8-1007
HB0816_1(2): 45-2-101, 61-8-1007
HB0816_1(3): 45-2-101, 61-8-1007
HB0816_1(4): 45-2-101, 61-8-1007
HB0816_1(5): 45-2-101, 61-8-1007
HB0816_1(6): 45-2-101, 61-8-1007
HB0816_1: 45-2-101, 61-8-1007