This bill amends the penalties for offenses related to intoxication or being under the influence of drugs while operating a motor vehicle. Specifically, it introduces new criteria for prior convictions that can enhance penalties for subsequent offenses. The bill deletes the reference to RSA 630:3, II as a qualifying prior conviction and inserts a new provision that includes any offense related to motor vehicle operation for which the defendant was sentenced to an alcohol or controlled substance education, treatment, or counseling program within the last ten years. This new subparagraph will be considered a prior conviction when determining penalties for second or subsequent offenses.

The effective date for this legislation is set for January 1, 2027. The fiscal impact of the bill is currently indeterminable, as it may affect the judicial and correctional systems, potentially influencing costs related to prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole for the state and local governments. The bill does not project any revenue changes but acknowledges that the changes in penalties could lead to varying expenditures for the state and counties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265-A:18
HB1248 text: 265-A:18