The proposed Michelle Sous Law mandates that a blood sample be obtained from any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident that results in death, enhancing accountability and ensuring accurate assessment of intoxication levels in such incidents. The bill introduces new legal language stating that police officers must consider the involvement of a motor vehicle operator in an accident resulting in bodily injury or property damage when determining reasonable grounds for believing the individual was operating the vehicle in violation of the law. This shift broadens the focus from solely fatal accidents to a wider range of incidents that may indicate impaired driving.

Additionally, the bill amends New Jersey's implied consent law to require blood samples, alongside breath tests, for drivers involved in fatal accidents. It specifies that individuals operating vehicles on public roads are deemed to have consented to chemical tests for the presence of substances that impair driving. The legislation also establishes penalties for refusing blood tests, aligning them with existing penalties for refusing breath tests under drunk driving laws. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen the enforcement of driving under the influence laws and improve public safety on the roads.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39:4-50.2, 39:4-50.4