A proposed bill in the Oklahoma Senate would impose additional restrictions on those convicted of a drunk driving offense, including prohibiting them from purchasing and consuming alcohol for a certain period of time after the alleged offense.
State Sen. Patrick Anderson proposed the new regulations under Senate Bill 30. This law essentially would prohibit those convicted on DUI charges from buying or consuming alcohol for a probationary period, which would be determined by a judge during sentencing.
According to the bill, this could apply if a person is convicted of operating a vehicle or being in control of a motor vehicle while he or she was under the influence of alcohol. This would be applied no matter the type of DUI offense, even if it is a person’s first offense.
The bill also would require that a notation of this new restriction be affixed to the person’s driver license at the time it is reinstated. This means any time a person has to present identification, he or she is revealing the previous conviction with the notice “Alcohol Restricted.” Additionally, a notice of the order must be given to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.
The restriction would remain on the driver’s license for the entirety of the period that the court determines, according to the bill. The restriction may be modified or removed by order of the court, and if this is done, notice of the order must be given to the department.
Once the restriction period has expired, the department would remove the restriction. However, the driver likely would have to get another license to have the notification of the restriction removed. This could be a costly and timely punishment.
If a person fails to meet the requirements under the new law, he or she could face additional penalties. According to the bill, a violation “may be punished as deemed proper by the sentencing court.” This means the penalties could vary depending on the situation.
Additionally, it would be considered a felony offense to knowingly sell, deliver or furnish alcoholic beverages to a person who has been ordered to abstain or refrain from consuming alcohol. Violating this could mean a fine between $500 and $1,000, up to one year in jail or both.
Currently in Ohio, when a driver is convicted of a DUI, or OVI offense, he or she can face several harsh penalties, including jail time, expensive fines and ignition interlock devices. No matter the charge, it can be beneficial to have an experienced Columbus DUI defense attorney on your side.
