§291-7 Driving under the influence of drugs. (a) A person commits the offense of driving under the influence of drugs if the person operates or assumes actual physical control of the operation of any vehicle while under the influence of any drug which impairs such person's ability to operate the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner. The term "drug" as used in this section shall mean any controlled substance as defined and enumerated on schedules I through IV of chapter 329.

(b) A person committing the offense of driving under the influence of drugs shall be sentenced as follows without possibility of probation or suspension of sentence:

(1) For a first offense, or any offense not preceded within a five-year period by a conviction under this section, by:

(A) A fourteen-hour minimum drug abuse rehabilitation program, including education and counseling, or other comparable programs deemed appropriate by the court; and

(B) Ninety-day prompt suspension of license with absolute prohibition from operating a motor vehicle during suspension of license, or the court may impose, in lieu of the ninety-day prompt suspension of license, a minimum thirty-day prompt suspension of license with absolute prohibition from operating a motor vehicle and, for the remainder of the ninety-day period, a restriction on the license that allows the person to drive for limited work-related purposes and to participate in drug treatment programs; and

(i) Seventy-two hours of community service work;

(ii) Not less than forty-eight hours of imprisonment; or

(iii) A fine of not less than $150 but not more than $1,000.

(2) For an offense which occurs within five years of a prior conviction under this section:

(A) Prompt suspension of license for a period of one year with the absolute prohibition from operating a motor vehicle during suspension of license;

(B) Either one of the following:

(i) Not less than eighty hours of community service work; or

(ii) Not less than forty-eight consecutive hours of imprisonment; and

(3) For an offense which occurs within five years of two prior convictions under this section, by:

(A) A fine of not less than $500 but not more than $1,000;

(B) Revocation of license for a period not less than one year but not more than five years; and

(4) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any conviction for driving under the influence of drugs shall be considered a prior conviction.

(c) Whenever a court sentences a person pursuant to subsection (b)(2) or (3), it shall also require that the offender be referred to a substance abuse counselor who has been certified pursuant to section 321-193 for an assessment of the offender's drug dependence and the need for treatment. The counselor shall submit a report with recommendations to the court. The court may require the offender to obtain appropriate treatment.

All costs for such assessment or treatment or both shall be borne by the offender.

(d) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, whenever a court revokes a person's driver's license pursuant to the provisions of this section, the examiner of drivers shall not grant to such person an application for a new driver's license for such period as specified by the court.

(e) As used in this section, the terms "driver", "driver's license", and "examiner of drivers" shall have the same meanings as provided in section 286-2; and the term "vehicle" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 291C-1. [L 1949, c 283, pt of §1; RL 1955, §311-31; HRS §291-7; gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 221, §4]