Drug Court May Grant Restricted Driving Privileges

The Governor has signed a bill amending I.C. Section 18-8002 to permit drug court participants to obtain restricted driving privileges.

Senate Bill 1153 provides that when a person is enrolled in and is a participant in good standing in drug court "he shall be eligible for restricted noncommercial driving privileges for the purpose of getting to and from work, school or an alcohol treatment program, which may be granted by the presiding judge of the drug court." Three additional requirements must be met:

1. The participant must serve a period of absolute suspension of driving privileges of at least forty five (45) days;
2. An ignition interlock device must be installed on each of the motor vehicles owned or operated, or both, by the participant; and
3. There must be proof of financial responsibility.

Read the full Bill at: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2009/S1153Bookmark.htm

There is no emergency clause, so the bill will go into effect on July 1.

This is good news for our clients in drug court, especially those who live in rural areas. In fact, this may be the only good news coming out of the Legislature this year. Nevertheless, SCOIDBlog will do a review of the session over the next few weeks.