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Senate Judiciary advances SB 620, raising administrative suspensions for breath‑test refusals
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to pass SB 620 as amended, increasing administrative license suspension (ALS) for first refusal to 12 months and to three years for subsequent refusals; supporters cited high refusal rates and safety gains while some legal experts warned of constitutional and CDL‑notification concerns.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on the record voted to pass Senate Bill 620 as amended, a measure that would lengthen administrative license suspensions for drivers who refuse chemical testing after a DWI stop.
The committee adopted an amendment that raises the administrative suspension for a first refusal to 12 months and to three years for subsequent refusals. Committee members moved the amended bill to the consent calendar and passed it in a voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll‑call tally.
Supporters from the Department of Safety told the panel the change aims to reduce New Hampshire’s high refusal rate and bring administrative penalties closer to criminal consequences for serious intoxication. "This is a…
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