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Senate advances OWI modernization bill but retains debate over pre-conviction license suspension
Summary
SB 251 consolidates operating-while-intoxicated statutes (land/air/water) and updates procedural rules; the panel approved it for appropriations after traffic prosecutors urged keeping judges' pre-conviction suspension tools to address risky drivers.
The committee moved SB 251, a modernization of operating-while-intoxicated (OWI/OVWI) law that consolidates vehicle definitions (land, air, water) and harmonizes specialized-driving-privilege procedures. Sponsor described the bill as a cleanup measure to reduce patchwork rules across counties and to modernize how the statutes apply to watercraft and aircraft as well as cars.
Traffic-prosecution representatives, including Chris Daniels (traffic-safety resource prosecutor), said they opposed removing judges' pre-conviction authority to suspend licenses in certain immediate-risk cases because suspensions plus specialized-driving privileges (SDPs) are tools judges use to address overdoses and drivers who present immediate danger. Daniels said pre-conviction suspensions are often limited in time and provide courts with options like ignition interlocks and treatment conditions.
Public defenders praised consolidation for clarity but noted concerns about an earlier sponsor proposal that would have eliminated some pre-conviction suspension authority; the sponsor reinserted a refusal-suspension provision as an amendment and the bill moved to appropriations on a 7-2 vote with senators expressing continuing reservations and requests for follow-up.
Next steps: The bill will be considered in appropriations where fiscal and procedural impacts will be vetted further.
Provenance: Sponsor remarks, traffic-prosecutor testimony, public-defender support for some parts, and final committee roll recorded in the transcript.
