HARRY HUGHES, Governor                               1439

(Senate Bill 497)

AN ACT concerning

Vehicle Laws - Implied Consent to Alcohol Test -
Penalty for Refusing Alcohol Test

FOR the purpose of providing that any person who drives or
attempts to drive on a highway or on any private
property that is used by the public in general in this
State is deemed to have consented, with certain
limitations, to take a chemical test to determine the
alcohol content of his blood under certain
circumstances; providing that a person may not be
compelled to take a chemical test for alcohol;
providing that the Administration shall suspend the
driver's license or driving privilege of a person for
not less than 60 days nor more than 6 months when that
person has refused to submit to a chemical test for
alcohol when requested to do so by a police officer;
allowing modification of the suspension under certain
circumstances; providing that the detaining officer
shall advise the driver of administrative penalties
that shall be imposed for refusing to take the chemical
test; requiring the officer to file a sworn statement
that the driver was charged and refused the test; and
requiring a resident to sign a statement, at the time
of issuance or renewal of his driver's license, that he
understands his driver's license will be suspended for
refusing to take the required test eliminating the
requirement that a resident sign a consent to submit to
a chemical test; deleting the requirement that the
detaining officer furnish a certain statement; changing
the terminology of the offense of driving while ability
impaired by alcohol to driving while under the
influence of alcohol; and generally relating to consent
to and penalties for refusing a chemical test for
alcohol.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Transportation
Section 16-205.1
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1977 Volume and 1980 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article - Transportation

16-205.1.

(a)(1) As a condition precedent to the issuance or
renewal of any driver's license, the Administration shall