Relating to participation in the sobriety and drug monitoring program

This bill strikes provisions authorizing a court or governmental entity to order a person to participate in the sobriety and drug monitoring program (program) as a condition of a temporary restricted driver’s license. The bill also eliminates the requirement that a person who has been ordered to participate in the program by a court or governmental entity, and whose driver’s license is suspended or revoked, be eligible for a temporary restricted license before beginning participation in the program or being subject to testing required by the program. The bill strikes the requirement that the department of transportation (DOT) must require a person to participate in the program if the person is required to install an ignition interlock device under Code chapter 321J. The bill also eliminates the requirement that a person must install an approved ignition interlock device on all motor vehicles owned or operated by the person in order to participate in the program. However, the bill does not amend or eliminate any separate requirement to install an approved ignition interlock device that may exist based on the person’s underlying offense. The bill instead requires an order or directive placing a participant in the program to require the participant to submit to the law enforcement agency of the participating jurisdiction proof that the participant has installed an approved ignition interlock device on all motor vehicles owned or operated by the participant prior to the end of participation in the program. However, the bill provides an exception to the ignition interlock device requirement if the participant, at the time the participant completes the program, will be ineligible for a temporary restricted license or will not own a motor vehicle or have a motor vehicle registered in the participant’s name. The bill eliminates the DOT from reporting requirements under Code chapter 901D. The bill repeals a future repeal provision relating to references to the program in Code chapter 321J that are stricken by the bill.10.