A BILL to amend and reenact section nine, article three, chapter seventeen-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended; and to amend and reenact sections forty-three and forty-nine, article fifteen, chapter seventeen-c of said code, all relating to the safe operation and use of motor vehicles; establishing a fee for reinstatement of driver's licenses; reducing the blood alcohol content threshold for driving under the influence; increasing fine for second offense driving under the influence; requiring public notice by the governor's committee on crime and delinquency on new blood alcohol threshold; assessing an additional fee for persons convicted for driving under the influence; requiring notice to state by defendant for certain defenses; reducing the threshold for children's blood alcohol content for prima facie showing of driving under the influence ; prohibiting plea bargaining of certain cases; reducing blood alcohol content threshold for drivers licenses administrative revocation hearings; removing certain requirements relating to drivers licenses administrative revocation hearings; requiring all new and used automobiles to be equipped with safety seat belts for all seating locations; prohibiting children from riding in certain cargo areas; and making the offense of failure to wear a safety belt a primary offense and changing the penalty therefor.

That section nine, article three, chapter seventeen-b of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted; that sections two, six-a and eight, article five, chapter seventeen-c

CHAPTER 17B. MOTOR VEHICLE DRIVER'S LICENSES.

ARTICLE 3. CANCELLATION, SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSES.

§17B-3-9. Surrender and return of license not required.
The division, upon suspending or revoking a license, shall not require that the license be surrendered to and be retained by the division. The surrender of a license shall not be a precondition to the commencement and tolling of any applicable period of suspension or revocation: Provided, That before the license may be reinstated, the licensee shall pay a fee of fifteen dollars, in addition to all other fees and charges, which shall be collected by the division and deposited in a special revolving fund to be appropriated to the division for use in the enforcement of the provisions of this section: Provided, however, That when any license is suspended for failure to maintain motor vehicle liability insurance, the reinstatement fee is fifty dollars. Further, before the license may be reinstated, the licensee shall pay costs of fifteen dollars, in addition to all other fees and charges, which shall be collected by the division and deposited in a special revenue account in the state treasury. Expenditures from the account shall be made by the executive director of public defender services to provide legal representation of persons accused of violations of section two, article five, chapter seventeen-c of this code when the representation is authorized pursuant to the provisions of article twenty-one, chapter twenty- nine of this code. Expenditures from the fund are not authorized from collections but are to be made only in accordance with appropriation by the Legislature and in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twelve of this code and upon the fulfillment of the provisions set forth in article two, chapter five-a of this code: Provided, further, That for the fiscal year ending the thirtieth day of June, two thousand four, expenditures are authorized from collections rather than pursuant to an appropriation by the Legislature.

CHAPTER 17C. TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND LAWS OF THE ROAD.
ARTICLE FIVE. SERIOUS TRAFFIC OFFENSES.

§17C-5-2. Driving under influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs; enhanced penalties for certain offenses.

(a) Any person who:
(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while he or she:
(A) Is under the influence of alcohol; or
(B) Is under the influence of any controlled substance; or
(C) Is under the influence of any other drug; or
(D) Is under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug; or
(E) Has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight; and
(2) When so driving does any act forbidden by law or fails to perform any duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle, which act or failure proximately causes the death of any person within one year next following the act or failure; and
(3) Commits the act or failure in reckless disregard of the safety of others, and when the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs is shown to be a contributing cause to the death, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than ten years and shall be fined not less than one thousand dollars nor more than three thousand dollars.
(b) Any person who:
(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while he or she:
(A) Is under the influence of alcohol; or
(B) Is under the influence of any controlled substance; or
(C) Is under the influence of any other drug; or
(D) Is under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug; or
(E) Has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight; and
(2) When so driving does any act forbidden by law or fails to perform any duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle, which act or failure proximately causes the death of any person within one year next following the act or failure, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not less than ninety days nor more than one year and shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.
(c) Any person who:
(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while he or she:
(A) Is under the influence of alcohol; or
(B) Is under the influence of any controlled substance; or
(C) Is under the influence of any other drug; or
(D) Is under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug; or
(E) Has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight; and
(2) When so driving does any act forbidden by law or fails to perform any duty imposed by law in the driving of the vehicle, which act or failure proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than himself or herself, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not less than one day nor more than one year, which jail term is to include actual confinement of not less than twenty-four hours, and shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.
(d) Any person who:
(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while he or she:
(A) Is under the influence of alcohol; or
(B) Is under the influence of any controlled substance; or
(C) Is under the influence of any other drug; or
(D) Is under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug; or
(E) Has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight;
(2) Is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not less than one day nor more than six months, which jail term is to include actual confinement of not less than twenty-four hours, and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
(e) Any person who, being an habitual user of narcotic drugs or amphetamine or any derivative thereof, drives a vehicle in this state, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not less than one day nor more than six months, which jail term is to include actual confinement of not less than twenty-four hours, and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
(f) Any person who:
(1) Knowingly permits his or her vehicle to be driven in this state by any other person who:
(A) Is under the influence of alcohol; or
(B) Is under the influence of any controlled substance; or
(C) Is under the influence of any other drug; or
(D) Is under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug; or
(E) Has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight;
(2) Is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not more than six months and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
(g) Any person who knowingly permits his or her vehicle to be driven in this state by any other person who is an habitual user of narcotic drugs or amphetamine or any derivative thereof, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not more than six months and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars.
(h) Any person under the age of twenty-one years who drives a vehicle in this state while he or she has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, for a first offense under this subsection, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars. For a second or subsequent offense under this subsection, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for twenty-four hours, and shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars. A person who is charged with a first offense under the provisions of this subsection may move for a continuance of the proceedings from time to time to allow the person to participate in the vehicle alcohol test and lock program as provided for in section three-a, article five-a of this chapter. Upon successful completion of the program, the court shall dismiss the charge against the person and expunge the person's record as it relates to the alleged offense. In the event the person fails to successfully complete the program, the court shall proceed to an adjudication of the alleged offense. A motion for a continuance under this subsection may not be construed as an admission or be used as evidence.
A person arrested and charged with an offense under the provisions of subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (i) of this section may not also be charged with an offense under this subsection arising out of the same transaction or occurrence.
(i) Any person who:
(1) Drives a vehicle in this state while he or she:
(A) Is under the influence of alcohol; or
(B) Is under the influence of any controlled substance; or
(C) Is under the influence of any other drug; or
(D) Is under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug; or
(E) Has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight; and
(2) The person when so driving has on or within the motor vehicle one or more other persons who are unemancipated minors who have not reached their sixteenth birthday, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not less than two days nor more than twelve months, which jail term is to include actual confinement of not less than forty-eight hours, and shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.
(j) A person violating any provision of subsection (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (i) of this section, for the second offense under this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in the county or regional jail for not less than six months nor more than one year, and the court may, in its discretion, impose a fine of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars nor more than three thousand dollars.
(k) A person violating any provision of subsection (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (i) of this section, for the third or any subsequent offense under this section, is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for not less than one nor more than three years, and the court may, in its discretion, impose a fine of not less than three thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars.
(l) For purposes of subsections (j) and (k) of this section relating to second, third and subsequent offenses, the following types of convictions are to be regarded as convictions under this section:
(1) Any conviction under the provisions of subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) of the prior enactment of this section for an offense which occurred on or after the first day of September, one thousand nine hundred eighty-one, and prior to the effective date of this section;
(2) Any conviction under the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of the prior enactment of this section for an offense which occurred within a period of five years immediately preceding the first day of September, one thousand nine hundred eighty-one; and
(3) Any conviction under a municipal ordinance of this state or any other state or a statute of the United States or of any other state of an offense which has the same elements as an offense described in subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of this section, which offense occurred after the tenth day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-three.
(m) A person may be charged in a warrant or indictment or information for a second or subsequent offense under this section if the person has been previously arrested for or charged with a violation of this section which is alleged to have occurred within the applicable time periods for prior offenses, notwithstanding the fact that there has not been a final adjudication of the charges for the alleged previous offense. In that case, the warrant or indictment or information must set forth the date, location and particulars of the previous offense or offenses. No person may be convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this section unless the conviction for the previous offense has become final.
(n) The fact that any person charged with a violation of subsection (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this section, or any person permitted to drive as described under subsection (f) or (g) of this section, is or has been legally entitled to use alcohol, a controlled substance or a drug does not constitute a defense against any charge of violating subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g) of this section.
(o) For purposes of this section, the term "controlled substance" has the meaning ascribed to it in chapter sixty-a of this code.
(p) The sentences provided herein upon conviction for a violation of this article are mandatory and may not be subject to suspension or probation: Provided, That the court may apply the provisions of article eleven-a, chapter sixty-two of this code to a person sentenced or committed to a term of one year or less. An order for home detention by the court pursuant to the provisions of article eleven-b, chapter sixty-two of this code may be used as an alternative sentence to any period of incarceration required by this section. An order for supervision or participation in a community corrections program created pursuant to article eleven-c, chapter sixty-two of this code may be used as an alternative sentence to any period of incarceration required by this section.
(q) The governor's committee on crime and delinquency, in cooperation with the division of motor vehicles, the division of highways and the West Virginia state police, shall disseminate information related to changing the blood alcohol threshold for per se DUI offenses defined under this article from ten hundredths of one percent to eight hundredths of one percent, through any medium generally engaged or employed to inform the public at large or through any specifically targeted group, such as restaurants, bars or convenience stores.

(r) In addition to any and all other costs assessed against a person convicted of an offense under this section, there shall be assessed upon each person who is convicted of an offense under this section, costs of fifty dollars, which costs shall be collected and remitted by the clerk of the court in which the person was convicted to the sheriff as treasurer of the county in which the offense was committed.

§17C-5-6a. Taking a child into custody; driving a motor vehicle with any amount of blood alcohol.

(a) A preliminary breath analysis may be administered to a child whenever a law-enforcement official has reasonable cause to believe the child to have been driving a motor vehicle with any amount of alcohol in his or her blood, for the purpose of determining the child's blood alcohol content. Such breath analysis must be administered as soon as possible after the law- enforcement officer arrives at a reasonable belief that the child has been driving a motor vehicle with any amount of alcohol in his or her blood. Any preliminary breath analysis administered pursuant to this subsection must be administered with a device and in a manner approved by the division of health for that purpose. If a preliminary breath analysis is administered, the results shall be used solely for the purpose of guiding the officer in deciding whether the child, at the time of driving the motor vehicle, had an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, and should therefore be taken into custody to administer a secondary test in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) A child may be taken into custody by a law-enforcement official without a warrant or court order if the official has reasonable grounds to believe the child to have been driving a motor vehicle with any amount of alcohol in his or her blood. If a preliminary breath analysis is administered and the results of the analysis indicate that the child has an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of less than two hundredths of one percent, by weight, the child may not be taken into custody unless other grounds exist under subsection (b), section eight, article five, chapter forty-nine of this code. Upon taking a child into custody pursuant to the provisions of this section, the official shall take all reasonable steps to cause notification to be made to the child's parent or custodian or, if the parent or custodian cannot be located, to a close relative.
(c) Upon taking a child into custody pursuant to this section, the official shall take the child to a facility where a secondary test of the child's blood or urine may be administered at the direction of the official or a test of the child's breath may be administered by the official. The law-enforcement agency by which such law-enforcement official is employed shall designate whether the secondary test is a test of either blood, breath or urine: Provided, That if the test so designated is a blood test and the child refuses to submit to the blood test, then the law-enforcement official taking the child into custody shall designate in lieu thereof a breath test to be administered. Notwithstanding the provisions of section seven of this article, a refusal to submit to a blood test only shall not result in the revocation of the child's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. Any child taken into custody pursuant to this section shall be given a written statement advising him or her that a refusal to submit to a secondary test of either blood, breath or urine, as finally designated by the law-enforcement agency or official in accordance with this subsection, will result in the suspension of his or her license to operate a motor vehicle in this state for a period of at least thirty days or a revocation of the license for a period up to life.
(d) If the law-enforcement official taking the child into custody is employed by a law-enforcement agency which does not have available the testing equipment or facilities necessary to conduct any secondary breath test which may be administered pursuant to the provisions of this section, then the official who took the child into custody may request another qualified person to administer a secondary breath test: Provided, That the breath test shall be administered in the presence of the official who took the child into custody. The results of such breath test may be used in evidence to the same extent and in the same manner as if such test had been conducted by the law-enforcement official who took the child into custody. The qualified person administering the breath test must be a member of the division of public safety, the sheriff of the county wherein the child was taken into custody or any deputy of such sheriff, or a law-enforcement official of another municipality within the county wherein the child was taken into custody. Only the person actually administering the secondary breath test is competent to testify as to the results and the veracity of the test. If the secondary test is a blood test, the test shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of section six of this article.
(e) After taking the child into custody, if the law- enforcement official has reasonable cause to believe that the act of the child in driving the motor vehicle is such that it would provide grounds for arrest for an offense defined under the provisions of section two of this article if the child were an adult, then the official shall proceed to treat the child in the same manner as any other child taken into custody without a warrant or court order,. in accordance with the provisions of section eight of this article.
(f) If the results of any secondary test administered pursuant to this section indicate that the child, at the time of driving the motor vehicle, had an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of ten less than eight hundredths of one percent or less, by weight, and if the law-enforcement official does not have reasonable cause to believe that the act of the child in driving the motor vehicle is such that it would provide grounds for arrest for an offense defined under the provisions of section two of this article if the child were an adult, then the official shall release the child: Provided, That if the results of any secondary test administered pursuant to this section indicate that the child, at the time of driving the motor vehicle, had an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, the child shall only be released to a parent or custodian, or to some other responsible adult.
§17C-5-8. Interpretation and use of chemical test.
(a) Upon trial for the offense of driving a motor vehicle in this state while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or upon the trial of any civil or criminal action arising out of acts alleged to have been committed by any person driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, evidence of the amount of alcohol in the person's blood at the time of the arrest or of the acts alleged, as shown by a chemical analysis of his or her blood, breath or urine, is admissible, if the sample or specimen was taken within two hours from and after the time of arrest or of the acts alleged. The evidence gives rise to the following presumptions or has the following effect:
(1) Evidence that there was, at that time, five hundredths of one percent or less, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood, is prima facie evidence that the person was not under the influence of alcohol;
(2) Evidence that there was, at that time, more than five hundredths of one percent and less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, of alcohol in the person's blood is relevant evidence, but it is not to be given prima facie effect in indicating whether the person was under the influence of alcohol;

(3) Evidence that there was, at that time, ten hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood, shall be admitted as prima facie evidence that the person was under the influence of alcohol.
(b) A determination of the percent, by weight, of alcohol in the blood shall be based upon a formula of:
(1) The number of grams of alcohol per one hundred cubic centimeters of blood;
(2) The number of grams of alcohol per two hundred ten liters of breath;
(3) The number of grams of alcohol per sixty-seven milliliters of urine; or
(4) The number of grams of alcohol per eighty-six milliliters of serum.
(c) A chemical analysis of a person's blood, breath or urine, in order to give rise to the presumptions or to have the effect provided for in subsection (a) of this section, must be performed in accordance with methods and standards approved by the state division of health. A chemical analysis of blood or urine to determine the alcoholic content of blood shall be conducted by a qualified laboratory or by the state police scientific laboratory of the criminal identification bureau of the West Virginia state police.
(d) The provisions of this article do not limit the introduction in any administrative or judicial proceeding of any other competent evidence bearing on the question of whether the person was under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs.
§17C-5-12. Prohibition on certain plea bargaining.
(a) Plea bargaining in any case in which the warrant, indictment or information charges an offense under subsection (j) or (k), section two of this article, and which would allow a defendant to enter a plea to a violation of another subsection of section two of this article, is prohibited, unless there is insufficient evidence to prove the state's case, or testimony of a material witness cannot be obtained.
(b) As used in this section, "plea bargaining" means any bargaining, negotiation, or discussion between a criminal defendant, or his or her counsel, and a prosecuting attorney or judge, whereby the defendant agrees to plead guilty or nolo contendere, in exchange for any promises, commitments, concessions, assurances, or consideration by the prosecuting attorney or judge relating to any charge against the defendant or to the sentencing of the defendant.

ARTICLE 5A. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION OF LICENSES FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES OR DRUGS.

§17C-5A-1. Implied consent to administrative procedure; revocation for driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or refusal to submit to secondary chemical test.

(a) Any person who is licensed to operate a motor vehicle in this state and who drives a motor vehicle in this state shall be deemed to have given his or her consent by the operation thereof, subject to the provisions of this article, to the procedure set forth in this article for the determination of whether his or her license to operate a motor vehicle in this state should be revoked because he or she did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or combined influence of alcohol or controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an alcoholic concentration in his or her blood of ten hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or did refuse to submit to any designated secondary chemical test, or did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten hundredths of one percent, by weight. did drive a vehicle in this state while he or she:
(1) Was under the influence of alcohol; or
(2) Was under the influence of any controlled substance; or
(3) Was under the influence of any other drug; or
(4) Was under the combined influence of alcohol and any controlled substance or any other drug; or
(5) Had an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight

(6) Did refuse to submit to any designated secondary chemical test; or
(7) Did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than eight hundredths of one percent, by weight.

(b) Any law-enforcement officer arresting a person for an offense described in section two, article five of this chapter or for an offense described in a municipal ordinance which has the same elements as an offense described in said section

two of article five shall report to the commissioner of the division of motor vehicles by written statement within forty-eight hours the name and address of the person so arrested. The report shall include the specific offense with which the person is charged and, if applicable, a copy of the results of any secondary tests of blood, breath or urine. The signing of the statement required to be signed by this subsection shall constitute an oath or affirmation by the person signing the statement that the statements contained therein are true and that any copy filed is a true copy. The statement shall contain upon its face a warning to the officer signing that to willfully sign a statement containing false information concerning any matter or thing, material or not material, is false swearing and is a misdemeanor.
(c) If, upon examination of the written statement of the officer and the tests results described in subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner shall determine that a person was arrested for an offense described in section

two, article five of this chapter or for an offense described in a municipal ordinance which has the same elements as an offense described in said section two of article five, and that the results of any secondary test or tests indicate that at the time the test or tests were administered the person had, in his or her blood, an alcohol concentration of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or at the time the person was arrested he or she was under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, the commissioner shall make and enter an order revoking the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. If the results of the tests indicate that at the time the test or tests were administered the person was under the age of twenty-one years and had an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner shall make and enter an order suspending the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. A copy of the order shall be forwarded to the person by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall contain the reasons for the revocation or suspension and describe the applicable revocation or suspension periods provided for in section two of this article. No revocation or suspension shall become effective until ten days after receipt of a copy of the order.
(d) Any law-enforcement officer taking a child into custody under the provisions of section six-a, article five of this chapter who has reasonable cause to believe that the child, at the time of driving the motor vehicle, had an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or that the act of the child in driving the motor vehicle was such that it would provide grounds for arrest for an offense defined under the provisions of section two, article five of this chapter if the child were an adult, shall report to the commissioner of the division of motor vehicles by written statement within forty-eight hours the name and address of the child.
(e) If applicable, the report shall include a description of the specific offense with which the child could have been charged if the child were an adult, and a copy of the results of any secondary tests of blood, breath or urine. The signing of the statement required to be signed by this subsection shall constitute an oath or affirmation by the person signing such statement that the statements contained therein are true and that any copy filed is a true copy. Such statement shall contain upon its face a warning to the officer signing that to willfully sign a statement containing false information concerning any matter or thing, material or not material, is false swearing and is a misdemeanor.
(f) Upon examination of the written statement of the officer and any test results described in subsection (d) of this section, if the commissioner determines that the results of the tests indicate that at the time the test or tests were administered the child had, in his or her blood, an alcohol concentration of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but also determines that the act of the child in driving the motor vehicle was not such that it would provide grounds for arrest for an offense defined under the provisions of subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g), section two, article five of this chapter if the child were an adult, the commissioner shall make and enter an order suspending the child's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. If the commissioner determines that the act of the child in driving the motor vehicle was such that it would provide grounds for arrest for an offense defined under the provisions of subsection (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g), section two, article five of this chapter if the child were an adult, the commissioner shall make and enter an order revoking the child's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. A copy of such order shall be forwarded to the child by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall contain the reasons for the suspension or revocation and describe the applicable suspension or revocation periods provided for in section two of this article. No suspension or revocation shall become effective until ten days after receipt of a copy of such order.

§17C-5A-1a. Revocation upon conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs.

(a) If a person is convicted for an offense defined in section

two of article five, because the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or the combined influence of alcohol or controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an alcoholic concentration in his or her blood of ten hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten hundredths of one percent, by weight, and if the person does not act to appeal the conviction within the time periods described in subsection (b) of this section, the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state shall be revoked or suspended in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) The clerk of the court in which a person is convicted for an offense described in section two, article five of this chapter or for an offense described in a municipal ordinance which has the same elements as an offense described in said section two of article five, shall forward to the commissioner a transcript of the judgment of conviction. If the conviction is the judgment of a magistrate court, the magistrate court clerk shall forward the transcript when the person convicted has not requested an appeal within twenty days of the sentencing for such conviction. If the conviction is the judgment of a mayor or police court judge or municipal court judge, the clerk or recorder shall forward the transcript when the person convicted has not perfected an appeal within ten days from and after the date upon which the sentence is imposed. If the conviction is the judgment of a circuit court, the circuit clerk shall forward the transcript when the person convicted has not filed a notice of intent to file a petition for appeal or writ of error within thirty days after the judgment was entered.
(c) If, upon examination of the transcript of the judgment of conviction, the commissioner shall determine that the person was convicted for an offense described in section two, article five of this chapter or for an offense described in a municipal ordinance which has the same elements as an offense described in said section

hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner shall make and enter an order suspending the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state. The order shall contain the reasons for the revocation or suspension and the revocation or suspension periods provided for in section two of this article. Further, the order shall give the procedures for requesting a hearing which is to be held in accordance with the provisions of section two of this article. The person shall be advised in the order that because of the receipt of a transcript of the judgment of conviction by the commissioner a presumption exists that the person named in the transcript of the judgment of conviction is the person named in the commissioner's order and such constitutes sufficient evidence to support revocation or suspension and that the sole purpose for the hearing held under this section is for the person requesting the hearing to present evidence that he or she is not the person named in the transcript of the judgment of conviction. A copy of the order shall be forwarded to the person by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. No revocation or suspension shall become effective until ten days after receipt of a copy of the order.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply if an order reinstating the operator's license of the person has been entered by the commissioner prior to the receipt of the transcript of the judgment of conviction.
(e) For the purposes of this section, a person is convicted when the person enters a plea of guilty or is found guilty by a court or jury.

§17C-5A-2. Hearing; revocation; review.
(a) Upon the written request of a person whose license to operate a motor vehicle in this state has been revoked or suspended under the provisions of section one of this article or section seven, article five of this chapter, the commissioner of motor vehicles shall stay the imposition of the period of revocation or suspension and afford the person an opportunity to be heard. The written request must be filed with the commissioner in person or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, within thirty calendar days after receipt of a copy of the order of revocation or suspension or no hearing will be granted. The hearing shall be before the commissioner or a hearing examiner retained by the commissioner who shall rule on evidentiary issues and submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law for the consideration of the commissioner and all of the pertinent provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code shall apply. The hearing shall be held at an office of the division located in or near the county wherein the arrest was made in this state or at some other suitable place in the county wherein the arrest was made if an office of the division is not available.
(b) Any such hearing shall be held within one hundred eighty days after the date upon which the commissioner received the timely written request therefor, unless there is a postponement or continuance. The commissioner may postpone or continue any hearing on the commissioner's own motion, or upon application for each person for good cause shown. The commissioner shall adopt and implement by a procedural rule written policies governing the postponement or continuance of any such hearing on the commissioner's own motion or for the benefit of any law-enforcement officer or any person requesting the hearing, and such policies shall be enforced and applied to all parties equally. For the purpose of conducting the hearing, the commissioner shall have the power and authority to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum in accordance with the provisions of section one, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code: Provided, That the notice of hearing to the appropriate law-enforcement officers by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, shall constitute a subpoena to appear at the hearing without the necessity of payment of fees by the division of motor vehicles.
(c) Law-enforcement officers shall be compensated for the time expended in their travel and appearance before the commissioner by the law-enforcement agency by whom they are employed at their regular rate if they are scheduled to be on duty during said time or at their regular overtime rate if they are scheduled to be off duty during said time.
(d) The principal question at the hearing shall be whether the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or did refuse to submit to the designated secondary chemical test, or did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight.
The commissioner may propose a legislative rule in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, which rule may provide that if a person accused of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or accused of driving a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or accused of driving a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, intends to challenge the results of any secondary chemical test of blood, breath or urine, or intends to cross-examine the individual or individuals who administered the test or performed the chemical analysis, the person shall, within an appropriate period of time prior to the hearing, notify the commissioner in writing of such intention. The rule may provide that when there is a failure to comply with the notice requirement, the results of the secondary test, if any, shall be admissible as though the person and the commissioner had stipulated the admissibility of such evidence. Any such rule shall provide that the rule shall not be invoked in the case of a person who is not represented by counsel unless the communication from the commissioner to the person establishing a time and place for the hearing also informed the person of the consequences of the person's failure to timely notify the commissioner of the person's intention to challenge the results of the secondary chemical test or cross-examine the individual or individuals who administered the test or performed the chemical analysis.
(e) In the case of a hearing wherein a person is accused of driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or accused of driving a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or accused of driving a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty- one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner shall make specific findings as to: (1) Whether the arresting law- enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person to have been driving while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or while having an alcohol concentration in the person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or to have been driving a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight; (2) whether the person was lawfully placed under arrest for an offense involving driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or was lawfully taken into custody for the purpose of administering a secondary test; and (3) whether the tests, if any, were administered in accordance with the provisions of this article and article five of this chapter.
(f) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner also finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person when so driving did an act forbidden by law or failed to perform a duty imposed by law, which act or failure proximately caused the death of a person and was committed in reckless disregard of the safety of others, and if the commissioner further finds that the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs or the alcohol concentration in the blood was a contributing cause to the death, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of ten years: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be for the life of the person.
(g) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, the commissioner also finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person when so driving did an act forbidden by law or failed to perform a duty imposed by law, which act or failure proximately caused the death of a person, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of five years: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be for the life of the person.
(h) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, the commissioner also finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person when so driving did an act forbidden by law or failed to perform a duty imposed by law, which act or failure proximately caused bodily injury to a person other than himself or herself, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of two years: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be ten years: Provided, however, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license more than once under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be for the life of the person.
(i) If the commissioner finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's blood of ten hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, or finds that the person, being an habitual user of narcotic drugs or amphetamine or any derivative thereof, did drive a motor vehicle, or finds that the person knowingly permitted the person's vehicle to be driven by another person who was under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or knowingly permitted the person's vehicle to be driven by another person who had an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of six months: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be ten years: Provided, however, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license more than once under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be for the life of the person.
(j) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner also finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person when so driving did an act forbidden by law or failed to perform a duty imposed by law, which act or failure proximately caused the death of a person, and if the commissioner further finds that the alcohol concentration in the blood was a contributing cause to the death, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of five years: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be for the life of the person.
(k) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner also finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person when so driving did an act forbidden by law or failed to perform a duty imposed by law, which act or failure proximately caused bodily injury to a person other than himself or herself, and if the commissioner further finds that the alcohol concentration in the blood was a contributing cause to the bodily injury, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of two years: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be ten years: Provided, however, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license more than once under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be for the life of the person.
(l) If the commissioner finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the age of twenty-one years with an alcohol concentration in his or her blood of two hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, but less than ten eight hundredths of one percent, by weight, the commissioner shall suspend the person's license for a period of sixty days: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of this section or section one of this article, the period of revocation shall be for one year, or until the person's twenty- first birthday, whichever period is longer.
(m) If, in addition to a finding that the person did drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs, or did drive a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration in the person's blood of ten eight hundredths of one percent or more, by weight, the commissioner also finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the person when so driving did have on or within the motor vehicle another person who has not reached his or her sixteenth birthday, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license for a period of one year: Provided, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be ten years: Provided, however, That if the commissioner has previously suspended or revoked the person's license more than once under the provisions of this section or section one of this article within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest, the period of revocation shall be for the life of the person.
(n) For purposes of this section, where reference is made to previous suspensions or revocations under this section, the following types of criminal convictions or administrative suspensions or revocations shall also be regarded as suspensions or revocations under this section or section one of this article:
(1) Any administrative revocation under the provisions of the prior enactment of this section for conduct which occurred within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest.
(2) Any suspension or revocation on the basis of a conviction under a municipal ordinance of another state or a statute of the United States or of any other state of an offense which has the same elements as an offense described in section two, article five of this chapter, for conduct which occurred within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest.
(3) Any revocation under the provisions of section seven, article five of this chapter, for conduct which occurred within the ten years immediately preceding the date of arrest.
(o) In the case of a hearing wherein a person is accused of refusing to submit to a designated secondary test, the commissioner shall make specific findings as to: (1) Whether the arresting law-enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving a motor vehicle in this state while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs; (2) whether the person was lawfully placed under arrest for an offense relating to driving a motor vehicle in this state while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs; (3) whether the person refused to submit to the secondary test finally designated in the manner provided in section four, article five of this chapter; and (4) whether the person had been given a written statement advising the person that the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state would be revoked for at least one year and up to life if the person refused to submit to the test finally designated in the manner provided in section four, article five of this chapter.
(p) If the commissioner finds by a preponderance of the evidence that: (1) The arresting law-enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to believe the person had been driving a motor vehicle in this state while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs; (2) the person was lawfully placed under arrest for an offense relating to driving a motor vehicle in this state while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs; (3) the person refused to submit to the secondary chemical test finally designated; and (4) the person had been given a written statement advising the person that the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state would be revoked for a period of at least one year and up to life if the person refused to submit to the test finally designated, the commissioner shall revoke the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state for the periods specified in section seven, article five of this chapter. The revocation period prescribed in this subsection shall run concurrently with any other revocation period ordered under this section or section one of this article arising out of the same occurrence.
(q) If the commissioner finds to the contrary with respect to the above issues, the commissioner shall rescind his or her earlier order of revocation or shall reduce the order of revocation to the appropriate period of revocation under this section, or section seven, article five of this chapter.
A copy of the commissioner's order made and entered following the hearing shall be served upon the person by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. During the pendency of any such hearing, the revocation of the person's license to operate a motor vehicle in this state shall be stayed.
If the commissioner shall after hearing make and enter an order affirming the commissioner's earlier order of revocation, the person shall be entitled to judicial review as set forth in chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The commissioner may not stay enforcement of the order. The court may grant a stay or supersedeas of the order only upon motion and hearing, and a finding by the court upon the evidence presented, that there is a substantial probability that the appellant shall prevail upon the merits, and the appellant will suffer irreparable harm if the order is not stayed: Provided, That in no event shall the stay or supersedeas of the order exceed one hundred fifty days. Notwithstanding the provisions of section four, article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, the commissioner may not be compelled to transmit a certified copy of the transcript of the hearing to the circuit court in less than sixty days.
(r) In any revocation or suspension pursuant to this section, if the driver whose license is revoked or suspended had not reached the driver's eighteenth birthday at the time of the conduct for which the license is revoked or suspended, the driver's license shall be revoked or suspended until the driver's eighteenth birthday, or the applicable statutory period of revocation or suspension prescribed by this section, whichever is longer.
(s) Funds for this section's hearing and appeal process may be provided from the drunk driving prevention fund, as created by section forty-one, article two, chapter fifteen of this code, upon application for such funds to the commission on drunk driving prevention.
ARTICLE 15. EQUIPMENT.

§17C-15-43. Vehicles to be equipped with safety belts.
No dealer in new or used automobiles shall sell, lease, transfer or trade, at retail, any passenger automobile which is manufactured after the first day of January, one, one thousand nine hundred sixty-five, unless such the vehicle is equipped with safety seat belts for the front seat, all seating locations, which seat belts shall meet the standards set and approved by the society of automotive engineers, inc applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards

§17C-15-49. Operation of vehicles with safety belts; exception; penalty; civil actions; educational program by division of West Virginia state police.

(a) Effective the first day of September, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three two thousand three, a person may not operate a passenger vehicle on a public street or highway of this state unless the person, any passenger in the back seat under eighteen years of age, and any passenger in the front seat of such the

term does not include a motorcycle, a trailer, or any motor vehicle which is not required on the date of the enactment of this section under a federal motor vehicle safety standard to be equipped with a belt system. The provisions of this section shall apply to all passenger vehicles manufactured after the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred sixty-seven, and being 1968 models and newer.
(b) The required use of safety belts as provided herein does not apply to a duly appointed or contracted rural mail carrier of the United States postal service who is actually making mail deliveries or to a passenger or operator with a physically disabling condition whose physical disability would prevent appropriate restraint in such the

restraint is inappropriate. The division of motor vehicles shall adopt rules, in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to establish a method to certify the physical disability and to require use of an alternative restraint system where feasible or to waive the requirement for the use of any restraint system.
(c) The transportation of any child under the age of sixteen in the enclosed or open cargo area of any passenger vehicle, van, pickup truck, or towed uncovered open bed trailer is prohibited on any street or highway of this state and shall be a violation of this section: Provided, That this section does not apply to any motor vehicle operated as a part of an official or properly authorized and controlled parade or special event, or while engaged in farm work off the streets or highways of this state.

(c)(d) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than twenty-five dollars. No court costs or other fees shall be assessed for a violation of this section. Enforcement of this section shall be accomplished only as a secondary action when a driver of a passenger vehicle has been detained for probable cause of violating another section of this code.
(d)(e) A violation of this section is not admissible as evidence of negligence or contributory negligence or comparative negligence in any civil action or proceeding for damages, and shall may

(

(f)(g) Commencing the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three, the governor's highway safety program, in cooperation with the division of public safety West Virginia state police and any other state departments or agencies and with county and municipal law-enforcement agencies, shall initiate and conduct an educational program designed to encourage compliance with safety belt usage laws. This program shall be focused on the effectiveness of safety belts, the monetary savings and the

other benefits to the public from usage of safety belts and the requirements and penalties specified in this law.
(g)(h) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to abrogate or alter the provisions of section forty-six of this article relating to the mandatory use of child passenger safety devices.