Utah § 6a-521.1 - Driver license denial or revocation for a criminal conviction for a refusal to submit to a chemical test violation.
Full text of Utah Utah Code § 6a-521.1 — Driver license denial or revocation for a criminal conviction for a refusal to submit to a chemical test violation., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 6a-521.1. Driver license denial or revocation for a criminal conviction for a refusal to submit to a chemical test violation.
Effective 5/3/2023 41-6a-521.1.
Driver license denial or revocation for a criminal conviction for a refusal to submit to a chemical test violation.
(1)
Except as provided in Subsection (7) or (8), the Driver License Division shall, if the person is 21 years old or older at the time of arrest:
(a)
revoke for a period of 18 months the operator's license of a person convicted for the first time under Subsection 41-6a-520.1(1); or
(b)
revoke for a period of 36 months the license of a person if:
(i)
the person has a prior conviction as defined under Section 41-6a-501; and
(ii)
the current refusal to submit to a chemical test violation under Subsection 41-6a-520.1(1) is committed within a period of 10 years from the date of the prior violation.
(2)
The Driver License Division shall, if the person is under 21 years old at the time of arrest:
(a)
revoke the person's driver license until the person is 21 years old or for a period of two years, whichever is longer;
(b)
revoke the person's driver license until the person is 21 years old or for a period of 36 months, whichever is longer, if:
(i)
the person has a prior conviction as defined under Section 41-6a-501; and
(ii)
the current refusal to submit to a chemical test violation under Subsection 41-6a-520.1(1) is committed within a period of 10 years from the date of the prior violation; or
(c)
if the person has not been issued an operator license:
(i)
deny the person's application for a license or learner's permit until the person is 21 years old or for a period of two years, whichever is longer; or
(ii)
deny the person's application for a license or learner's permit until the person is 21 years old or for a period of 36 months, whichever is longer, if:
(A)
the person has a prior conviction as defined under Section 41-6a-501; and
(B)
the current refusal to submit to a chemical test violation under Subsection 41-6a-520.1(1) is committed within a period of 10 years from the date of the prior violation.
(3)
The Driver License Division shall suspend or revoke the license of a person as ordered by the court under Subsection (5).
(4)
The Driver License Division shall subtract from any revocation period the number of days for which a license was previously revoked under Section 41-6a-521 if the previous revocation was based on the same occurrence upon which the record of conviction under Subsection 41-6a-520.1(1) is based.
(5)
(a)
(i)
In addition to any other penalties provided in this section, a court may order the driver license of a person who is convicted of a violation of Subsection 41-6a-520.1(1) to be revoked for an additional period of 90 days, 120 days, 180 days, one year, or two years to remove from the highways those persons who have shown they are safety hazards.
(ii)
The additional revocation period provided in this Subsection (5) shall begin the date on which the individual would be eligible to reinstate the individual's driving privilege for a violation of Subsection 41-6a-520.1(1).
(b)
If the court suspends or revokes the person's license under this Subsection (5), the court shall prepare and send to the Driver License Division an order to suspend or revoke that person's driving privileges for a specified period of time.
(6)
(a)
The court shall notify the Driver License Division if a person fails to:
(i)
complete all court ordered:
(A)
screening;
(B)
assessment;
(C)
educational series;
(D)
substance abuse treatment; and
(E)
hours of work in a compensatory-service work program; or
(ii)
pay all fines and fees, including fees for restitution and treatment costs.
(b)
Upon receiving the notification described in Subsection (6)(a), the Driver License Division shall suspend the person's driving privilege in accordance with Subsections 53-3-221(2) and (3).
(7)
(a)
If a person elects to become an interlock restricted driver under Subsection 41-6a-521(7), the Driver License Division may not revoke the operator's license as described in Subsection (1)(a) unless the person fails to complete three years of the interlock restriction under Subsection 41-6a-521(7).
(b)
If a person elects to become an interlock restricted driver under Subsection 41-6a-521(7) and the person fails to complete the full three years of interlock restriction, the Driver License Division:
(i)
shall revoke the operator's license as described in Subsection (1)(a), effective on the date the ignition interlock was removed from the vehicle; and
(ii)
may not subtract any days from the revocation period under Subsection (7)(b)(i) for days during which the person was compliant with the interlock restriction under Subsection 41-6a-521(7).
(8)
(a)
The Driver License Division may shorten a person's revocation period imposed under Subsection (1) before the completion of the person's revocation period if:
(i)
the person is participating in or has successfully completed a 24-7 sobriety program as defined in Section 41-6a-515.5; and
(ii)
the reporting court:
(A)
shortens the person's operator's license revocation period due to the person's participation in or successful completion of a 24-7 sobriety program; and
(B)
forwards the order shortening the person's operator's license revocation period to the Driver License Division in the manner specified by the Driver License Division.
(b)
A reporting court shall notify the Driver License Division, in the manner specified by the Driver License Division, if a person fails to complete all requirements of a 24-7 sobriety program.
(c)
Upon receiving a notification described in Subsection (8)(b), for a first offense, the Driver License Division:
(i)
shall revoke the person's operator's license for a period of 18 months from the date of the notice; and
(ii)
may not subtract any days from the revocation period under Subsection (8)(c)(i) for which the operator's license was previously revoked under this section or Section 41-6a-521, or suspended under Section 53-3-223, if the previous suspension was based on the same occurrence upon which the conviction under this section is based.
(d)
Upon receiving a notification described in Subsection (8)(b), for a second or subsequent offense, the Driver License Division:
(i)
shall revoke the person's operator's license for a period of three years from the date of the notice; and
(ii)
may not subtract any days from the revocation period under Subsection (8)(d)(i) for which the operator's license was previously revoked under this section or Section 41-6a-521, or suspended under Section 53-3-223, if the previous revocation was based on the same occurrence upon which the conviction under this section is based.
Amended by Chapter 384, 2023 General Session Amended by Chapter 415, 2023 General Session
Section 6a-521.1 ("Driver license denial or revocation for a criminal conviction for a refusal to submit to a chemical test violation.") is part of the Utah Code, the codified statutory law of Utah. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Utah § 6a-521.1?
A common citation format is "Utah Code § 6a-521.1" (Utah). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Utah law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Utah official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Utah attorney.
How does Utah § 6a-521.1 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Utah can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
