TITLE XXI
MOTOR VEHICLES

CHAPTER 265-A
ALCOHOL OR DRUG IMPAIRMENT

Driving or Operating Under the Influence of Drugs or Liquor

Section 265-A:14

    265-A:14 Refusal of Consent. –

[Paragraph I effective until January 1, 2027; see also paragraph I set out below.]


I. If a person under arrest for any violation or misdemeanor under RSA 265 or RSA 215-A refuses upon the request of a law enforcement officer, authorized agent, or peace officer to submit to physical tests or to a test of blood, urine, or breath designated by the law enforcement officer, authorized agent, or peace officer to as provided in RSA 265-A:4, none shall be given, but:
(a) If this is the first refusal with no prior driving or operating while intoxicated or aggravated driving or operating while intoxicated convictions:
(1) The director shall suspend his or her license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 180 days; or
(2) If the person is a resident without a license or permit to drive a motor vehicle in this state, the director shall deny to the person the privilege to drive and the issuance of a license for a period of 180 days after the date of the alleged violation.
(b) If the person has a prior driving or operating while intoxicated or aggravated driving or operating while intoxicated conviction or a prior refusal of consent under this section:
(1) The director shall suspend his or her license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 2 years; or
(2) If the person is a resident without a license or permit to drive a motor vehicle in this state, the director shall deny to the person the privilege to drive and the issuance of a license for a period of 2 years after the date of the alleged violation.

[Paragraph I effective January 1, 2027; see also paragraph I set out above.]


I. If a person under arrest for any violation or misdemeanor under RSA 265 or RSA 215-A refuses upon the request of a law enforcement officer, authorized agent, or peace officer to submit to physical tests or to a test of blood, urine, or breath designated by the law enforcement officer, authorized agent, or peace officer to as provided in RSA 265-A:4, none shall be given, but:
(a) If this is the first refusal with no prior driving or operating while intoxicated or aggravated driving or operating while intoxicated convictions:
(1) The director shall suspend his or her license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 9 months; or
(2) If the person is a resident without a license or permit to drive a motor vehicle in this state, the director shall deny to the person the privilege to drive and the issuance of a license for a period of 9 months after the date of the alleged violation.
(b) If the person has one or more prior convictions under RSA 265-A:2, I, RSA 265-A:3, RSA 630:3, II, or under a reasonably equivalent offense in an out-of-state jurisdiction as defined in RSA 265-A:18, VI(b) or a prior refusal of consent under this section or under a reasonably equivalent law in an out-of-state jurisdiction as defined in RSA 265-A:18, VI(b):
(1) The director shall suspend his or her license to drive or nonresident driving privilege for a period of 3 years; or
(2) If the person is a resident without a license or permit to drive a motor vehicle in this state, the director shall deny to the person the privilege to drive and the issuance of a license for a period of 3 years after the date of the alleged violation.

[Paragraph II effective until January 1, 2027; see also paragraph II set out below.]


II. Except as provided in paragraph VI, the 180-day or 2-year suspension period or denial of issuance period imposed pursuant to this section shall not run concurrently with any other penalty imposed under the provision of this title. Any such suspension or denial of a license or privilege to drive shall be imposed in addition to any other penalty provided by law, subject to review as provided in RSA 265-A:31.

[Paragraph II effective January 1, 2027; see also paragraph II set out above.]


II. Except as provided in paragraph VI, the 9-month or 3-year suspension period or denial of issuance period imposed pursuant to this section shall not run concurrently with any other penalty imposed under the provision of this title. Any such suspension or denial of a license or privilege to drive shall be imposed in addition to any other penalty provided by law, subject to review as provided in RSA 265-A:31.
III. A refusal of consent for both post-arrest physical testing and testing of blood, urine, or breath following any one arrest shall be deemed one refusal for the purposes of this section.
IV. The provisions and penalties of this section, relative to the refusal of consent, shall apply to any person under arrest for any violation or misdemeanor involving the operation of a boat and upon satisfactory proof of the following:
(a) That the authorized agent or peace officer had reasonable grounds to believe the arrested person had been operating, had been attempting to operate, or was in actual physical control of a boat upon the public waters of this state while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or controlled drugs, prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or any other chemical substances, natural or synthetic, which impair a person's ability to drive or any combination thereof;
(b) That the person has been arrested;
(c) That the person refused to submit to the test upon request of the authorized agent or peace officer;
(d) That the agent or officer informed the person arrested that his or her refusal to submit to such a test would result in the loss of his or her privilege to operate a boat on the waters of the state and the loss of his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle on the ways of this state; and
(e) That the agent or officer informed the arrested person of his or her right to have a similar test or tests conducted by a person of his or her own choosing.
V. If a person's license or privilege to drive is suspended under paragraph I or IV, the person's privilege to operate a boat on the waters of the state shall also be suspended for the same period of time.
VI. The commissioner, after a hearing and for good cause shown, may authorize the concurrent running of a suspension period or denial of issuance period imposed pursuant to this section, to be applied retroactively, if:
(a) The person's license or privilege to drive has been continuously suspended or revoked for 10 years or more;
(b) The person has no conviction for negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, or equivalent out-of-state offense, and no more than 2 lifetime convictions for driving under the influence of drugs or liquor or aggravated driving while intoxicated, or equivalent out-of-state offense; and
(c) The person has not driven a motor vehicle for 10 years or more and has not held a driver's license in any state during that time.

[Paragraph VII effective January 1, 2027.]


VII. In conjunction with a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to an offense resulting in a conviction under RSA 265-A:2 or RSA 265-A:3, the court may suspend up to 180 days of the license suspension imposed pursuant to this section.

Source. 2006, 260:1. 2008, 316:2. 2010, 107:1. 2012, 56:1, 2, eff. May 14, 2012; 267:11, eff. Jan. 1, 2013. 2026, 26:1, 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2027.