Legal Question in Criminal Law in District of Columbia

Which Washington D.C. code section allows for driver's licenses to be suspended for Marijuana charges? Thanks!


Asked on 12/02/10, 3:23 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Phillip M. Cook Cook Legal Services, LLC

Distict of Columbia Statutes

Division VIII. GENERAL LAWS

Title 50. Motor and Non-Motor Vehicles and Traffic

Subtitle IV. MOTORIZED VEHICLE REGISTRATION, INSPECTION, LICENSING

Chapter 14. Operators' Permits

Subchapter II. Revocation and Suspension of Permit

Current through 2006 Legislative Session

� 50-1403.01. Revocation or suspension; new permit after revocation; nonresidents; penalty for operation with revoked or suspended license [Formerly Section 40-302]

(a) Except where for any violation of this subchapter revocation of the operator's permit is mandatory or where suspension or revocation is mandatory for accumulated point totals pursuant to Chapter 3 of Title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, the Mayor or his designated agent may revoke or suspend an operator's permit for any cause which he or his agent may deem sufficient; provided, that in each case where a permit is revoked or suspended the reasons therefor shall be set out in the order of revocation or suspension; provided further, that such order shall take effect 5 days after its issuance unless the holder of the permit shall have filed within such period, written application with the Mayor of the District of Columbia for a review of his order or the order of his agent, and, if upon such review, the Mayor shall sustain such order, the same shall become effective immediately; provided further, that application to said Mayor for a review shall not operate as a stay of such order of the Mayor or his agent when the order has been issued revoking or suspending a permit on account of mental or physical incapacity, for driving while the individual's blood contains .08% or more, by weight, of alcohol, or while .38 micrograms or more of alcohol are contained in 1 milliliter of the individual's breath, consisting substantially of alveolar air, or while the individual's urine contains .10% or more, by weight, of alcohol, or while under the influence of intoxicating liquor OR ANY DRUG or any combination thereof, or while the ability to operate a vehicle is impaired by the consumption of intoxicating liquor; for manslaughter when an automobile is involved, or for operating a motor vehicle equipped with a smoke screen. {EMPHASIS ADDED}

(b) In case the operator's permit of any individual is revoked no new permit shall be issued to such individual for at least 6 months after the revocation except in the discretion of the Mayor or his designated agent.

(c) The Mayor of the District of Columbia, or his designated agent, may suspend or revoke the right of any nonresident person as defined in � 50-1401.02, to operate a motor vehicle in the District of Columbia, for any cause he or his agent may deem sufficient, and the proper authority at the place of issuance of the permit, or other authority to operate a motor vehicle shall be notified of such suspension and the reason therefor, immediately; provided, that such order of suspension or revocation shall take effect 10 days after its issuance, and the same be subject to review and appeal in the manner and under the same conditions as are provided for such matters in subsection (a) of this section.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the provisions of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act (� 2-501 et seq.) and particularly those of � 2-509, shall apply to each proceeding, decision, or other administrative action specified in this subchapter.

(e) Any individual found guilty of operating a motor vehicle in the District during the period for which the individual's license is revoked or suspended, or for which his right to operate is suspended or revoked, shall, for each such offense, be fined not to exceed $5,000 or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both.

Best of luck.

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Answered on 12/07/10, 5:08 am


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