32-23-4.9. Punishment for sixth or subsequent offense--Revocation of driving privilege--Jail sentence for driving while privilege revoked--Limited driving privilege for certain purposes. If a conviction for a violation of § 32-23-1 is for a sixth offense, or subsequent offense, and the person had at least five convictions of § 32-23-1 occurring within twenty-five years of the violation being charged, and at least two of those prior convictions having occurred within ten years, the violation is an aggravated offense and the person is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

The court, in pronouncing sentencing, shall order that the driver license of any person so convicted be revoked for a period of not less than three years from the date the sentence is imposed or three years from the date of initial release from imprisonment, whichever is later. If the person is returned to imprisonment prior to the completion of the period of driver license revocation, time spent imprisoned does not count toward fulfilling the period of revocation. If the person is convicted of driving without a license during that period, the person shall be sentenced to the county jail for not less than twenty days, which sentence may not be suspended. Notwithstanding § 23A-27-19, the court retains jurisdiction to modify the conditions of the license revocation for the term of such revocation.

Upon the person's successful completion of a court-approved chemical dependency counseling program and proof of financial responsibility pursuant to § 32-35-113, the court may permit the person to operate a vehicle for the purposes of employment, 24/7 sobriety testing, attendance at school, or attendance at counseling programs.

For each person convicted under this section and placed on probation, parole, or released from prison due to a suspended sentence, the person's supervision shall include at least one of the following: enrollment in an alcohol or drug accountability program, ignition interlock, breath alcohol interlock, an alcohol monitoring bracelet, or another enhanced monitoring tool. Supervision of the offender shall be overseen by the Unified Judicial System if the sentence does not include a term of imprisonment in the penitentiary or by the Department of Corrections if the sentence includes a term of imprisonment in the penitentiary. Any offender supervised pursuant to this section is not excluded from earned discharge credit as otherwise authorized by statute.

If, during the period of supervision imposed under this section, the person being supervised violates conditions, the offender shall be penalized according to the graduated sanctions policy to be established by the Supreme Court or the Department of Corrections, respectively.

Source: SL 2013, ch 101, § 63; SL 2015, ch 170, § 1.