§ 39-20-01 Implied consent to determine alcohol concentration and presence of drugs

Codes > North Dakota Century Code > Title 39 > Chapter 39-20 > 39-20-01 Implied

§ 39-20-01. Implied consent to determine alcohol concentration and presence of drugs

    Any individual who operates a motor vehicle on a highway or on public or private areas to which the public has a right of access for vehicular use in this state is deemed to have given consent, and shall consent, subject to the provisions of this chapter, to a chemical test, or tests, of the blood, breath, or urine for the purpose of determining the alcohol concentration or presence of other drugs, or combination thereof, in the individual's blood, breath, or urine. As used in this chapter, the word “drug” means any drug or substance or combination of drugs or substances which renders an individual incapable of safely driving, and the words “chemical test” or “chemical analysis” mean any test to determine the alcohol concentration or presence of other drugs, or combination thereof, in the individual's blood, breath, or urine, approved by the director of the state crime laboratory or the director's designee under this chapter. The test or tests must be administered at the direction of a law enforcement officer only after placing the individual, except individuals mentioned in section 39-20-03, under arrest and informing that individual that the individual is or will be charged with the offense of driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle upon the public highways while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, drugs, or a combination thereof. For the purposes of this chapter, the taking into custody of a child under section 27-20-13 or an individual under twenty-one years of age satisfies the requirement of an arrest. The law enforcement officer shall also inform the individual charged that refusal of the individual to submit to the test determined appropriate will result in a revocation for up to four years of the individual's driving privileges. The law enforcement officer shall determine which of the tests is to be used. When an individual under the age of eighteen years is taken into custody for violating section 39-08-01 or an equivalent ordinance, the law enforcement officer shall attempt to contact the individual's parent or legal guardian to explain the cause for the custody. Neither the law enforcement officer's efforts to contact, nor any consultation with, a parent or legal guardian may be permitted to interfere with the administration of chemical testing requirements under this chapter. The law enforcement officer shall mail a notice to the parent or legal guardian of the minor within ten days after the test results are received or within ten days after the minor is taken into custody if the minor refuses to submit to testing. The notice must contain a statement of the test performed and the results of that test; or if the minor refuses to submit to the testing, a statement notifying of that fact. The attempt to contact or the contacting or notification of a parent or legal guardian is not a precondition to the admissibility of chemical test results or the finding of a consent to, or refusal of, chemical testing by the individual in custody.