DUI Refusal Substance Abuse Fine (H 5471 A, S 58 A)

We opposed legislation that would impose a $300 “substance abuse education fee” for any conviction of driving under the influence or for a violation of refusal to submit to a breathalyzer, and noted that the General Assembly must recognize the consequences of the continued effort to impose harsher financial penalties on individuals for violations of the law. DUI violators currently face steep financial penalties which can have a huge impact for themselves and their families, and we argued that tacking on yet another significant fine only ensures that many violators remain caught in a cycle of government-imposed debt which makes their housing and job stability much less secure. Fortunately, the Sub A of this bill which ultimately passed and was signed did not include this fee.