I. Except as otherwise provided in this section:
(a) Any person who is convicted of any offense under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:2, I shall be:

Attorney's Note

Under the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class B felonyup to 7 yearsup to $4,000
Class A misdemeanorup to 1 yearup to $2,000
Class B misdemeanor[none]up to $1,200
For details, see N.H. Rev. Stat. 651:2
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Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 265-A:18

  • Alcohol: shall mean any substance containing any form of alcohol, including but not limited to, ethanol, methanol, propanol and isopropanol. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:3-a
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Conviction: shall mean an adjudication of guilt which has not been annulled or vacated, a determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the law in a court of original jurisdiction or an administrative proceeding, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the person's appearance in court, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere accepted by the court, the payment of a fine or court costs, or the violation of a condition of release without bail, regardless of whether the penalty is rebated, suspended or otherwise affected by probation. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:14
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Department: shall mean the department of safety of the state of New Hampshire. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:19
  • Director: shall mean the director of the division of motor vehicles of the department of safety. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:20
  • Division: shall mean the division of motor vehicles in the department of safety. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:22
  • Driver: shall mean a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle as defined in N. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:25
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of these laws, shall mean the section next preceding or following that in which such reference is made, unless some other is expressly designated. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:13
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • License: shall mean any driver's license or any other license or permit to drive a vehicle issued under the laws of this state or a reciprocating state including:
    I. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:48
  • Motor vehicle: shall mean :
    I. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:60
  • Nonresident: shall mean :
    I. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:67
  • Off highway recreational vehicle: shall mean any mechanically propelled vehicle used for pleasure or recreational purposes running on rubber tires, tracks, or cushion of air and dependent on the ground or surface for travel, or other unimproved terrain whether covered by ice or snow or not, where the driver sits in or on the vehicle. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:69
  • Person: shall mean the same as provided in N. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:74
  • petition: when used in connection with the equity jurisdiction of the superior court, and referring to a document filed with the court, shall mean complaint, and "petitioner" shall mean plaintiff. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:51
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
  • Revocation: shall mean the termination by formal action of the department or of a court of competent jurisdiction of a person's driver's license or privilege to drive on the ways of this state, or of any other license, registration or permit issued by the department. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:90
  • State: shall mean :
    I. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:106
  • Suspension: shall mean the temporary withdrawal by formal action of the department or of a court of competent jurisdiction of a person's driver's license or privilege to drive a vehicle on the ways of this state, or any other license, registration or permit issued by the department, which temporary withdrawal shall be for a period specifically designated by the department or court and until the reissuance of the license, registration, permit or privilege. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:107
  • Vehicle: shall mean :
    I. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 259:122

(1) Guilty of a class B misdemeanor;
(2) Fined not less than $500;
(3) Referred by the court to an IDCMP and, if a first-time offender, required to submit to an alcohol and drug abuse screening within 14 days of conviction, and, if testing demonstrates the likelihood of a substance use disorder, to submit further to a full substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of conviction, to be administered by a service provider indicated by the IDCMP, and thereafter to follow the service plan developed from that substance use disorder evaluation by the IDCMP;
(4) Required to complete a department of health and human services approved impaired driver education program prior to the restoration of the person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive; provided however, that if the person has previously completed such a program within the past 5 years and provides required proof, that shall serve as fulfillment of this requirement;
(5) Required to pay all fees arising from services provided by the IDCMP and its referrals for the service plan; and
(6) Subject to the following:
(A) The person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than 9 months and, at the discretion of the court, such revocation may be extended for a period not to exceed 2 years. The court may suspend up to 6 months of this sentence, provided that the person has been screened within 14 days and, if required, has completed the substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days with a service provider indicated by an IDCMP and is in compliance with the service plan produced thereafter, and has completed a department of health and human services approved impaired driver education program. The court may, in its discretion, require the installation of an interlock device in accordance with N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:36 during the period of sentence reduction, and may reimpose the longer suspension period if the defendant becomes noncompliant with the treatment recommendations at any time during the suspension period;
(B) The sentencing court may require the person to submit to random urinalysis or such other tests as the court may deem appropriate; and
(C) The court in which the person was convicted may reduce the conviction to a violation upon a motion filed by either party at least one year after the date of the conviction. In deciding whether to reduce the conviction to a violation, the court may consider the person’s subsequent driving record, the recommendation of the IDCMP, the hardship that having a criminal record may cause for the person, and any other factors that the court deems relevant.
(b) Any person who is convicted of any aggravated DWI offense under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:3, except as provided in subparagraph (c), shall be:
(1) Guilty of a class A misdemeanor;
(2) Fined not less than $750;
(3) Sentenced to a mandatory sentence of not less than 17 consecutive days in the county correctional facility, of which 12 days shall be suspended. The court shall refer the person to an IDCMP to schedule a full substance use disorder evaluation. A condition of the suspension shall be that upon release from serving the 5 days in the county correctional facility, the person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of release, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and comply with the service plan developed. The IDCMP shall administer the substance use disorder evaluation and shall develop the service plan from that substance use disorder evaluation. Any portion of the suspended sentence to the county correctional facility may be imposed if the defendant does not comply with all of the requirements of this subparagraph or becomes noncompliant with the service plan during the suspension period;
(4) Ordered to install an interlock device in accordance with N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:36; and
(5) Subject to the following:
(A) The person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than 18 months and, at the discretion of the court, such revocation may be extended for a period not to exceed 2 years. Upon confirmation from the IDCMP that the person is in full compliance with the service plan, the court may suspend up to 6 months of this sentence, with the condition that an interlock device be installed for the period of the suspended sentence in addition to any period required in accordance with N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:36 and provided that all fees have been paid; and
(B) The sentencing court may require the person to submit to random urinalysis or such other tests as the court may deem appropriate.
(c) Any person who is convicted of aggravated DWI under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:3, I(b) or II(b), shall be:
(1) Guilty of a class B felony;
(2) Fined not less than $1,000;
(3) Sentenced to a mandatory sentence of not less than 35 consecutive days in the county correctional facility, of which 21 shall be suspended. The court shall refer the person to an IDCMP to schedule a full substance use disorder evaluation. A condition of the suspension shall be that upon release from serving the 14 days in the county correctional facility, the person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of release, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and comply with the service plan developed. The IDCMP shall administer the substance use disorder evaluation and shall develop the service plan from that substance use disorder evaluation. Any portion of the suspended sentence to the county correctional facility may be imposed if the defendant does not comply with all of the requirements of this subparagraph or becomes noncompliant with the service plan during the suspension period;
(4) Ordered to install an interlock device in accordance with N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:36; and
(5) Subject to the following:
(A) The person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than 18 months and, at the discretion of the court, such revocation may be extended for a period not to exceed 2 years. The court may suspend up to 6 months of this sentence, provided that the person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of release, or upon release from the county correctional facility, whichever occurs later, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release with a service provider indicated by an IDCMP, and the service plan produced thereafter, with the condition that an interlock device be installed for the period of the suspended sentence in addition to any period required in accordance with N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:36 and provided that all fees have been paid; and
(B) The sentencing court may require the person to submit to random urinalysis or such other tests as the court may deem appropriate.
II. Any person convicted of a violation of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:19, II shall be subject to the penalties set out in this section for a violation of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:3. Any person convicted of a violation of any other provision in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:19 or a violation of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:2, II shall be subject to the penalties set out in this section for a violation of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:2, I.
III. Any person who is convicted of an offense under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:2, I or N.H. Rev. Stat. § 630:3, II, and whose offense occurred while the person was under the age of 21, shall be sentenced according to the provisions of this section, except that in all cases the person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than one year. The person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation with a service provider indicated by an IDCMP within 30 days of conviction, or upon release from the correctional facility, whichever occurs later, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, comply with the service plan developed by the IDCMP, and complete an approved impaired driver education program if not previously completed within the past 5 years.
IV. Upon conviction of any offense under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:2, I or N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:3, based on a complaint which alleged that the person has had one or more prior convictions under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:2, I or N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:3, or N.H. Rev. Stat. § 630:3, II, or under reasonably equivalent offenses in an out-of-state jurisdiction, within 10 years preceding the date of the second or subsequent offense, the person shall be subject to the following penalties in addition to those provided in paragraph I:
(a) For a second offense:
(1) The person shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor;
(2) The person shall be fined not less than $750;
(3)(A) If the complaint alleges that the prior conviction occurred within 2 years preceding the date of the second offense, the person shall be sentenced to a mandatory sentence of not less than 60 consecutive days in the county correctional facility, of which 30 days shall be suspended. The court shall refer the person to an IDCMP to schedule a full substance use disorder evaluation. A condition of the suspension shall be that upon release from serving the 30 days in the county correctional facility, the person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of release, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and comply with the service plan developed. The IDCMP shall administer the substance use disorder evaluation and shall develop the service plan from that substance use disorder evaluation. Any portion of the suspended sentence to the county correctional facility may be imposed if the defendant does not comply with all of the requirements of this subparagraph or becomes noncompliant with the service plan during the suspension period;
(B) If the complaint alleges that the prior conviction occurred more than 2 but not more than 10 years preceding the date of the second offense, the person shall be sentenced to a mandatory sentence of not less than 17 consecutive days in the county correctional facility, of which 12 days shall be suspended. The court shall refer the person to an IDCMP to schedule a full substance use disorder evaluation. A condition of the suspension shall be that upon release from serving the 5 days in the county correctional facility, the person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of release, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and comply with the service plan developed. The IDCMP shall administer the substance use disorder evaluation and shall develop the service plan from that substance use disorder evaluation. Any portion of the suspended sentence to the county correctional facility may be imposed if the defendant does not comply with all of the requirements of this subparagraph or becomes noncompliant with the service plan during the suspension period; and
(4) The person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than 3 years. The person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall not be restored by the department until the person shall have completed the service plan developed by the IDCMP, and paid all relevant fees.
(b) For a third offense, any person convicted under this paragraph shall be subject to all the penalties of subparagraph (a) except that:
(1) The person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall be revoked indefinitely and shall not be restored for at least 5 years. At the end of the 5-year minimum revocation period the person may petition the court for eligibility to reapply for a driver’s license and the court, for good cause shown, may grant such eligibility subject to such terms and conditions as the court may prescribe. Any untimely petition under this subparagraph shall be dismissed without a hearing. If such petition is granted and the person is otherwise eligible for license restoration, the person may then apply to the director for restoration of driver’s license, but the license shall not be restored until all requirements under law are met. The person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall not be restored by the department until the person shall have completed the service plan developed by the IDCMP, and paid all relevant fees.
(2) The person shall be sentenced to a mandatory sentence of not less than 180 consecutive days of which 150 shall be suspended. The court shall refer the person to an IDCMP to schedule a full substance use disorder evaluation. A condition of the suspension shall be that upon release from serving the 30 days in the county correctional facility, the person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of release, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and comply with the service plan developed. The IDCMP shall administer the substance use disorder evaluation and shall develop the service plan from that substance use disorder evaluation. Any portion of the suspended sentence to the county correctional facility may be imposed if the defendant does not comply with all of the requirements of this subparagraph or becomes noncompliant with the service plan during the suspension period. The remainder of the sentence may be deferred for a period of up to 2 years. The court may, at the satisfactory completion of any required treatment, suspend any remaining deferred sentence.
(c) For a fourth or subsequent offense, any person convicted under this paragraph shall be subject to all the penalties of subparagraphs (a) and (b) except that the person shall be guilty of a felony, and the person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall be revoked indefinitely and the person shall not petition for eligibility to reapply for a driver’s license as provided in subparagraph (b)(1) for at least 7 years.
(d) For a third or subsequent offense when any prior offense under this paragraph is negligent homicide under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 630:3, II, or reasonably equivalent offense in an out-of-state jurisdiction, the person convicted under this paragraph shall be subject to all the penalties of subparagraphs (a) and (b) except that the person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall be revoked indefinitely and the person shall not petition for eligibility to reapply for a driver’s license as provided in subparagraph (b)(1) for at least 10 years.
V. If any person is convicted of a violation of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:2, I or N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:3, and the conviction is not based upon a complaint which alleges prior convictions as provided in paragraph IV, but the person is found to have had one or more such prior convictions in this state or in an out-of-state jurisdiction within 10 years preceding the date of the offense, the person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive shall be revoked for not less than one year nor more than 3 years. The court shall refer the person to an IDCMP to schedule a full substance use disorder evaluation. The person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of release, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release, and comply with the service plan developed. The IDCMP shall administer the substance use disorder evaluation and shall develop the service plan from that substance use disorder evaluation. The court may suspend up to 6 months of this sentence, conditional on completion of the required evaluation within 30 days of the court’s finding, completion of the service plan developed by the IDCMP, and payment of all relevant fees.
VI. For the purposes of this section:
(a) “Revocation” or “revoked” means revocation as defined in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 259:90 and also includes, if the person is a nonresident, the revocation of the person’s privilege as an out-of-state driver to drive on any ways of this state.
(b) “Out-of-state jurisdiction” includes any governmental entity that issues driver’s licenses that are valid for operating a motor vehicle on the ways of this state as provided in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 263:37, and that has laws relating to driving while impaired that are reasonably equivalent to the laws of this state.
(c) “IDCMP” means an impaired driver care management program approved by the department of health and human services under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:40.
VII. No portion of the minimum mandatory sentence of imprisonment and no portion of the mandatory sentence of the period of revocation and no portion of any fine imposed under this section shall be suspended or reduced by the court. No case brought to enforce this section shall be continued for sentencing for longer than 35 days. No person serving the minimum mandatory sentence under this section shall be discharged pursuant to authority granted under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651:18, released pursuant to authority granted under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 651:19, or in any manner, except as provided in N.H. Rev. Stat. § 623:1, prevented from serving the full amount of such minimum mandatory sentence under any authority granted by RSA title LXII or any other provision of law.
VIII. Any person convicted of a violation of N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:2, N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:3, or N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:19, II, and who at the time of driving or attempting to drive a vehicle or off highway recreational vehicle or operating or attempting to operate a boat was transporting a person under the age of 16, shall have the driver’s license or privilege to drive revoked for the maximum time period under the section violated and the person’s license or privilege to drive shall not be restored until the offender has completed an IDCMP screening within 14 days of conviction, and if testing demonstrates the likelihood of a substance use disorder, the person shall schedule a substance use disorder evaluation within 30 days of conviction or within 30 days of release from the correctional facility, whichever occurs later, complete the required substance use disorder evaluation within 60 days of release from the correctional facility, comply with the service plan developed from the substance abuse disorder evaluation by the IDCMP, and complete a department of health and human services approved impaired driver education program prior to the restoration of the person’s driver’s license or privilege to drive; provided however, that if the person has previously completed such a program within the past 5 years and provides required proof, that shall serve as fulfillment of this requirement.
IX. Any conviction under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:2, I or N.H. Rev. Stat. § 265-A:3 shall be reported to the department of safety, division of motor vehicles, and shall become a part of the motor vehicle driving record of the person convicted.
X. When any provision of this section requires a person to schedule, submit to, or complete an alcohol and drug abuse screening or substance use disorder evaluation within a specified number of days, or makes such a condition of eligibility for suspension of a period of license revocation or other sentence, a person may comply with the requirement within the time period specified or as soon thereafter as any extenuating circumstances approved by the department of health and human services allow.