TITLE 37

FOOD, DRUGS, AND OIL

CHAPTER 27

UNIFORM CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

ARTICLE IV

37-2732C.  Using or being under the influence — Penalties. (a) Except as authorized in this chapter, it is unlawful for any person on a public roadway, on a public conveyance, on public property or on private property open to the public, to use or be under the influence of any controlled substance specified in subsection (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of section 37-2705, Idaho Code, or subsection (b), (c) and (d) of section 37-2707, Idaho Code, or subsection (c)(6) of section 37-2709, Idaho Code, or any narcotic drug classified in schedule III, IV or V, except when administered by or under the direction of a person licensed by the state to dispense, prescribe, or administer controlled substances. It shall be the burden of the defense to show that it comes within this exception.

(b)  Any person convicted of violating the provisions of subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than six (6) months, or by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both.

(c)  Any person who is convicted of violating subsection (a) of this section, when the offense occurred within five (5) years of that person being convicted of two (2) or more separate violations of that subsection and who refuses to complete a licensed drug rehabilitation program offered by the court pursuant to subsection (d) shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for a mandatory minimum period of time of not less than one hundred twenty (120) days, nor more than one (1) year. The court may not reduce the mandatory minimum period of incarceration provided in this subsection.

(d)  The court may, when it would be in the interest of justice, permit any person convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this section, punishable under subsection (b) or (c) of this section, to complete a licensed drug rehabilitation program in lieu of part or all of the imprisonment in the county jail. As a condition of sentencing, the court may require the offender to pay all or a portion of the drug rehabilitation program. In order to alleviate jail overcrowding and to provide recidivist offenders with a reasonable opportunity to seek rehabilitation pursuant to this subsection, counties are encouraged to include provisions to augment licensed drug rehabilitation programs in their substance abuse proposals and applications submitted to the state for federal and state drug abuse funds.

(e)  Notwithstanding subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this section, or any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is unlawfully under the influence of cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, heroin, or phencyclidine while in the immediate personal possession of a loaded, operable firearm is guilty of a public offense and is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail or the state prison for not more than one (1) year. As used in this subsection, "immediate possession" includes, but is not limited to, the interior passenger compartment of a motor vehicle.

(f)  Every person who violates subsection (e) of this section is punishable upon the second and each subsequent conviction by imprisonment in the state prison for a period of time not in excess of four (4) years.

(g)  In addition to any fine assessed under this section and notwithstanding the provisions of section 19-4705, Idaho Code, the court may, upon conviction, assess an additional cost to the defendant in the way of restitution, an amount not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200) to the arresting and/or prosecuting agency or entity. These funds shall be remitted to the appropriate fund to offset the expense of toxicology testing.

History:

[37-2732C, added 1996, ch. 261, sec. 1, p. 858; am. 2003, ch. 185, sec. 4, p. 507; am. 2010, ch. 117, sec. 6, p. 255.]