61-8-734. Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs -- driving with excessive alcohol concentration -- conviction defined -- place of imprisonment -- home arrest -- exceptions -- deferral of sentence not allowed. (1) (a) For the purpose of determining the number of convictions for prior offenses referred to in 61-8-465, 61-8-714, 61-8-722, or 61-8-731, "conviction" means a final conviction, as defined in 45-2-101, in this state, conviction for a violation of a similar statute or regulation in another state or on a federally recognized Indian reservation, or a forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the defendant's appearance in court in this state, in another state, or on a federally recognized Indian reservation, which forfeiture has not been vacated.

(b) An offender is considered to have been previously convicted for the purposes of sentencing if less than 10 years have elapsed between the commission of the present offense and a previous conviction unless the offense is the offender's third or subsequent offense, in which case all previous convictions must be used for sentencing purposes.

(c) A previous conviction under 61-8-714 or 61-8-722 for violation of 61-8-401, 61-8-406, 61-8-411, or 61-8-465 and a previous conviction for a violation of 45-5-104, 45-5-205, or 45-5-628(1)(e) when the offense under 45-5-104 occurred while the person was operating a vehicle in violation of 61-8-401(1) may be counted for purposes of determining the number of a subsequent conviction for violation of 61-8-401, 61-8-406, 61-8-411, or 61-8-465.

(2) Except as provided in 61-8-731, the court may order that a term of imprisonment imposed under 61-8-465, 61-8-714, 61-8-722, or 61-8-731 be served in another facility made available by the county and approved by the sentencing court. The defendant, if financially able, shall bear the expense of the imprisonment in the facility. The court may impose restrictions on the defendant's ability to leave the premises of the facility and require that the defendant follow the rules of that facility. The facility may be, but is not required to be, a community-based prerelease center as provided for in 53-1-203. The prerelease center may accept or reject a defendant referred by the sentencing court.

(3) Subject to the limitations set forth in 61-8-465, 61-8-714, and 61-8-722 concerning minimum periods of imprisonment, the court may order that a term of imprisonment imposed under those sections be served by imprisonment under home arrest, as provided in Title 46, chapter 18, part 10.

(4) A court may not defer imposition of sentence under 61-8-465, 61-8-714, 61-8-722, or 61-8-731.

(5) The provisions of 61-2-107, 61-5-205(2), and 61-5-208(2), relating to suspension of driver's licenses and later reinstatement of driving privileges, apply to any conviction under 61-8-465, 61-8-714, or 61-8-722 for a violation of 61-8-401, 61-8-406, 61-8-411, or 61-8-465.

History: En. Sec. 11, Ch. 525, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 512, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 224, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 556, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 54, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 149, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 282, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 153, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 312, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 424, L. 2015.