45-5-624. Possession of or unlawful attempt to purchase intoxicating substance -- interference with sentence or court order. (1) A person under 21 years of age commits the offense of possession of an intoxicating substance if the person knowingly consumes, uses, has in the person's possession, or delivers or distributes without consideration an intoxicating substance. A person may not be arrested for or charged with the offense solely because the person was at a place where other persons were possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages or marijuana. A person does not commit the offense if the person consumes or gains possession of an alcoholic beverage because it was lawfully supplied to the person under 16-6-305 or when in the course of employment it is necessary to possess alcoholic beverages or marijuana.

(2) (a) In addition to any disposition by the youth court under 41-5-1512, a person under 18 years of age who is convicted under this section:

(i) for a first offense, shall be fined an amount not less than $100 and not to exceed $300 and:

(A) shall be ordered to perform 20 hours of community service;

(B) shall be ordered, and the person's parent or parents or guardian shall be ordered, to complete and pay all costs of participation in a community-based substance abuse information course that meets the requirements of subsection (8), if one is available; and

(C) if the person has a driver's license, must have the license confiscated by the court for 30 days, except as provided in subsection (2)(b);

(ii) for a second offense, shall be fined an amount not less than $200 and not to exceed $600 and:

(A) shall be ordered to perform 40 hours of community service;

(B) shall be ordered, and the person's parent or parents or guardian shall be ordered, to complete and pay all costs of participation in a community-based substance abuse information course that meets the requirements of subsection (8), if one is available;

(C) if the person has a driver's license, must have the license confiscated by the court for 6 months, except as provided in subsection (2)(b); and

(D) shall be required to complete a chemical dependency assessment and treatment, if recommended, as provided in subsection (7);

(iii) for a third or subsequent offense, shall be fined an amount not less than $300 or more than $900, shall be ordered to perform 60 hours of community service, shall be ordered, and the person's parent or parents or guardian shall be ordered, to complete and pay all costs of participation in a community-based substance abuse information course that meets the requirements of subsection (8), if one is available, and shall be required to complete a chemical dependency assessment and treatment, if recommended, as provided in subsection (7). If the person has a driver's license, the court shall confiscate the license for 6 months, except as provided in subsection (2)(b).

(b) If the convicted person fails to complete the community-based substance abuse information course and has a driver's license, the court shall order the license suspended for 3 months for a first offense, 9 months for a second offense, and 12 months for a third or subsequent offense.

(c) The court shall retain jurisdiction for up to 1 year to order suspension of a license under subsection (2)(b).

(3) A person 18 years of age or older who is convicted of the offense of possession of an intoxicating substance:

(a) for a first offense:

(i) shall be fined an amount not less than $100 or more than $300;

(ii) shall be ordered to perform 20 hours of community service; and

(iii) shall be ordered to complete and pay all costs of participation in a community-based substance abuse information course that meets the requirements of subsection (8);

(b) for a second offense:

(i) shall be fined an amount not less than $200 or more than $600;

(ii) shall be ordered to perform 40 hours of community service; and

(iii) shall be ordered to complete and pay for an alcohol or drug information course at an alcohol or drug treatment program that meets the requirements of subsection (8), which may, in the court's discretion and on recommendation of a licensed addiction counselor, include alcohol or drug treatment, or both;

(c) for a third or subsequent offense:

(i) shall be fined an amount not less than $300 or more than $900;

(ii) shall be ordered to perform 60 hours of community service;

(iii) shall be ordered to complete and pay for an alcohol or drug information course at an alcohol or drug treatment program that meets the requirements of subsection (8), which may, in the sentencing court's discretion and on recommendation of a licensed addiction counselor, include alcohol or drug treatment, or both; and

(iv) in the discretion of the court, shall be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months.

(4) A person under 21 years of age commits the offense of attempt to purchase an intoxicating substance if the person knowingly attempts to purchase an alcoholic beverage or marijuana. A person convicted of attempt to purchase an intoxicating substance shall be fined an amount not to exceed $150 if the person was under 21 years of age at the time that the offense was committed and may be ordered to perform community service.

(5) A defendant who fails to comply with a sentence and is under 21 years of age and was under 18 years of age when the defendant failed to comply must be transferred to the youth court. If proceedings for failure to comply with a sentence are held in the youth court, the offender must be treated as an alleged youth in need of intervention as defined in 41-5-103. The youth court may enter its judgment under 41-5-1512.

(6) A person commits the offense of interference with a sentence or court order if the person purposely or knowingly causes a child or ward to fail to comply with a sentence imposed under this section or a youth court disposition order for a youth found to have violated this section and upon conviction shall be fined $100 or imprisoned in the county jail for 10 days, or both.

(7) (a) A person convicted of a second or subsequent offense of possession of an intoxicating substance shall be ordered to complete a chemical dependency assessment.

(b) The assessment must be completed at a treatment program that meets the requirements of subsection (8) and must be conducted by a licensed addiction counselor. The person may attend a program of the person's choice as long as a licensed addiction counselor provides the services. If able, the person shall pay the cost of the assessment and any resulting treatment.

(c) The assessment must describe the person's level of abuse or dependency, if any, and contain a recommendation as to the appropriate level of treatment, if treatment is indicated. A person who disagrees with the initial assessment may, at the person's expense, obtain a second assessment provided by a licensed addiction counselor or program that meets the requirements of subsection (8).

(d) The treatment provided must be at a level appropriate to the person's alcohol or drug problem, or both, if any, as determined by a licensed addiction counselor pursuant to diagnosis and patient placement rules adopted by the department of public health and human services. Upon the determination, the court shall order the appropriate level of treatment, if any. If more than one counselor makes a determination, the court shall order an appropriate level of treatment based on the determination of one of the counselors.

(e) Each counselor providing treatment shall, at the commencement of the course of treatment, notify the court that the person has been enrolled in a chemical dependency treatment program. If the person fails to attend the treatment program, the counselor shall notify the court of the failure.

(8) (a) A community-based substance abuse information course required under subsection (2)(a)(i)(B), (2)(a)(ii)(B), (2)(a)(iii), or (3)(a)(iii) must be:

(i) approved by the department of public health and human services under 53-24-208 or by a court or provided under a contract with the department of corrections; or

(ii) provided by a hospital licensed under Title 50, chapter 5, part 2, that provides chemical dependency services and that is accredited by the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations to provide chemical dependency services.

(b) An alcohol or drug information course required under subsection (3)(b)(iii) or (3)(c)(iii) must be provided at an alcohol or drug treatment program:

(i) approved by the department of public health and human services under 53-24-208 or by a court or provided under a contract with the department of corrections; or

(ii) provided by a hospital licensed under Title 50, chapter 5, part 2, that provides chemical dependency services and that is accredited by the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations to provide chemical dependency services.

(c) A chemical dependency assessment required under subsection (7) must be completed at a treatment program:

(i) approved by the department of public health and human services under 53-24-208 or by a court or provided under a contract with the department of corrections; or

(ii) provided by a hospital licensed under Title 50, chapter 5, part 2, that provides chemical dependency services and that is accredited by the joint commission on accreditation of healthcare organizations to provide chemical dependency services.

(9) Information provided or statements made by a person under 21 years of age to a health care provider or law enforcement personnel regarding an alleged offense against that person under Title 45, chapter 5, part 5, may not be used in a prosecution of that person under this section. This subsection's protection also extends to a person who helps the victim obtain medical or other assistance or report the offense to law enforcement personnel.

(10) (a) A person under 21 years of age may not be charged or prosecuted under subsection (1) if:

(i) the person has consumed an intoxicating substance and seeks medical treatment at a health care facility or contacts law enforcement personnel or an emergency medical service provider for the purpose of seeking medical treatment;

(ii) the person accompanies another person under 21 years of age who has consumed an intoxicating substance and seeks medical treatment at a health care facility or contacts law enforcement personnel or an emergency medical service provider for the purpose of seeking medical treatment for the other person; or

(iii) the person requires medical treatment as a result of consuming an intoxicating substance and evidence of a violation of this section is obtained during the course of seeking or receiving medical treatment.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection (10), the following definitions apply:

(i) "Health care facility" means a facility or entity that is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by law to administer medical treatment in this state.

(ii) "Medical treatment" means medical treatment provided by a health care facility or an emergency medical service. (See compiler's comments for contingent termination of certain text.)