Bill > S1703

This bill aims to enhance protections for individuals facing hearings at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) concerning their driver's licenses, particularly when the suspension or revocation is related to a suspected mental or physical handicap. Key provisions include requiring a written petition from a qualified medical doctor or emergency medical technician, supported by medical evidence, before the registrar can suspend or revoke a license based on such suspicions. Furthermore, if a license is suspended or revoked under these circumstances, the operator is guaranteed a hearing within three business days, with the option to postpone it for up to thirty days. In hearings where a physical or mental handicap is a factor in potential license suspension or revocation, the hearing must generally occur within 14 days of the event triggering the RMV's action, unless all parties agree otherwise. During these hearings, the registrar will consider all submitted evidence, and any medical evidence presented will be made public for the hearing's duration only, with strict rules against its dissemination afterward, imposing significant liability for violations. Medical evidence will only be accepted if provided by a licensed medical professional, and the registrar must issue a written decision on the license status within seven days of the hearing.