MO HB1743

Establishes Driving While Intoxicated Tracking System (DWITS) requiring law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and courts to report arrest, charge, and disposition information for intoxication-related offenses to enable statewide tracking.

Creates new offense of refusal to submit to chemical test as a class A misdemeanor for first offense and class D felony for subsequent offenses, with enhanced criminal penalties for refusing breath/blood tests.

Increases penalty for driving while intoxicated to class A misdemeanor when blood alcohol content is 15-hundredths of one percent or more by weight, compared to class B misdemeanor for lower levels.

Restricts municipal court jurisdiction over intoxication-related traffic offenses for defendants with prior alcohol-related convictions, prior refusals to submit to chemical tests, or blood alcohol content of 15-hundredths or more, requiring cases to be transferred to circuit court.

Requires municipal judges and non-licensed judges to receive training on intoxication-related offenses, DWITS reporting requirements, and substance abuse traffic offender programs (SATOP) as condition of serving as judge.