State lawmakers in Washington are making another effort to lower the legal blood alcohol limit for driving under the influence (DUI) from 0.08 to 0.05.
The proposed House Bill 2196 and Senate Bill 5002 also require a public education campaign to inform citizens about the new limit.
Proposed Changes:
The current law deems a person guilty of DUI if they operate a vehicle with a breath or blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. The proposed bills aim to lower this limit to 0.05. Additionally, a DUI threshold of five nanograms or higher applies to marijuana use.
Similarities with Past Legislation:
The House version of the bill is similar to the previous Senate version, which did not pass out of its committee in early 2023. This reintroduction of the bill begs the question of what has changed.
Discussion in Committee:
During a hearing for HB 2196 before the House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry Committee, there was a focus on the public relations campaign that would be funded in part by the federal government. Some committee members questioned why the state is not simply educating people about the existing drunk driving laws.
Support and Opposition:
Support for the bill, based on public testimonies, far outweighs opposition. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste emphasized that lowering the blood alcohol limit has been shown to save lives.
However, there are also concerns raised by opponents, such as the Washington Hospitality Association, arguing that the lowered threshold will burden businesses and that impairment cannot be objectively tested at 0.05.
Key Features of the Bill:
The bill includes three important features:
- Firstly, a public information campaign will be launched by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to educate the public about the changes.
- Secondly, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy will evaluate the impacts of the new regulations and submit a comprehensive report.
- Lastly, the bill introduces legislative findings to clarify that it does not alter current civil liability laws for licensed commercial vendors.
What Are Your Thoughts?
- Do you agree with the proposed lower blood alcohol limit for DUIs? Do you think a public
- education campaign is necessary?
Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!