Are Other States Likely to Follow Utah’s Drop to .05?
Earlier this summer, The Oregonian reported that Oregon lawmakers had begun discussing lowering the State’s legal drinking-driving limit to .05 percent Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). This would follow in Utah’s footsteps which enacted legislation officially lowering their drinking limit to that standard. Utah is the first in the country to reduce the legal drinking limit and it isn’t the first time they’ve led the way. When studies showed that reducing the legal drinking limit from .10% to .08% BAC would reduce drunk driving fatalities, Utah was one of the first as well. Soon, every other state fell in line. So, is history repeating itself?
It wouldn’t be surprising if other States followed suit. Safety advocates such as the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have been huge proponents of lowering the limit for years. In a report published by the NTSB, regulators argue that all “states should to lower their legal BAC levels to 0.05 percent – or even lower.”
In addition to Oregon, other lawmakers have taken up the issue. Washington and Hawaii have both had legislation introduced which would reduce the BAC limit. While neither has passed (to date), it has started the conversation. Many countries around the globe have already reduced drinking limits including Canada, Germany, France and Australia just to name a few.
It is important to note, that even if a state has not enacted legislation lowering the drinking limit, you can still face criminal charges for driving with a BAC under .08%. Many toxicologists will argue that people are impaired with a BAC of .05% and therefore “under the influence” of alcohol. Depending on state laws, you could still face drunk driving charges or may be eligible for a reduction such as a “wet reckless” in California which indicates that you were driving while impaired by alcohol.
Read the full Oregon Live/Oregonian article here: “Lawmakers discuss bill to drop Oregon’s drinking limit to .05“