Bill to lower legal limit nears final vote

By Heather Mangold
City Editor

The bill that would enforce the legal blood-alcohol limit to drop from 0.10 to .08 percent is one step closer to becoming a law, said Sen. Ron Alting, R-22nd.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted out an amendment of the bill, making the Senate and House versions of the bill more similar.

"This is good news and it's positive news," said Alting. "Now we're on the same track."

Alting said that he always thought the amendment would be the one issue that would halt progress for the bill. The amendment that was voted out of the Senate consisted of a provision that would allow first time offenders with a .08 or .09 percent blood-alcohol content to receive different prosecution than repeat offenders.

House Bill 1618 states that the legal blood-alcohol content for Hoosiers would be reduced from 0.10 to .08 percent while operating a motor vehicle or water craft while intoxicated. Current laws in Indiana state that, while operating a motor vehicle or water craft, Hoosiers cannot have a blood-alcohol content of more than 0.10 percent.

Alting said that the Senate's vote on Tuesday was "obviously a very positive step in the right direction to get a vote (for the bill) in this session."

Capt. Mike Francis of the West Lafayette Police Department, said that he is also in favor of the bill that would reduce legal blood-alcohol limits for citizens.

"I think it's a proactive way to save lives and I think everyone is for that," said Francis. "I think people are really tired of people having their loved ones killed on our roads and highways."

Other organizations are in favor of the bill as well.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set rules in 1999 that would give states motivational funds to lower blood-alcohol limits to .08 percent. The funds that would be withheld from Indiana if lawmakers did not adopt this incentive would over $50 million. Lawmakers have until 2007 to implement the new blood-alcohol limit in order to retain the money.

While Alting said that he is positive about the direction that the bill is taking, the amendment that was passed out of the Senate committee on Tuesday could be put back in place when it goes before a conference committee.

The next step for the bill will take place when the Public Policy Committee of the House reviews the Senate's version of the bill, which is expected to happen this week. The bill will go before the Senate floor within the next two weeks for a final vote.

Bill to lower legal limit nears final vote

Governor attempts to protect utility consumers

Group protests animal treatment

CITY DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 250

City editor:
Heather Mangold

To send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org

Purdue Exponent 2001