Lawmakers in Utah are weighing one of the strictest DUI laws in the country, and legislators in Massachusetts are paying close attention.
Lawmakers voted to lower the legal limit of a motorist’s blood-alcohol content to 0.05 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, down from 0.08 grams, which is the standard for criminal DUI laws across the nation.
Supporters of this more stringent threshold say it’s going to save lives because it will compel more people to stay off the road if they’ve been drinking – even a little. However, those who oppose the measure say it’s going to hurt tourism. Utah is already seen as a rather unfriendly place for those who choose to imbibe, they said, and this would further that assumptions. Further, they argued, the law isn’t likely to help drive down DUI injuries and deaths. Even the 0.08 BAC standard doesn’t stop people from getting behind the wheel drunk. Continue reading