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.