HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2334

BYRepresentatives Ferguson, Appelwick, Haugen, Jones, Phillips, May, R. Meyers, Hargrove, Heavey, Holland, Winsley, D. Sommers, Wolfe, Fuhrman, Tate, Youngsman, Rasmussen and Raiter

Changing the blood and breath alcohol content standards for intoxication.

House Committe on Judiciary

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (13)

      Signed by Representatives Appelwick, Chair; Crane, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Republican Member; Forner, Hargrove, Inslee, P. King, Moyer, H. Myers, Schmidt, Scott, D. Sommers and Tate.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  (4)

      Signed by Representatives Belcher, Dellwo, R. Meyers and Wineberry.

House Staff:Bill Perry (786-7123)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

One way to commit the crime of drunk driving (DWI) is to operate or control a motor vehicle while having more than a certain amount of alcohol in one's blood or breath.  The "per se" standard that defines this form of DWI is:  (1) 0.10 grams or more of alcohol per 210 liters of breath; or (2) 0.10 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the blood.  These two standards are considered equivalent measures of the amount of alcohol a person has consumed.

SUMMARY:

The per se standard for DWI is lowered for drivers under the age of 21.  The new standard is:  (1) 0.04 grams or more of alcohol per 210 liters of breath; or (2) 0.04 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the blood.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Pete Youngers, Washington State Council on Alcoholism; Patty Joynes, Washington State Nurses Association; and Harold McClure, Washington State Medical Association.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    There is overwhelming scientific evidence that impairment of driving ability begins at alcohol concentration levels well below the current standards.  Minors are not only more susceptible to the influence of alcohol, they are also substantially over-represented in alcohol-related traffic accidents.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.