HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 ESB 6257

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                        Law & Justice

Title:  An act relating to blood and breath alcohol standards for intoxication.

Brief Description:  Lowering statutory levels for legal alcohol intoxication.

Sponsors:  Senators Strannigan, Roach, Goings, Anderson, Long, Oke, Swecker, Benton, Wood, Stevens, Rasmussen and Patterson.

Brief History:

  Committee Activity:

Law & Justice:  2/24/98, 2/26/98 [DPA].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  Signed by 10 members:  Representatives Sheahan, Chairman; McDonald, Vice Chairman; Sterk, Vice Chairman; Costa, Ranking Minority Member; Carrell; Cody; Kenney; Lambert; Lantz and Robertson.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 3 members:  Representatives Constantine, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Mulliken and Sherstad.

Staff:  Bill Perry (786-7123).

Background:  One of the ways a person is guilty of driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor (DUI) is by driving with a breath or blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10 or higher.  Driving with a BAC that is too high is a "per se" violation of the DUI law.  A per se violation requires only the presence of the required BAC level.  It does not require proof that the driver's ability was impaired.

The current BAC level for a per se violation of the DUI law is 0.10.  This number is the measurement of a person's alcohol concentration either in terms of grams of alcohol per 210 liters of the person's breath, or in terms of percent by weight of alcohol in the person's blood.  The numbers produced by blood or breath testing using these scales are taken as equivalent of each other in measuring a person's alcohol concentration.

This same BAC standard of 0.10 also applies to "administrative per se" suspension or revocation of a driver's license.  This administrative action is taken by the Department of Licensing independently of any criminal charges that may be brought out of the same incident.  This administrative loss of license occurs on a driver's second or subsequent registering of a BAC of 0.10 or higher.

At least 15 states have reduced their per se BAC limits to 0.08.

A provision outside of the DUI law makes it illegal for a minor to drive with a BAC of 0.02 or more.

Summary of Amended Bill:  The DUI per se BAC standard is lowered to 0.08.

The offense of being a minor and driving after consuming alcohol is clarified to limit its application to minors who have a BAC of at least 0.02, but less than the DUI per se BAC limit of 0.08.

Local governments are authorized to submit claims for reimbursement by the Legislature if this act causes additional costs.

Amended Bill Compared to Engrossed Bill:  The amended bill removes authority for local governments not to comply with the act if it results in increased costs.  It also delays the effective date of the act until January 1, 1999.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.  New fiscal note requested on February 19, 1998.

Effective Date of Amended Bill:  The bill takes effect January 1, 1999.

Testimony For:  The scientific evidence is overwhelming that people should not drive with a BAC as high as 0.08.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Strannigan, prime sponsor; Senator Roach (pro); Karolyn Nunnallee, President, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (pro); Don Lennon, President, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Washington Chapter (pro); Bill Hanson, Washington State Patrol Troopers Association (pro); Annette Sandberg, Chief, Washington State Patrol (pro); Tim Schellberg, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (pro); Steve Lind, Washington Traffic Safety Commission (pro); Russ Hauge, Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (pro); and Kathy Gerke, Association of Washington Cities (pro, with concerns re fiscal impact); Mark Sidron, Seattle City Attorney (pro); Evan Simpson, Harborview Injury Prevention Center (pro); Pamela Simpson, citizen (pro); and Cheryl Fox, citizen (pro).