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.08 DWI passes Senate committee <br /> <br />Laura Offerdahl <br /> <br />Last week the Senate Crime Prevention <br />and Public Safety Committee passed <br />SF 58 (Foley), a bill reducing <br />Minnesota's per se blood alcohol <br />concentration (BAC) threshold from <br />.10 to .08. <br /> The committee heard testimony <br />from state agencies and from Mothers <br />Against Drunk Driving about the <br />impacts of a lower BAC threshold on <br />reducing traffic fatalities. A representa- <br />tive from the Office of Traffic Safety <br />also warned legislators that the federal <br />government will begin withholding <br />highway construction dollars if the state <br />fails to adopt a °08 law by this October. <br />The federal government would return <br />withheld funds if the state passes a law <br />before October 2007. <br /> Opponents also registered their <br />concerns with the committee. The <br />Metropolitan Inter-County Association <br />argued counties were already hit hard <br /> <br />by the felony DWI law that went into <br />effect last August, and said lowering <br />the DWI threshold would aggravate <br />the impact on county budgets. The <br />association representing the state's <br />bowling proprietors suggested the bill <br />targets social drinkers and will nega- <br />tively impact on-sale establishments <br />around the state. <br /> Legislative interest in this issue <br />goes back several years, but .08 legisla- <br />tion may be more likely to pass this year <br />with federal highway funds on the <br />line. States that do not adopt the .08 <br />BAC laws by federal FY 2004 would <br />have 2 percent of highway comtruction <br />money withheld, with the penalty <br />increasing to 8 percent by 2007. <br /> If the Legislature fails to enact the <br />.08 BAC standard, Minnesota stands <br />to lose 2 percent ($6.64 million) in <br />FY 2004 and 4 percent ($13.28 million) <br />in FY 2005. This is also the last year <br /> <br />the state is eligible for almost $3 million <br />in federal incentive money for joining <br />34 other states that have already made <br />the change to .08. <br /> The League supports adopting <br />the .08 BAC threshold to keep critical <br />federal highway funds that will help <br />provide a safer transportation system. <br />As the Legislature begins debating the <br />financial impacts of making this change, <br />the League will work to ensure the <br />state compensates local units of <br />government for any related cost <br />increases. <br /> To review this legislation, visit <br />the Legislature's bill tracking page at: <br />http : / / www. leg.state.mn.us /leg/ <br />legis.asp. For more information on <br />.08 BAC, visit the Minnesota Office <br />of Traffic Safety's web site at: http:// <br />www. dps.state.mn.us/ots/ <br />Laws_Legislation/default.asp <br />(click on the "Hot Topics" link). II~ <br /> <br />LMC Business Associates <br /> <br />For information on becoming an LMC Business <br />Associate, call Rebecca Erickson at (651) 281-1222. <br /> <br />Advanced Drainage Systems <br />Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd. <br />Bolton & Menk, Inc. <br />Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderlik <br /> & Associates <br />Briggs and Morgan <br />CenterPoint Energy <br /> Minnegasco <br />David Drown Associates, Inc. <br />Dorsey & Whitney LLP <br /> <br />DPRA Incorporated <br />Ehlers & Associates, Inc. <br />Evensen Dodge, Inc. <br />Galliard Capital Management, Inc. <br />HDR <br />Howard R. Green Company <br />Kennedy & Graven, Chartered <br />Krass Monroe PA <br />LOGIS <br />MFRA <br /> <br />Pa u lse n Arch itects <br />Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, RA. <br />RLK-Kuusisto, Ltd. <br />Springsted Incorporated <br />TKDA <br />TSP <br />Voyageur Asset Management <br />Widseth Smith Nolting <br />Xcel Energy <br />Yaggy Colby Associates <br /> <br />Page 8 LMC Cities Bulletin <br /> <br /> <br />