(Columbia) June 19, 2003 - The legal limit blood
alcohol content limit for drunk driving dropped
Wednesday when Governor Mark Sanford signed a bill
lowering it from 0.10 to 0.08 on Thursday.
The governor signed the bill at the York County
Sheriff's office. The new law also means South Carolina
continues to be eligible for $63 million in federal
funds over the next four years, but the governor says,
"More than anything else this law is about saving
lives."
In his January State of the State Address Sanford
said, "By moving to a .08% blood alcohol standard, we
can save lives, avoid losing $60 million of federal
money, and stay consistent with a conservative
philosophy that says your rights end when they begin to
infringe upon mine."
Sanford's office reports 592 alcohol-related traffic
deaths in South Carolina in 2001. According to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the
Palmetto State's alcohol-related fatalities have
increased by 46% over the past three years. The national
percentage over that same time period is a flat
0.0%.
South Carolina reported 1.27 deaths for every 100
million vehicle miles in 2001, as compared to the
national average of 0.63.
The federal government has given states until October
1st to lower their limits to 0.08. The feds start
withholding millions in highway construction money if
they don't. Forty states have to far adopted the 0.08
standard.
The risk of fatal crashes increases significantly at
0.08 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. Braking, steering, judgment and response
time are impaired. According to the governor's office,
South Carolina has the worst rate in the nation for DUI
deaths.
The real difference between 0.08 and 0.10 is
demonstrated by a 170 pound man drinking for one hour.
Four drinks and he's about 0.07. A little more puts him
at 0.08 and one more drink brings him to 0.10.
Lieutenant Corbett Lewis maintains the breathalizers
for the entire state inside a room at SLED headquarters
in Columbia. He thinks the lower level will bring
stricter enforcement, "I believe you'll probably see
more charges for DUI. In the past with a .10, maybe an
officer was a little reluctant to charge if it was a
little less than .10 because most jurors are looking for
the .10."
The new law does not take effect until August
19th.
Updated 4:54pm by BrettWitt
