Beaufortgazette.com | The Beaufort Gazette Online
Beaufort, South Carolina 
news sports classifieds opinions features entertainment
Stay Connected - Quick Links
Real Estate Cars & Trucks Jobs & Working Newspaper Ads Classified Section Place an Ad
Member Area
Services
Home Delivery Advertising Contact Us Privacy Help
Printer Version Email This Article A A A Change font size
Sanford signs lower blood-alcohol limit into law
ADVERTISEMENT
Published Thu, Jun 19, 2003
YORK, S.C. (AP) - Gov. Mark Sanford signed into law a bill that lowers the legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers to 0.08 percent, down from 0.10 percent.

If the Legislature hadn't passed the bill, the federal government would have withheld about $63 million for road projects during the next four years.

"I don't like the federal government dictating terms to states anymore than the next guy, but you don't leave dollars in Washington when people's lives are at stake," Sanford said.

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell said Sanford had to sign the bill into law for the federal money, but 0.10 percent was sufficient.

"Being forced to do this by the federal government is wrong," McConnell said.

He is pleased, though, the law includes the Senate's version that allows people to challenge blood-alcohol tests in court.

"Alcohol doesn't effect people in the same way," he said.

Forty states have the .08 percent limit, the governor's office said.

Need help?
Need to reach The Gazette? Try our Directory.
Web site problems? See our site help page.
Questions about home delivery? See our customer service page.
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWSPAPER ADS
Copyright © 2003 The Beaufort Gazette • Use of this site indicates your agreement with our User Agreement.