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Article published Mar 20, 2003
House passes bill to bolster DUI
penalty
AMY GEIER EDGAR
Associated
Press
Leaders from Mothers Against Drunk Driving say a bill passed
by the House Wednesday will help reduce alcohol-related deaths on state
roads.
The bill, passed on a 106-6 vote, would lower the legal blood-alcohol
limit for drunken driving convictions from the current 0.10 percent to 0.08
percent.
Another provision would require an immediate 30-day driver's license
suspension for anyone behind the wheel with a blood-alcohol concentration of
0.08 percent or greater. Current law allows licenses to be revoked at 0.15
percent.
The bill also makes it easier to prosecute DUI cases. Under current
state law, a prosecutor must prove a driver is impaired even if his
blood-alcohol level is above the legal limit.
The new law would allow a jury
to convict someone of DUI exclusively on blood-alcohol levels.
The bill also
stipulates that people who have had prior convictions for driving under the
influence during the past 10 years will have their licenses suspended for 60
days if a test shows an alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or
greater.
"MADD is very pleased that representatives followed their conscience
and were able to vote and pass a strong piece of legislation that is certainly
going to be an enhancement to our drunk driving laws," said Betsy Lewis,
executive director of the organization's South Carolina branch.
In
opposition
Although the legislation has the support of MADD, several
lawmakers spoke out against it, angry that the federal government has threatened
to take away highway money from states that don't pass the lower
levels.
South Carolina has already lost $1.8 million in incentives, and could
lose $60 million more unless it lowers the limit to 0.08 percent.
The state
shouldn't act just because the federal government is twisting arms, said Rep.
Grady Brown, D-Bishopville
"I am ready to tell the government to take it and
shove it," Brown said.