The bill sSB424, titled "AN ACT REDUCING THE BLOOD ALCOHOL LIMITS FOR IMPAIRED DRIVING AND BOATING AND STUDYING METHODS TO DETECT CANNABIS-IMPAIRED DRIVING," seeks to lower the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for impaired driving and boating from 0.08% to 0.05%. This reduction applies to the general population, while maintaining the current BAC limits for commercial vehicle operators at 0.04% and for individuals under twenty-one years of age at 0.02%. The bill also introduces definitions related to impaired driving enforcement and education, and it extends the BAC limit changes to the operation of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and vessels, including those designated for carrying children. The bill is set to take effect on January 2, 2025, and includes technical changes such as updating BAC references in insurance statutes.

Additionally, the bill requires the Commissioners of Emergency Services and Public Protection and Transportation to submit an annual report starting January 1, 2025, on the number of police officers trained as drug recognition experts (DREs), recommendations for increasing access to DRE training, and advancements in roadside screening tests for cannabis impairment. The bill outlines potential fiscal impacts, including minimal costs to the Department of Correction and the Judicial Department, potential revenue gains from fines, and impacts on law enforcement policies and training. The bill is related to sSB 423, which creates a non-criminal violation for driving with a BAC between 0.05% and 0.08%, and it has received a Joint Favorable Substitute report from the Transportation Committee with a vote of 19 in favor and 17 against on March 18, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
TRA Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 224: