OLYMPIA — Two bills recently heard in Senate committees aim to lower the legal blood alcohol limit and create a grant program to hire more police officers in Washington.
The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds), is focused on enhancing public safety, especially on the state’s roadways.
From 2018 to 2023, fatal crashes involving impaired drivers increased by nearly 53% in Washington. Senate Bill 5067 proposes lowering the legal blood alcohol limit from 0.08% to 0.05%, which research suggests can reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities.
At the same time, lawmakers are prioritizing efforts to address the state’s critical police officer shortage. Compared to other states, Washington has the fewest officers per capita. Senate Bill 5060 would allocate funds to the Criminal Justice Training Commission for a grant program to help local and tribal law enforcement agencies hire new officers.
“Impaired driving and a shortage of law enforcement both pose serious risks to public safety,” Liias said. “Lowering the legal blood alcohol limit to 0.05% will help reduce crashes and save lives, just as increasing the number of officers will ensure our communities are safer. Washington must take these steps to protect residents and strengthen public safety across the state.”
Law enforcement leaders in the 21st Legislative District, including Mukilteo Police Chief Andy Illyn, have voiced their support for more funding to increase the number of law enforcement personnel in the state.
“The shortage of officers in Washington, and especially in our community, is a significant public safety concern,” Illyn said. “The grants funded through this bill would help us defray the costs of hiring new officers and ensure we have the resources necessary to prevent crime and bring justice for victims.”
