FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Jan. 14, 2024
OLYMPIA – Legislation to prevent drunken driving and reduce fatalities was heard in the Senate Law & Justice Committee Tuesday.
Senate Bill 5067, sponsored by Sen. John Lovick (D-Mill Creek), would reduce the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit — when someone is considered to be driving under the influence — from .08% to .05%.According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC), traffic fatalities are at the highest number since 1990, having increased 20% since 2021. In 2023, 810 people were killed in fatal crashes — over half involved an impaired driver.
“Impairment starts after the first drink,” Lovick said. “Every day, someone in Washington is killed in a DUI-related collision. Those collisions are completely preventable. We know lowering the BAC limit will save lives. It’s time to pass this bill — people deserve to be safe, and feel safe, on our roads.”
Research has shown drivers with BACs between .05% and .079% are at least seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision compared to sober drivers. National Traffic Safety Board data shows lowering the BAC limit broadly deters drunk driving, reducing the number of people who decide to drive after consuming alcohol.
In Utah, where lawmakers passed a similar bill in 2022, 22.1% of drivers reported changing their behavior because of the law. Alcohol sales, tax revenues, and tourism remained largely unchanged. SB 5067 specifies it does not change any current law related to the civil liability of licensed commercial or quasi-commercial alcohol vendors.
If enacted, the bill would task the WTSC with implementing a public information campaign to make people aware of the state law change. It would take effect July 1, 2026.
Follow the bill’s progress here.
