A bill to lower the impaired driving threshold is back this legislative session. The bill proposes to lower the blood alcohol limit while driving from 0.08% to 0.05% and directs the convicting court to assess substance use disorder and treatment in certain cases.

HB 1315, sponsored by Rep. Brandy Donaghy (D–Everett), is a proposal among several from last session aimed at decreasing the blood (or breath) alcohol concentration (BAC) limit while driving. It also increases the statute of limitations for driving under the influence (DUI) prosecution from two to three years and allows the court broader sentencing discretion for second or subsequent DUIs.

It goes further than another impaired driving bill (SB 5067) that died last session in that it also adds language allowing the court discretion to order an expanded substance use disorder assessment and appropriate treatment in specific cases.

2023 was the deadliest year on Washington roads since 1990. Research has found that the lower BAC limit reduces fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving by 11%. Currently, 84% of the world’s population lives in a country with BAC limits of 0.05 or lower. In the U.S., Utah is the only state with the lower rate of 0.05, a change it instituted in 2018.

AWC supports bills such as this that aim to increase the safety of our roads and residents.

Dates to remember

HB 1315 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Community Safety Committee on Wednesday, January 21, at 4 pm.