Another impaired driving bill has received a hearing. The bill proposes to lower the BAC 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 another bill that proposes to decrease the Blood (or Breath) Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit while driving from 0.08% to 0.05%. It goes further than another impaired driving bill (SB 5067) in that it adds language saying the court should order an expanded substance use disorder assessment and appropriate treatment:

• Upon a misdemeanor driving conviction of impaired driving by a minor;
• In cases of reckless driving convictions involving impaired driving; and
• For negligent driving in the first-degree convictions originally charged as impaired driving.

2023 was the deadliest year on Washington roads since 1990. Research has found that the lower BAC limit reduces fatalities involving annual 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 currently the only state with the lower rate of 0.05, a change it instituted in 2018.

The bill has a public hearing in committee on January 21.

Dates to remember

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