5/22/03 - A bill to toughen the state’s drunken-driving threshold and preserve nearly $50 million in federal highway dollars failed to gain full approval before the Legislature adjourned earlier this month.
HB1343 passed the House 39-26 on May 2, but it was in the Senate appropriations committee when the regular legislative session ended May 7.
Under the bill, the standard for drunken driving in the state would be cut from 0.10 percent blood alcohol content to 0.08 percent.
A 2000 federal law requires each state’s legislature to adopt the 0.08 limit by 2004 or lose 2 percent of its highway money.
States that adopt the new limit by 2007 can recover the withheld funds.

4/4/03 - A Colorado lawmaker is sponsoring legislation that would reduce the state's blood-alcohol content for drunk driving to preserve millions in federal highway dollars.
HB1343, introduced recently by Rep. Bob Briggs, R-Westminster, would lower the state's drunken driving threshold from 0.10 percent to 0.08.
The Centennial State has so far resisted a two-year-old federal law requiring all states to adopt the 0.08 standard by October or risk losing 2 percent of its highway money.
For Colorado, that means a total of $50 million through 2007.
The bill is in the House Transportation & Energy Committee. For bill status, call (303) 866-3055.