4/14/03-A Senate committee has killed a bill that would permit Colorado police to pull over drivers for not wearing a seat belt and to stiffen the state’s drunken driving standards for DUIs from 0.10 percent blood alcohol content to 0.08.
SB125 would have brought Colorado into compliance with a federal law and prevented the state from losing millions in federal highway dollars. 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.
The Senate Appropriations Committee locked in a 5-5 tie April 11, which left the bill “postponed indefinitely” and effectively dead.

3/3/03-A Colorado Senate committee gave the go ahead Feb. 26 to legislation that would prevent the state from losing about $60 million in federal highway dollars.
The Senate judiciary committee voted 6-1 in favor of a measure to permit police to pull over drivers for not wearing a seat belt and stiffens the states drunken driving standards for DUIs from 0.10 to 0.08.
Under current law, officers can issue seat-belt citations only if they stop drivers for another traffic violation.
With new authority, police can pull over drivers if they see anyone in the front seat not wearing seat belts.
The blood alcohol section would bring Colorado in line with federal requirements and keep the state from losing $60 million in federal highway funds by 2008, The Durango Herald reported.
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.
SB125, sponsored by Sen. Ken Arnold, R-Westminster, now heads to the Senate appropriations committee. For bill status, call (303) 866-3055.