10/1/03-Gov. Ed Rendell signed legislation Sept. 30, toughening Pennsylvania’s drunken driving law just hours before a federal deadline elapsed.
The new law lowers the blood-alcohol limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent, toughens penalties for drivers with especially high blood-alcohol levels. It also gives the Pennsylvania Transportation Department authority to install an ignition interlock device in the car of a repeat offender for one year.
The governor’s signature hours before the Oct. 1 deadline allowed the state to avoid losing $11.8 million in federal transportation funds, or 2 percent of certain highway road dollars. The figure would have increased to 8 percent – $41 million – if the standard were not adopted by 2007.
SB8 sets up increasing levels of punishment for higher blood-alcohol levels – 0.08 to 0.099; 0.10 to 0.159; and 0.16 and up – all becoming more severe with each additional offense.
The lower limit took effect immediately, while most of the other provisions go into effect Feb. 1.

9/30/03-Only a few hours before a federal deadline elapsed, the House unanimously sent to Gov. Ed Rendell a bill to toughen the state’s drunken driving law.
The House passed the measure Sept. 29, by a 201-0 vote. SB8 calls for lowering the blood-alcohol limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent, toughening penalties for drivers with especially high blood-alcohol levels. It also would ensure that the Pennsylvania Transportation Department has authority to install an ignition interlock device in the car of a repeat offender for one year.
The governor was expected to sign the bill Sept. 30. The Senate approved it last week 47-1.
Without the lower limit in place by Oct. 1, the state risks losing $11 million in federal transportation funds, or 2 percent of certain highway road dollars. The figure would increase to 8 percent – $41 million – if the standard is not adopted by 2007.
The bill sets up increasing levels of punishment for higher blood-alcohol levels – 0.08 to 0.099; 0.10 to 0.159; and 0.16 and up – all becoming more severe with each additional offense.
Once the bill is signed, the lower limit takes effect immediately, while most of the other provisions, including the tiered penalty system, would go into effect Feb. 1.

9/25/03-Less than a week before a federal deadline, the Senate passed a bill to lower the state’s legal blood-alcohol limit for motorists.
The Senate passed the measure Sept. 24 by a 47-1 vote after a conference committee reportedly favorably on the bill. SB8 now heads to the House, which is expected to pass the bill by the end of the month.
In addition to lowering the blood-alcohol limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent, the bill toughens penalties for drivers with especially high blood-alcohol levels and ensures that the Pennsylvania Transportation Department has authority to install an ignition interlock device in the car of a repeat offender for one year.
Without the lower limit in place by Oct. 1, the state risks losing $11 million in federal transportation funds, or 2 percent of certain highway road dollars. That would increase to 8 percent – $41 million –if the standard is not adopted by 2007.
The bill sets up increasing levels of punishment for higher blood-alcohol levels – 0.08 to 0.099; 0.10 to 0.159; and 0.16 and up –all becoming more severe with each additional offense.

8/6/03-House lawmakers rejected a Senate version of a bill that would lower the state's blood-alcohol concentration limit for motorists from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent.
Legislators voted down the bill Aug. 4 citing an outside analysis that concluded SB8 would not comply with federal mandates. House leaders have asked for a separate conference committee to review the measure.
The state risks losing $11 million in federal transportation funds unless lawmakers lower the state's drunken driving limit to 0.08 percent by Oct. 1.
In a memo to state officials, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the latest version of the bill, sponsored by Sen. Charles Dent, R-Lehigh Valley, would not comply with federal mandate because it carries lighter penalties than the current 0.10 percent standard.
For bill status, call (717) 787-2342.

7/29/03-With the threat of losing millions in federal transportation funds, the Senate unanimously approved a bill July 28 to lower the state’s blood-alcohol concentration limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08.
SB8, sponsored by Sen. Charles Dent, R-Lehigh Valley, now heads back to the House for final approval before going to the governor.
The bill requires repeat offenders to have ignition interlock devices installed in their vehicles for one year. The devices require drivers to perform breath tests before starting their vehicles, as well as periodically while they are driving, and trigger a shutdown of the engine if the driver’s blood-alcohol level is too high.
If signed into law, it would put the state in compliance with a national mandate by Congress to lower the legal limit to 0.08. Without the change, the state could lose millions in federal highway dollars by Oct. 1.
For bill status, call (717) 787-2342.

7/24/03-The House passed a bill July 8 that would lower the state’s blood-alcohol concentration limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08.
House amendments to SB8 would also require repeat offenders to undergo treatment and have ignition interlock devices installed in their vehicles for one year.
The devices require drivers to perform breath tests before starting their vehicles, as well as periodically while they are driving, and trigger a shutdown of the engine if the driver’s blood-alcohol level is too high.
If signed into law, it would put the state in compliance with a national mandate by Congress to lower the legal limit. Without the change, the state could lose millions in federal highway dollars.
The amended version has been sent back to the Senate for approval. For bill status, call (717) 787-2342.

7/1/03-SB8 would lower the state’s blood-alcohol concentration limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08.
Since 2000, Pennsylvania is one of only eight states yet to adopt legislation signed by then-President Clinton that requires each state to define legally drunk as 0.08 percent blood alcohol content or lose federal highway dollars.
The state has until July 15 to certify to the federal government that a law is in place or risk losing highway dollars.
The bill is in the House Appropriations Committee. For bill status, call (717) 787-2342.

5/19/03-Legislation that would lower the state’s blood-alcohol concentration limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08 is in the House Judiciary Committee.
Since 2000, Pennsylvania is one of only about 15 states yet to adopt legislation signed by then-President Clinton that requires each state to define legally drunk as 0.08 percent blood alcohol content or lose federal highway dollars.
SB8, introduced by Sen. Charles Dent, R-Lehigh Valley, unanimously passed the Senate in late April. For bill status, call (717) 787-2342.

4/4/03-With the threat of losing millions in federal transportation funds, a Pennsylvania lawmaker is seeking legislation to lower the state's blood-alcohol concentration limit from 0.10 percent to 0.08.
Pennsylvania defines the standard for drunken driving as 0.10 percent blood alcohol content. SB8, introduced by Sen. Charles Dent, R-Lehigh Valley, would set the limit at 0.08, as mandated by a 2000 federal law.
States that fail to adopt the 0.08 limit by October risk losing 2 percent of their highway money.
The bill is in the Senate Judiciary Committee. For bill status, call (717) 787-2342.