7/3/03-Gov. Donald Carcieri signed legislation – S249 – July 2 that secures federal highway aid by making it a criminal offense to drive with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent.
Under previous law, it was illegal to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration limit between .08 and .10 percent, but it was a civil offense.
The federal government, seeking to impose the stricter standard, has been threatening to withhold millions in highway dollars from states that haven’t made it a criminal offense by the beginning of the next fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
Rhode Island stood to lose $17 million by 2007 if it failed to conform.

3/17/03-With the threat of losing $17 million in federal transportation funds, Rhode Island is seeking legislation to lower the state's blood-alcohol concentration limit from 0.10 to 0.08.
The 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 millions in highway money.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved S249, introduced by Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Polisena, D-Johnston, on March 13. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
An identical bill - H5452 - unanimously passed the House March 13.
For bill status, call (401) 751-8833.