By
Eric Swedlund
Arizona Daily Wildcat
PHOENIX - State lawmakers in both houses seem to agree on the principles of lowering drunken-driving and extreme drunken-driving limits, but legislators have some differences to iron out before any bills go to the governor.
The Senate Committee of the Whole yesterday approved House Bill 2473, which would lower the extreme DUI limit from 0.18 to 0.15 blood alcohol concentration. There was no discussion about the bill.
The Senate has already approved SB 1137, its own version of the legislation.
A final Senate vote on HB 2473, which could come as early as today, would require a two-thirds approval because it contains an emergency clause.
An emergency clause stipulates that the bill becomes law immediately upon receiving the governor's signature instead of the standard 90-day wait. SB 1137 was not designated with such a clause.
The House Transportation Committee also unanimously approved SB 1089 yesterday, which would lower the DUI limit from 0.10 to 0.08 BAC.
Sen. Andy Nichols, D-Tucson, said "most folks are on board with this bill."
The primary difference between the Senate and House 0.08 bills is the implementation date, which the Senate bill delays until July 1, 2002. However, yesterday the House committee amended it to begin Aug. 31, 2001.
The House 0.08 bill, HB 2485, and the Senate extreme DUI bill, SB 1137, are both pending committee action. HB 2485 also contains an emergency clause.
