By
Eric Swedlund
Arizona Daily Wildcat
State supports increased deterrents for offenses
PHOENIX - A Senate panel yesterday endorsed a bill that would mandate a two-year driver's license suspension for anyone between the ages of 18 and 20 who is convicted of a DUI.
Anyone under the legal drinking age of 21 may be cited for DUI if found driving with any trace of alcohol in his or her system.
Current law specifies the two-year driver's license suspension for anyone under 18 convicted of a DUI.
Rep. Dean Cooley, R-Mesa, proposed the bill as a way to clarify the Arizona statute.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-0 in favor of Cooley's bill.
"The message here is that you don't drink and drive as a youth, period," Cooley said. "It's not acceptable."
The bill also states that courts may allow the Arizona Department of Transportation to restrict a person's driving privileges to home, school and employment instead of a complete suspension.
Steve Tyrrell, executive director of the Arizona chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said he supports the bill because people under 21 cannot even legally drink.
This year, both houses of the Legislature have actively pushed to lower the legal DUI limit to 0.08 blood alcohol concentration, and the extreme DUI limit to 0.15 BAC.
"The attitude has changed lately and the Legislature has changed with that," he said.
Tyrrell said minors in particular need to make good decisions regarding alcohol and new restrictions may act as effective deterrents.
