By
Eric Swedlund
Arizona Daily Wildcat
70 officers from across Arizona come to capitol to show support
PHOENIX - With about 70 law enforcement officers from around the state rallying in support, two measures establishing stricter DUI limits passed a House panel yesterday.
The House of Representatives Transportation Committee voted 9-1 in favor of lowering the legal DUI limit to 0.08 blood alcohol concentration and 8-0 to decrease the extreme DUI level to 0.15 BAC. Both bills carry emergency clauses and would go into effect immediately after being signed by the governor.
Rep. Dean Cooley, R-Mesa, sponsored the 0.08 measure.
"We're not looking for arrests," he said. "We're looking for people to be responsible and not drive impaired."
Rep. Mike Gleason, R-Sun City West, cast the only dissenting vote. He said there wasn't enough data that the change would help.
Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, brought about 70 officers from law enforcement agencies across the state to a rally and press conference that preceded the committee meeting.
"Law enforcement is ready," Gutier said. "The truth of the matter is our whole law enforcement community is ready to implement this bill."
Gutier said the legislation is aimed at removing impaired drivers from the road and would make Arizona's DUI laws the safest in the United States.
The federal government last year adopted a national 0.08 BAC standard and set forth sanctions against states that do not abide by the mandate.
Beginning in fiscal year 2004, states that have not met the federal standards will lose federal highway funds.
The sanctions begin at $6.8 million for the first year and rise incrementally until 2007, when the sanctions will stand at $27 million. States that do not enact the federal DUI standards stand to lose a total of $68 million.
The District of Columbia and 18 states have passed 0.08 DUI laws to date.
Steve Tyrrell, executive director of Arizona Mothers Against Drunk Driving, presented a survey of 402 Arizona residents that revealed 74 percent were in favor of lowering the limit to 0.08 BAC.
The Summit Group survey was conducted Jan. 23 and 24 and has a five percent margin of error.
In Pima County, 80 percent of the people support the lower limits.
"This is a resounding vote of confidence for passing that legislation right now," Tyrrell said.
Sen. Andy Nichols, D-Tucson, said he pushed for lower DUI limits for eight years in the House and continues the fight during his first year in the Senate.
"This is the year for 0.08," Nichols said. "We will get it done."
Tucson Police Sgt. Christopher Andreacola said studies have shown everybody is impaired at 0.08 BAC. "It's about time the state catch up with what the medical community believes," he added.
"This will help change the perception that you need to be a 0.10 to be impaired," he said. "That's not true."
Jan Blaser-Upchurch, of Tucson, serves on MADD's National Board of Directors.
"This law is essential," said Blaser-Upchurch, whose husband, a law enforcement officer, was killed by a DUI driver. "We're out to save lives."
Also yesterday, the Senate Committee of the Whole passed, without discussion, SB 1137, a different version of the extreme DUI measure.
Tomorrow, SB 1137 will go to a full vote in the Senate and the 0.08 bill will be heard by the Committee of the Whole.
