Would lowering the legal BAC limit lower DUI numbers?
The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending states lower the legal blood alcohol content limit.
The board says by lowering the legal BAC levels from 0.08 to 0.05 or even lower, it would prevent people from driving under the influence.
“Reducing BAC limit to .05 is one of many steps to end substance impairment in transportation,” the NTSB tweeted.
NTSB has been proposing this change for the past three years. But this most recent push comes during the Colorado Department of Transportation’s “The Heat Is On Enforcement” period.
Beginning Friday Feb. 5 though the 8, 91 law enforcement agencies will be cracking down on DUI drivers statewide.
“Our goal for the night is not how many tickets we write, but how many impaired drivers we get off the street,” said Officer Jose Barraz, with Fountain Police Department.
Barraz wants to lower that number and feels decreasing the BAC limit would help.
“I think any program to lower the DUI fatality rate is always a plus. However, it’s going to be challenging to come up with a law about it,” said Barraz.
During last year’s Super Bowl enforcement, 234 people were arrested for impaired driving.
“We’re asking everyone to look out for their fellow fans and to speak out if someone attempts to drive impaired,” said Darrell Lingk, director of the Office of Transportation Safety at CDOT.
With the big game on Sunday, officers aren’t the only ones looking out for drunk drivers, bars and restaurants are also.
“We’re expecting a big crowd. With that, we obviously want to promote safe drinking if people decide to drink, use a cab, Uber, whatever it may be,” said Emillio Ortiz, Bar manager at 503 W.
Ortiz feels a BAC change would decrease DUI’s,
“I think its a good thing, I think cracking down and making sure people are being responsible,” said Ortiz.
Others say it will only cause problems.
“Absolutely not. Sometimes when they make those changes, you never know till the change is made,” said Susie Heath.
Either way, officers want to remind drivers to be responsible and if you do want to drink, have a plan.
“Don’t second guess your plan by making the dumb decision of driving under the influence,” said Barraz.
