Washington Considers Bill To Lower Blood Alcohol Limit

OLYMPIA, WA — A bill introduced Friday in the Washington state Senate seeks to lower the legal threshold for drunk driving to match the strictest limit in the nation, which the legislation's sponsors said could help make a dent in a recent rise in traffic deaths on Washington roadways.

Senate Bill 5982, sponsored by state Sens. Marko Liias (D-Everett) and John Lovick (D-Mill Creek), would reduce Washington's legal blood alcohol concentration — or BAC — limit from .08 percent to .05 percent.

"I spent over 31 years driving our roads as a trooper in the state patrol, and over five years serving as Snohomish County Sheriff," Lovick said in a statement. "I know firsthand the devastation and grief that too often companies DUI-related infractions. SB 5892 spares some of our families that grief by giving our local law enforcement another peaceful tool to help save countless lives."

The bill's sponsors pointed to recent data from the state's Traffic Safety Commission, which found an overall increase in traffic fatalities between 2019 and 2021, along with a sharp increase in serious crashes involving impairment, speeding and lack of seatbelts.

The legislation would bring Washington in line with the lowest BAC limits in the nation, following the 2017 passage of a similar bill in Utah. Washington's bill drew support from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

As The Washington Post reports, an NHTSA study of Utah's rule change found deadly crashes declined faster in the state than anywhere in the nation after the legislation was passed.

"When NTSB recommended in 2013 that states lower their BAC levels to .05, we knew it'd save lives — a fact that's recently been confirmed by the NHTSA," said Jennifer Homendy, the NTSB chair. "We applaud Washington State for following the data with this legislation."

Speaking to KING 5, Liias said it bill's late introduction made it unlikely to pass before the legislative session ends on March 10, but he hoped opening up the matter for discussion would get the ball rolling for eventual approval.

The legislation was scheduled for a first reading in the Senate Friday and sits before the Law & Justice Committee.