Push to lower legal limit to 0.05 for driving drunk falls short

Two Snohomish County state senators sought to have Washington join Utah with the nation’s toughest standard.

Logo for news use, for stories regarding Washington state government — Olympia, the Legislature and state agencies. No caption necessary. 20220331

OLYMPIA — An effort led by two Snohomish County lawmakers to lower the legal limit for driving drunk has come up short.

Senate Bill 5002 to reduce the maximum blood alcohol concentration for drivers from 0.08% to 0.05% failed to receive a vote Wednesday, the deadline to be passed out of the Senate to remain in play this legislative session.

Democratic Sens. John Lovick, of Mill Creek, and Marko Liias, of Everett, the bill’s chief sponsors, wanted Washington to join Utah with the toughest standard in the nation. They’ll now have to wait until next year to try again.

“I can’t help but be disappointed,” Lovick said Wednesday. “It was hard to get 25 votes. We thought we had it. We just didn’t.”

The two lawmakers introduced identical legislation last session but too late for consideration.

This time their bill received a hearing in the first week, moved through two committees and onto the floor calendar last month. It was teed up for a vote Wednesday morning, then skipped over.

“Sometimes you don’t get things through the first year,” Lovick said philosophically. “We’re going to keep working it.”

Reached Thursday, Liias said: “Big changes take time and we made a huge amount of progress this year. I’m hopeful 2024 is the year we get it done. In the meantime, we need people to stop driving under the influence.”

Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, and Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, each said Thursday it’s a significant policy requiring time for lawmakers to better understand and digest.”

“I don’t think it was partisan,” Braun said. “I think there were folks who had concerns on how to implement it.”

Billig said the bill “generated a lot of interest. We’ll use this year as an education year.”

Deadly crashes involving drivers who had been drinking alcohol are at levels not seen in more than a decade.

In 2021, Washington recorded 670 traffic fatalities of which 202 people died in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver — the highest number since 2009, according to data compiled by the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission.

Gov. Jay Inslee supported the bill. So too did state and local law enforcement organizations, the National Traffic Safety Board, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the state Department of Health and the Washington Trucking Association.

The Washington Hospitality Association and the Washington Wine Institute were among those opposed. At a January hearing, representatives of those organizations said with no discernible way to detect intoxication at 0.05%, thousands of alcohol servers would be put at risk of being held liable for over-serving a customer.

And on-premise wine tasting could be curtailed, and, in turn, lead to fewer sales, they said.

Other bills aimed at curbing impaired driving did advance in the Senate.

Senate Bill 5032, which passed 48-1 on Wednesday, would expand what’s known as the “look back” period for reviewing prior convictions of impaired driving when determining whether a new offense is charged as a felony. Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, is the author and Lovick is a co-sponsor.

Current law is 10 years. The bill would extend it to 15 years and increase the penalty from a gross misdemeanor to a felony offense for any person who has three or more prior DUI offenses within the “look back” period.

“Repeat impaired-driving offenders commit most of the vehicular homicides and vehicular assaults in Washington,” Padden said in a statement. “This bill tries to prevent those horrible and senseless crimes.”

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dospueblos.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

The Victorian home sits on Whidbey Island. (Alyse Young for The Washington Post)
Whidbey couple thought they found their dream home — then came the bats

The couple had no recourse after unknowingly buying a home infested with thousands of bats.

The Snohomish County Jail is pictured on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Report reveals cause of Everett man’s death in Snohomish County Jail

Terry Crusha was booked into the jail on May 17. He died three days later, part of a string of deaths there.

Boeing workers file into Angel of the Winds Arena to vote on the latest contract proposal from the company on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists prepare to go back to work after strike ends

After voting no twice, 59% of union members approved the latest contract.

Twede’s Cafe is pictured at the corner of Bendigo Boulevard and North Bend Way on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in North Bend, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Relive ‘Twin Peaks’ with cherry pie and damn fine coffee at Twede’s Cafe

The North Bend cafe, known as Double R Diner on the campy cult-classic, serves up nostalgia and a damn good breakfast.

From left to right, Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman. (Photos provided by the U.S. Navy)
Remains of Whidbey Island pilots to return this week

Lt. Cmdr Lyndsay Evans and Lt. Serena Wileman died in a crash on Oct. 15.

Everett
Everett men arrested in huge bust of Seattle drug ring

On Wednesday, investigators searched 31 locations, but suspects from Lynnwood and Edmonds remained at large, officials said.

Deborah Rumbaugh
Stanwood-Camano School District superintendent resigns

Superintendent Deborah Rumbaugh said Tuesday she’ll be gone at the end of the school year.

Crews from Reece Construction Company mill asphalt off of Madison Avenue during the beginning of construction on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shares details on upcoming budget cuts

Street improvements, libraries and communications could see significant cuts as the city tackles a deficit.

Everett
Pedestrian, 70, dies in Everett Mall Way crash

The man was crossing near 3rd Avenue SE when a car hit him, police said. Detectives didn’t suspect impairment.

The Washington state Capitol building in February. (Bill Lucia / Washington State Standard)
Democrats on cusp of expanding majorities in WA Legislature

Democrats already outnumber Republicans by margins of 58-40 in the House and 29-20 in the Senate.

Funko Field in 2019. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett to hold info session on AquaSox stadium plan

Community members can hear from staff and ask questions about the potential stadium project.

A procession honors Lt. Serena “Dug” Wileman, 31, as her remains were transported to Oak Harbor on Monday night. (Photo provided by Naval Air Station Whidbey Island)
Inslee orders flags flown at half-staff in honor of Whidbey pilots

Naval aviators Lt. Serena “Dug” Wileman and Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay “Miley” Evans crashed on Oct. 15.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.