New Jersey residents might like to know about some of the proposed plans for reducing drunk driving crashes. The National Transportation Safety Board wants to lower the legal blood alcohol level from .08 percent to .05 percent. One is more than 50 percent at risk for a fatal crash when having a BAC of .08 percent, so the NTSB recommends that the legal limit be lowered.
AAA acknowledges that this would reduce risk but voiced concerns that it could be too strict and hurt social drinkers that are not actually impaired. AAA and others have suggested a law that makes ignition interlock devices mandatory after a first offense for drunk driving. AAA plans to pursue this issue in 2016 even though this bill was previously vetoed. Currently, ignition interlock devices are only required for those convicted with a BAC of .15% percent or more and repeat offenders.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving have a different plan that a representative of the group says is estimated to save more lives than lowering the legal BAC limit. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving involves visibly enforcing current rules and using sobriety checkpoints and ignition interlock laws. This method could save around 7,000 lives a year, and it also includes developing other technology that does not let an inebriated person operate a vehicle.
The legal BAC limit is currently .08 percent, but this is only for those 21-years-old or older. Anyone under the legal drinking age could face charges for any amount of alcohol found in his or her system while driving. The consequences one faces for drunk driving charges depend on the circumstances, and those with a BAC of .10 percent or more face harsher penalties, as do those with previous convictions. Discussing one’s options with an attorney may be necessary when charged with a DWI.
