Editorial: Sound reasons for stricter DUI limit

Wednesday, May 28, 2003 | 8:54 a.m.

In 1998 President Clinton cited a study saying 600 lives a year could be saved if all states adopted a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 as the standard for drunkenness behind the wheel. Congress passed the 0.08 legislation in 2000 and Clinton signed it into law, saying, "For me this is a very good day for the United States." The legislation requires that states either adopt the 0.08 standard by 2004 or lose highway funding in increasing amounts every year until they do. For Nevada, failure to adopt 0.08 this session would mean a loss of $28.4 million next fiscal year.

Nevertheless, nine members of the Assembly voted against the measure Tuesday. Assemblyman Don Gustavson, R-Sun Valley, has long supported 0.08 as the state standard but this time voted against it because of the federal pressure. "How much can your sovereignty or freedom be bought for?" he asked.

Fortunately, 33 other Assembly members voted for the bill. Now it goes to the Senate and we hope it passes there, too. We believe 0.08 will raise the consciousness of many drivers, thereby saving lives. Knowing that the legal limit is lower, they will be more inclined to think about Nevada's tough penalties and be less inclined to risk incurring them by having another drink or two before driving home. Additionally, a principled stand -- on this issue -- is not worth losing millions in highway funding. For us, if that happened, it would be a very bad day for Nevada.