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.08 bill heading to Governor

May 18, 2001
By: Aaron Cummins
State Capital Bureau

The legal blood alcohol limit for drivers in Missouri would be lowered to .08 under a plan sent to the Governor's desk today/Friday. Aaron Cummins has more from Jefferson City--

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Lawmakers approved .08 by a wide margin.

Governor Bob Holden, who earlier this session urged lawmakers to pass .08, now says he's likely to sign the bill.

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Contents: Holden says he won't say for sure if he'll sign the bill, but it does look favorable.

Lawmakers have debated .08 for the past few years without passing it.

But, it cleared this year in part because of a federal mandate that requires states to lower the standard for druken driving or face losing federal highway construction money.

From the state capital, Aaron Cummins, KMOX-News.

It'll take less drinks to be considered legally drunk in Missouri under a bill heading to the Governor's desk. Aaron Cummins has more from Jefferson City--

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Southwest Missouri Senator Morris Westfall sponsored the plan that will lower Missouri's standard for drunken driving to .08.

Westfall says his support for .08 stems from an accident scene he came upon many years ago.

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Contents: Westfall says he came upon the scene and helped pull the victims from the car and console them. He says that had a large part in his support.

The plan now needs to be approved by the Governor.

Holden has urged lawmakers to pass .08 and is expected to sign the bill.

The new standard for drunk driving would take effect at the end of September.

From the state capital, Aaron Cummins, KMOX-News.

Drivers in Missouri will be held to a higher standard of sobriety under a plan that cleared the legislature today/Friday. Aaron Cummins has more from Jefferson City--

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Lawmakers approved a plan that lowers the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers to .08.

St. Louis County Republican David Klarich voted for the lower standard, but not without voicing some reservations.

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Contents: Klarich says there is no grey area... if you blow .08 on a breathalizer, you're guilty.

Regardless, the bill passed the Senate by a wide margin.

Now it's on to Governor Bob Holden, who is expected to sign it into law.

From the state capital, Aaron Cummins, KMOX-News.

Missouri's legislature approved a tougher standard on drunk driving, but the lobbyist for the state's biggest brewery says he doesn't think it makes a difference to his company. Aaron Cummins has more--

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John Britton lobbies at the capital for Anheuser-Busch.

He says .08 won't hurt the massive beer-maker.

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Contents: Britton says he doesn't know if a study has been done, but he thinks the lower drunken driving standard won't have a major effect on A-B's sales.

Britton says Anheuser-Busch didn't oppose the bill lowering the legal blood alcohol content for drivers to .08 because he says the state had to pass the bill.

That's because of a federal regulation requiring states to pass tougher laws on drunk driving or face losing federal highway construction money.

From Jefferson City, Aaron Cummins, KMOX-News.