Date: Fri 14-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

drunk-driving-law-Rowland-AP

Full Text:

GOVEROR SIGNS NATION'S TOUGHEST DRUNK DRIVING LAW

B Y S RAT D OUTHAT

A SSOCIATED P RESS

HARTFORD - Gov John Rowland lost his uncle to a drunken driver.

On Tuesday, he signed an omnibus highway safety bill, saying the state now has

the nation's toughest law against drunken drivers.

Mr Rowland says his personal interest in the bill stems from the death of his

father's brother, for whom he is named.

"We've been working on this problem for many years and still have a long way

to go," he said.

The law, which goes into effect October 1, provides 90-day license suspensions

for drivers under 21 with even a trace of alcohol in their systems.

Under the so-called "zero-tolerance law," young drivers with blood-alcohol

levels of .02 percent or above will be considered legally drunk and can be

given a 90-day administrative suspension that does not require court action.

The legal blood-alcohol limit is now 0.10 percent.

The bill also provides for:

A 90-day license suspension for drivers who refuse to be tested for alcohol

consumption. Work permits will be offered only to those who have no record of

a previous offense.

Mandatory alcohol testing of drivers involved in highway crashes that cause

death or serious injury. Currently, only those fatally injured are tested.

Mandatory drug and alcohol treatment for motorists convicted a second time of

driving under the influence of alcohol.

Maintaining conviction records of serious motor vehicle offenses for a 10-year

period. Currently, such records are kept for five years.

Empowering police to require a second test of drivers who appear to be

intoxicated but have passed a blood-alcohol test.

"This law will serve as a model for other states," Mr Rowland said. "Alcohol

and motor vehicles clearly do not mix and this bill shows we are committed to

having the safest roads in the nation and protecting the public from drunken

drivers."

As Mr Rowland signed the bill, he was flanked by Aviva Basham and Kerri

Tompkins, members of Students Against Substance Abuse at Stamford High School.

"We worked to get the bill passed," Miss Basham said. "We wrote letters to the

other schools in the state and attended a rally at the state Capitol back in

April. That's where we met the governor."

Also attending the signing ceremony were members of Mothers Against Drunk

Drivers and several legislators who helped move the bill through the General

Assembly.