OLYMPIA, Wash. — A push to lower the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers in Washington from 0.08 to 0.05 has cleared another hurdle.
Senate Bill 5067 has passed the state senate with legislators on both sides of the aisle voting for and against in a narrow 26-23 roll call.
Supporters of the bill, backed by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, said it follows a concerning trend: 2023 was the deadliest year on Washington roads since 1990, with 734 fatal crashes resulting in more than 810 deaths. Half of these incidents involved impaired drivers, reflecting a 59% increase in such crashes from 2019 to 2023.
Critics argue the change could unfairly penalize moderately impaired drivers without significantly enhancing public safety. They claim the real issue lies with drivers with high BAC levels, illicit drug use and repeat offenses.
Opponents also note Utah’s experience with a similar law as evidence of ineffectiveness, with fatalities reportedly increasing faster than in many other states, they said in the Senate’s bill report.
The bill, which was reintroduced from last year’s legislative session, now moves to the state house for further consideration.
