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Proposal aims to lower BAC to .05 in Michigan, require ignition interlocks

Posted at 7:12 PM, Mar 21, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-22 15:12:46-04

LANSING, Mich. (WXYZ) — A new bill would lower the state's legal blood alcohol concentration to .05, and make Michigan the 34th state in the country to require an all-offender ignition interlock law.

VOTE: Should Michigan lower the BAC limit for driving to .05?

The law was proposed Thursday by State Rep. Abdullah Hammound (D-Dearborn) with support from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

“Today, we are proud to stand with Michigan to support this proposal that research shows will save lives,” said MADD National President Helen Witty, whose 16-year-old daughter Helen Marie was killed by a drunk and marijuana-impaired driver while rollerblading on a bike path. “Research shows that critical driving skills are impaired at .05 BAC, significantly increasing the risk of a horrible, 100 percent preventable crash. We want to do anything we can to support states that are trying to stop these tragedies and keep drunk drivers off the road.”

If passed, Michigan would be the second state in the nation, after Utah, to lower the legal alcohol limit. The current legal threshold is .08.

For more information on MADD, visit www.madd.org.