Marijuana Legalization Creates Challenges for Officers Enforcing Impaired Driving Laws
WAW Now
Standardization and Field Sobriety Testing
The development and enforcement of DUI legislation were two very different things. As far back as the 1930s, scientific studies established that drunk driving was dangerous (Widmark in 1932, Heise in 1934 and Borkenstein in 1954). Eventually, this research, combined with the ability to measure blood alcohol content (BAC), led states to establish legal BAC limits first at .10%. This was later lowered to .08%, and the trend continues. For example, Utah House Bill 155 was signed into law in March 2017, lowering the BAC to .05%.
The development and enforcement of DUI legislation were two very different things. As far back as the 1930s, scientific studies established that drunk driving was dangerous (Widmark in 1932, Heise in 1934 and Borkenstein in 1954). Eventually, this research, combined with the ability to measure blood alcohol content (BAC), led states to establish legal BAC limits first at .10%. This was later lowered to .08%, and the trend continues. For example, Utah House Bill 155 was signed into law in March 2017, lowering the BAC to .05%.