Connecticut lawmakers are considering legislation, Senate Bill 1376, to lower the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) for drivers and boaters to 0.05%, down from the current limit of 0.08%. This move comes after the state recorded more than 300 traffic-related fatalities in 2024, with alcohol involved in one-third of them. If passed, Connecticut would be the second state in the country to adopt the 0.05% limit. Supporters of the bill, including Transportation officials and the National Transportation Safety Board, believe that lowering the BAC can reduce alcohol-related crashes on roadways.
However, some lawmakers are skeptical about the effectiveness of the bill, noting that most alcohol-related fatalities involve drivers with a BAC well above the current legal limit. Additionally, there are concerns about potential disparities in how phlebotomy testing and other drug-related traffic enforcement might be administered. Despite these reservations, supporters of the bill argue that lowering the legal BAC level is one tool to address the multifaceted issue of drug- and alcohol-related fatalities on Connecticut roadways.
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