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NTSB, state officials press Connecticut lawmakers to lower legal BAC to 0.05
Summary
Federal and state safety experts urged the Transportation Committee to approve legislation lowering Connecticut's per se blood-alcohol limit from 0.08 to 0.05, citing international experience, Utah's data and research on deterrence; debate focused on enforcement, equity and drug-impaired driving.
Tom Chapman of the National Transportation Safety Board told the Transportation Committee the NTSB "strongly support[s] legislation that will lower the legal BAC per se limit to 0.05." Chapman testified that more than 100 countries use a 0.05 or lower threshold and that Utah's experience showed a deterrent effect after the state lowered the limit, with no large increase in arrests. He cited national statistics showing alcohol remains a leading cause of fatal crashes and told lawmakers research indicates lowering the per se limit can reduce fatal alcohol-related crashes by roughly 11 percent.
Commissioner Gary Iucolito of the Connecticut Department of Transportation reinforced the safety…
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