With
the threat of losing $17.3 million in federal transportation funds,
the Rhode Island Senate unanimously passed legislation May 15 to
lower the state’s blood-alcohol concentration limit from 0.10 percent
to 0.08, according to local media.
Rhode
Island is one of only about 12 states yet to conform to national
pressure to approve the lower limit. The Ocean State has so far
resisted a two-year-old federal law requiring all states to adopt
the 0.08 standard by October or risk losing millions in federal
highway dollars.
The
state would forfeit $1.7 million next year, and $3.5 million, $5.2
million and $6.9 million would be withheld in the following years, The Providence Journal reported.
States
that adopt the new limit by 2007 can recover the withheld funds.
H5452,
introduced by Rep. Peter T. Ginaitt, D-Warwick, now heads to the
House for final approval before going to the governor.
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