Alaska gets $668,000 for lowering blood-alcohol limit to .08 percent

Frontiersman staff

ANCHORAGE — The state of Alaska will use a $668,000 incentive grant from the federal Department of Transportation to strengthen programs to combat drunken driving, Gov. Tony Knowles announced recently.

Alaska and 26 other states that have lowered the legal blood-alcohol content (BAC) level to .08 percent shared in almost $77 million in incentive grants announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta.

"Nearly half of all traffic fatalities on Alaska roads over the last decade were alcohol related. We must continue to do all we can to reduce that tragic statistic and this money will be a welcome boost to our ongoing efforts," Knowles said. "Earlier this year, I sponsored legislation to lower the blood alcohol content level for convicting drunken drivers to .08 percent. That gives law enforcement and prosecutors an important tool to help convict drunken drivers and keep them off the streets."

Knowles signed the legislation that lowered the blood alcohol limit into law on July 3, along with other bills that toughen consequences for repeat drunk drivers and bootleggers, provide treatment incentives for minors convicted of consuming and other measures.

By joining other states that have lowered the legal limit, Alaska is also eligible to receive incentive grants allowed under federal law.

The national program earmarks $500 million over six years to states that have lowered the allowable BAC to .08 percent. Alaska's share of the grant monies this year is $667,927.

"Now that we have taken this important step and are eligible to receive funds under the incentive program, I can think of no better use of these funds than to put the money directly into programs that combat drunken driving," Knowles said. "I have asked my commissioners of transportation and public safety to make recommendations to me as to the best use of these funds to fight this scourge that haunts our roads and highways."

"This is great news," said Marti Greeson, president of the Anchorage chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). "It's time that we move forward and start making a difference, and these additional resources will help."