HOLDEN SIGNS 0.08 BAC BILL

Having both lost children to drunken drivers, Mildred Held and Lorretta Wilson embraced as Gov. Bob Holden Tuesday signed a bill into law lowering Missouri's blood-alcohol content limit for drunken driving to 0.08 percent.

A decade after it was first introduced in Missouri, the General Assembly passed the legislation in the past session that will lower the BAC threshold from 0.10 percent when it takes effect Sept. 29.

"I've always had a little bit of doubt that it would pass," Wilson said. "I know you've got to fight for something if you want it, and we had to fight for this in the Legislature."

Said Held: "I'm quite sure it will save a lot of lives."

Both women are active members of the Cape Girardeau chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which for years pushed for the 0.08 percent standard. Held, of Olive Branch, Ill., lost her son Randy to a drunken driver in 1986. Wilson and her husband Charlie, who also attended the bill signing, lost their daughter Cathy to a drunken driver in 1987.

"Today is a truly momentous day," Holden said. "Because of our action, more lives will be saved on Missouri highways. More of our children will be able to build a future for themselves and for Missouri. Today Missouri responds to a cause that has taken 10 years too long."

Law enforcement officials from throughout Southeast Missouri looked on as Holden signed the bill at Cape Girardeau police headquarters. The governor also did ceremonial signings of the bill in Springfield, Joplin and Kansas City.

The law was one of the Democratic governor's top priorities for his first legislative term. After years of defeat, the measure enjoyed strong bipartisan support in the Legislature this year.

The bill's House sponsor, Democratic state Rep. Craig Hosmer of Springfield, credited the bill's passage to Holden's commitment and willingness to stand up to liquor interests, which yield much influence in the Missouri Capitol.

"Taking on the liquor industry is not a very easy thing to do in this state," Hosmer said. "I'm very, very proud of him for doing that and taking that political chance."

Area lawmakers in attendance at the ceremonial signing included state Reps. Phillip Britt, D-Kennett, and Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, and Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau.

Britt said that as Dunklin County assistant prosecuting attorney he successfully prosecuted some defendants for driving at 0.08 percent. However, he said winning such cases was difficult, requiring other evidence of intoxication. Under the new law, a person registering 0.08 percent or above would be presumed guilty and intoxication need not be proved.

Crowell credited 0.08 percent supporters for keeping the measure alive after years of failure. "The biggest lesson to learn here is to never give up; never quit holding the politicians' feet to the fire," Crowell said.

Charles Jackson, the new director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, said an estimated 17 to 34 lives a year will be saved in Missouri because of the new law.

"As a former road trooper myself, I would say that if just one life is saved or one serious injury is prevented, this legislation is worth it," Jackson said.

Financial incentive

But passage of the bill this year had more to do with money than safer highways. Under a federal law passed last year, states that refuse to adopt 0.08 percent will begin losing federal highway money in 2003.

Missouri would have lost an estimated $8.1 million that year, with the figure growing to $32.4 million a year by 2006. By passing 0.08 percent before the deadline, Missouri will get approximately $6 million in federal incentive money over the next two years.

Missouri is the 26th state to adopt the tougher standard.

The threatened loss of revenue caused many longtime opponents, including Kinder, to reluctantly back the measure this year. It also led brewing giant Anheuser-Busch to withdraw its opposition, though brewery officials were quick to point out the company still opposed 0.08 percent in principle, saying it did nothing to address the real problem of drunken drivers with 0.15 BAC and above while penalizing social drinkers.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a 170-pound man generally reaches 0.08 percent after four drinks one fewer than it would take the same man to reach 0.10 percent.

Hosmer dismissed the argument that drivers would be thrown in jail for driving after having just a couple drinks.

"That was misinformation that the liquor lobby tried to sell, and I'm happy to say this year they weren't able to sell that in the General Assembly," Hosmer said.

The bill is HB 302.