Officials pass law to lower the drinking limits before getting behind the wheel – but with steeper penalties than before
DRIVERS have received a warning after a new road law is tightening limits on drunk driving.
Motorists will face harsher penalties for excessive drunk driving, with the threshold for these penalties requiring fewer drinks.
Tennessee State lawmakers passed a new road law that will drop the blood alcohol content for excessive DUI offenses.
It is illegal to drive a vehicle in Tennessee if a motorist's blood alcohol content, or BAC, rises above 0.08%.
However, the new law imposes stricter penalties for drivers who are caught with excessive BACs.
The bill was signed by Governor Bill Lee on May 28. New restrictions will be introduced to roads on July 1, 2024.
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Previously, a BAC would have to rise above 0.20% in order to recieve hightened penalties.
When a motorist's BAC rose above 0.20%, they were subject to at least two consecutive days in county jail.
Tennessee drivers will now be subject to increased penalties if they blow over 0.15%.
The penalty will increase from two to seven consecutive days in jail if they're caught with the increased BAC.
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Tennessee lawmakers believe the rules will send more people to county jails.
More than 12,000 residents are jailed after police catch illegal drunk driving, the bill said.
More than 2,500 drivers were caught with BACs over 0.20%, the state said.
The bill expects 85% more drivers will be subjected to the increased penalties under the new law.
Lawmakers also believe the bill will impact more first-time offenders.
"The proposed legislation is estimated to result in an additional 10,725 days of incarceration each year for first-time DUI offenders across the state," the bill said.
Inside Tennessee's law
Here is what to know about the state's new drunk driving rules:
Drivers in Tennessee are subject to even tougher restrictions if they get behind the wheel after fewer drinks.
State lawmakers passed a law that subjects drivers to seven days in jail after blowing a 0.15% BAC.
Previously, they were subject to two days in jail after a 0.20% BAC.
Lawmakers expect this will increase the number of people in county jails.
The bill estimated that residents will spend an additional 10,725 in jail annually.
Tennessee joins a number of states fighting back against drunk driving rates in the US.
Illinois also passed road laws this year that increased penalties for people supplying drugs and alcohol before a fatal accident.
The state's law previously stated that only non-residential places could be held accountable for providing drinks.
Now, private citizens who provide alcohol or drugs to underage drivers before an accident can be held civily liable.
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"No amount of money is going to bring back their loved ones, but it gives them a justification on what happened and holds those other parties responsible," Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana told local ABC affiliate WIFR.
"Hopefully it sets off red flags, Spidey senses, saying there’s more laws out there."