Lawmaker proposes lowering Oregon’s blood alcohol limit

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Data show that 11 people were killed in Oregon in 2017 in crashes involving drivers who had a blood alcohol level between the current legal limit and a proposed lower limit.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports state Senate President Peter Courtney has proposed legislation to lower Oregon’s 0.08 blood alcohol level limit to 0.05.

Utah is the only state with the lower blood alcohol level limit.

According to the newspaper’s analysis of data, 12 people sustained major injuries and 49 people had less-severe injuries in the crashes involving people driving under the legal blood alcohol limit.

The Salem Democrat says his bill isn’t about limiting drinking, but it’s about changing the state’s culture to stop drinking and driving.

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com