Legal blood alcohol limit for drivers could be lowered in North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – The amount of alcohol someone is legally allowed to drink before driving a car in North Carolina could change if a bipartisan bill in the General Assembly is passed.
Republican state Rep. Mike Clampitt says the law hasn't been changed for 25 years.
'I think it's about time we did a change,' he said.
House Bill 108 would lower the legal limit from .08 to .05 blood alcohol content. It includes other provisions, like more guidance for law enforcement to get a sample from suspected drunk drivers and chances for repeat offenders to earn back a driver's license by proving sobriety.
'By rewarding them for being sober, going through an impaired driving class, and then getting a restricted license,' Rep. Clampitt explained.
The bill already has bipartisan support.
Rep. Clampitt, a retired firefighter, says he himself has seen too many alcohol-related deaths on North Carolina roads.
'Most recent example in my county, a head-on collision with a gentleman that had a .31 on the scene of this head-on collision, his second head-on collision since 2017,' he said.
During the 2023 fiscal year, over 27,000 sentences were handed down statewide for impaired drivers.
Organizations who work against drunk driving say they will back any bill that saves lives and prevents crashes.
'Every tragedy we can prevent is worth that effort because it is physically, obviously, emotionally devastating, not just to the family when it occurs, but entire communities can be impacted by these tragedies and they simply don't have to happen,' Steven Burritt with Moms Against Drunk Driving said.
The bill is still in its very early stages, but it already has bipartisan support. It's been referred to committee for more conversation.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MO State Rep. introduces bill to cut childhood poverty in half
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri State Representative, Ray Reed announced Monday a bill that seeks to cut childhood poverty in half for Missouri children. During a Missouri General Assembly special session, Reed introduced the 'Missouri Child Tax Credit' bill in hopes for the state to invest in Missouri's low-income and working-class families. Potential Royals move to Kansas sparks mixed reaction in Overland Park 'At a time when we're considering investing nearly a billion dollars to retain a football team, I believe we must also ask ourselves what kind of state we want to be. If we have the resources to build stadiums, we have the resources to build stronger futures for Missouri's kids,' Rep. Reed, said. The statement comes on the same day Jackson County legislators approved the 2025 Jackson County budget, which included investments in community needs such affordable housing and health equity, according to Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. The child tax credit seeks to provide direct payments to low-income families with children under the age of 18-years-old. Kansas City's Country Club Plaza struggles with closures and empty shops In a release form Reed's office, it states the bill is modeled after the 2021 Biden-Harris expansion that lifted more than three million children out of poverty nationwide. 'This bill isn't just about alleviating poverty—it's about unlocking potential,' Reed said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Reps. Ami Bera, Tony Gonzales on LA protests
(NewsNation) — Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif., says Democrats and Republicans should come together to de-escalate the protests going on in Los Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, says the focus needs to be more on deporting the dangerous illegal immigrants currently in the U.S. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Milwaukee County Judge Dugan case, prosecutors urge court not to dismiss
The Brief The Trump administration is opposing the dismissal of charges against Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan. Dugan is accused of helping a man evade immigration agents in her courthouse. DOJ attorneys argue dropping the charges would set a dangerous precedent, implying judges are above the law. MILWAUKEE - A federal motion has been filed in response to Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan's request to dismiss the case against her. And after reading through the 25-page motion, federal prosecutors say Dugan is not above the law. The indictment against Dugan alleges she helped an undocumented man who was wanted on a federal warrant avoid arrest by I.C.E. agents. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Click to open this PDF in a new window. In Dugan's motion for dismissal, she asked the court to dismiss the indictment based on judicial immunity. But today (June 9), federal prosecutors came back saying her request was unprecedented and quote "would, in essence, say that judges are above the law." Dugan faces a July 21 trial in the case that escalated a clash between Trump's administration and opponents over the Republican president's sweeping immigration crackdown. Trump critics contend that Dugan's arrest went too far and that the administration is trying to make an example out of her to discourage judicial opposition to the crackdown. The backstory Dugan is charged with concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor, and obstruction, which is a felony. Prosecutors say she escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, and his lawyer out of her courtroom through a back door on April 18 after learning that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in the courthouse seeking to arrest him for being in the country illegally. She could face up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine if convicted on both counts. Her attorneys say she's innocent. They filed a motion last month to dismiss the case, saying she was acting in her official capacity as a judge and therefore is immune to prosecution. They also maintain that the federal government violated Wisconsin's sovereignty by disrupting a state courtroom and prosecuting a state judge. The other side Justice Department attorneys responded in a court filing Monday, saying dismissing the charges against the judge on the grounds that she is immune would be unprecedented and would ignore "well-established law that has long permitted judges to be prosecuted for crimes they commit." "Such a ruling would give state court judges carte blanche to interfere with valid law enforcement actions by federal agents in public hallways of a courthouse, and perhaps even beyond," Justice Department attorneys argued. "Dugan's desired ruling would, in essence, say that judges are 'above the law,' and uniquely entitled to interfere with federal law enforcement." Dugan's attorney, Craig Mastantuono, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. In her motion to dismiss, Dugan argued that her conduct amounted to directing people's movement in and around her courtroom, and that she enjoys legal immunity for official acts she performs as a judge. She also accused the federal government of violating Wisconsin's sovereignty by disrupting a state courtroom and prosecuting a state judge. Dugan's case is similar to one brought during the first Trump administration against a Massachusetts judge, who was accused of helping a man sneak out a courthouse back door to evade a waiting immigration enforcement agent. That case was eventually dismissed. The backstory According to prosecutors, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2013. He was charged in March with misdemeanor domestic violence in Milwaukee County and was in Dugan's courtroom for a hearing in that case on April 18. Dugan's clerk alerted her that immigration agents were in the courthouse looking to arrest Flores-Ruiz, prosecutors allege in court documents. According to an affidavit, Dugan became visibly angry at the agents' arrival and called the situation "absurd." After discussing the warrant for Flores-Ruiz's arrest with the agents, Dugan demanded that they speak with the chief judge and led them away from the courtroom. She then returned to the courtroom, was heard saying something to the effect of "wait, come with me," and then showed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a back door, the affidavit says. The immigration agents eventually detained Flores-Ruiz outside the building following a foot chase. Dugan, 66, was arrested by the FBI on April 25 at the courthouse. A grand jury indicted Dugan on May 13 and she pleaded not guilty on May 15. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android What we know A legal defense fund created by Dugan supporters to help pay for her high-profile defense attorneys has raised more than $137,000 in three weeks from more than 2,800 donors. Her legal team includes former U.S. Attorney Steve Biskupic and former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement. Both were appointed by Republican presidents. She has also hired prominent attorneys in Milwaukee and Madison. "This is an impressive show of support for the defense fund, highlighting that the public believes in protecting a fair and independent judiciary," former Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske, the fund's trustee, said Monday. "The fund will continue to raise grassroots donations and uphold strict guidelines to ensure transparency and accountability." Dugan is not required to list the donor names until she submits her annual financial disclosure form, which is due in April. Numerous people are prohibited from donating, including Milwaukee County residents; attorneys who practice in the county; lobbyists; judges; parties with pending matters before any Milwaukee County judge; and county employees. The Source FOX6 has done significant reporting on the arrest and charges filed against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan. FOX6 produced this story with information from the federal motion, with contributions from the Associated Press.
