Utah’s Strict New DUI Laws: The Shape of Things to Come?
After passing a new law in December 2018, Utah now has the strictest restrictions on Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in the United States. A detailed article on the new laws now in effect appears here. The New Standard On December 30th, the new law lowered the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) for legal driving […]
After passing a new law in December 2018, Utah now has the strictest restrictions on Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in the United States. A detailed article on the new laws now in effect appears here.
The New Standard
On December 30th, the new law lowered the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) for legal driving within the state to .05%; the previous limit was .08%. While Utah legislature passed the law in 2017, the state delayed implementation until late 2018. Between December 30th and January 1st, police made 29 total DUI arrests. During the same time period last year, police made 46 DUI arrests.
The First Arrest is Made
A Wyoming man was the first person arrested by the Utah Highway Patrol under the state’s tough new DUI law. The 21-year-old man was driving on I-80 in Summit County on January 1st. At the time of the stop, the man registered a BAC of .089% on a police portable breathalyzer. 90 minutes later, the man recorded a BAC of .059% at the police station. The details of the arrest are available here.
Will Utah’s Standard Spread?
In Utah, the total number of DUI arrests has dropped 50% overall since 2010. Police made over 12,000 arrests for DUI in Utah in 2010. By 2017, that number had fallen to less than 6,000. Given the apparent effectiveness of new law on Utah’s DUI numbers, other states may consider stricter regulations to follow suit.
We Can Help.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a motor vehicle accident involving a drunk driver, contact Daggett Shuler Law for help. An experienced Drunk Driving Accident Attorney can handle your entire case and work to secure fair and just compensation for you.
If you have questions about a drunk driving accident, call Daggett Shuler at 800-815-5500. When you call, you will speak with a Winston-Salem, North Carolina Drunk Driving Accident Attorney absolutely FREE. We will investigate every detail of your situation at no cost to you—and fight hard to secure the compensation you deserve.
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