Thursday, January 24, 2008
Senator Jones' Senate Bill 71 Passes Senate.
Senator Ray S. Jones II (D-Pikeville) won a battle as his SB 71 passed the Senate Thursday. The bill would strengthen Kentucky’s DUI law.
The bill would establish a per se DUI offense for driving with a detectable level of an illegal substance or a controlled substance for which the person doesn’t have a valid prescription . However, if the person has a valid prescription and has complied with the dosage and any drug-related restrictions, the proposed amendment would not apply.
SB 71 would also reduce the alcohol concentration from 0.18 to 0.15 for establishing an aggravating circumstance, which allows for imposition of increased penalties for driving under the influence. This provision is needed to prevent Kentucky from losing highway funding from the federal government.
According to the National transportation Safety Administration, drugs other than alcohol are involved in nearly one out of every five motor vehicle driver deaths...alcohol one out of every three.
The bill now goes to the house.
The bill would establish a per se DUI offense for driving with a detectable level of an illegal substance or a controlled substance for which the person doesn’t have a valid prescription . However, if the person has a valid prescription and has complied with the dosage and any drug-related restrictions, the proposed amendment would not apply.
SB 71 would also reduce the alcohol concentration from 0.18 to 0.15 for establishing an aggravating circumstance, which allows for imposition of increased penalties for driving under the influence. This provision is needed to prevent Kentucky from losing highway funding from the federal government.
According to the National transportation Safety Administration, drugs other than alcohol are involved in nearly one out of every five motor vehicle driver deaths...alcohol one out of every three.
The bill now goes to the house.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 10:40 PM 
