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Senate Committee Passes .08 Legislation

February 2, 2000
By: Francine Krantz
State Capital Bureau

A bill that would make several changes to drunk driving laws has passed a Senate committee. Francine Krantz has the story from Jefferson City.

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The bill would make drivers with .08 blood alcohol levels guilty of misdemeanor crimes.

Veteran Senator Harold Caskey sponsored the bill which also outlaws driving with open containers.

Caskey says the federal government is forcing the state to pass some form of .08 legislation.

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Contents: He says if they don't pass the bill the federal government will move $6 million reserved for construction to the highway safety fund.

Two female committee members voted against the bill. They say they are opposed to the open container exception. From the state capitol, I'm Francine Krantz.

Two lawmakers voiced opposition to portions of a drunk driving bill that passed a Senate committee today/Wednesday. Francine Krantz has the story from Jefferson City.

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Two female lawmakers were the only members of a Senate committee who voted against a drunk driving bill.

The bill would make drivers with .08 blood alcohol levels guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

St. Louis County Republican Betty Sims says she decided to oppose the bill because it would ban all open containers.

Sims says she thinks it's ludicrous that people who have open containers but are not under the influence would be guilty of such a crime.

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Contents: Sims says the committee is effectively saying to voters that they can't have amaretto with their cheesecake because that would violate the law.

Kansas City Senator Mary Bland also voted against the bill. From the state capitol, I'm Francine Krantz.

A Senate committee passed an anti-drunk driving bill today/Wednesday despite the objections of two female lawmakers. Francine Krantz has the story from Jefferson City.

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The bill would make drivers with .08 blood alcohol levels guilty of a misdemeanor crime and outlaw open containers.

Veteran Senator Harold Caskey, who sponsored the bill, says the state would be eligible for more federal highway funds.

But St. Louis County Senator Betty Sims says the bill would do nothing to help the state financially.

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Contents: Sims says the bill will not generate one extra penny for the state of Missouri.

Sims and Kansas City Senator Mary Bland were the only two committee members to vote against the bill. From the state capitol, I'm Francine Krantz.