With new laws now in effect, Utah now has the strictest laws against Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in the entire nation. An article on the new standards is found here.
The New Law
The state of Utah now has the toughest DUI law in the United States. The new law went into effect on December 30th, 2018. It lowered the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) for driving in the state from .08% to .05%. The Utah Legislature passed the law in 2017 but delayed implementation until the end of 2018.
From December 30th through January 1st, police arrested 29 DUI suspects. Last year, police made 46 DUI arrests during the same time period.
First Day, First Arrest
According to the Highway Patrol, a 21-year-old Wyoming man driving on I-80 in Summit County on January 1st became the first person to be arrested in Utah under the state’s new DUI standards. The man received a portable breath test registering a BAC of .089% at the time of the stop. When he arrived at the police station 90 minutes later, he recorded a BAC of .
059%. Details regarding the arrest appear here.
Will the Utah Law Spread?
There has been a 50% decline in the number of DUI arrests in Utah since 2010. In 2010, police made more than 12,000 DUI arrests in the state. That number dropped to just under 6,000 in 2017.
Based on the apparent effectiveness of new DUI standards on arrest numbers, other states may soon consider stricter regulations.
We Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident that was not your fault, call Graves McLain right away at 918-359-6600. When you call one of our experienced Tulsa, Oklahoma Car Accident Attorneys, we will speak with you for FREE and determine the best course of action.
We review every detail of your situation at no cost to you—and fight hard to protect your rights. Trust our team, we are here to help.
At Graves McLain, you will never pay an attorney’s fee upfront—and you owe us nothing until we win your case. At Graves McLain, we don’t get paid until you do.
Graves McLain, Serious Lawyers for Serious Injuries
When injury victims need a law firm with a reputation for excellence, turn to Graves McLain Injury Lawyers. We are a top-rated personal injury firm determined to be the best. With decades of award-winning representation, our clients recover the compensation they need to put their lives back together.
