Bill > SB5067

This bill proposes to lower the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for driving from 0.08 to 0.05, aligning Washington state with most of the world's countries. The key provisions include changing multiple sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to reflect the new BAC threshold, which would apply to various contexts such as driving a motor vehicle, operating a vessel, and military personnel operating vehicles. The bill also mandates the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to develop a comprehensive public information campaign about the new law, and requires the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to conduct a two-year evaluation of the law's impacts. The legislative findings suggest that reducing the BAC limit from 0.08 to 0.05 could result in an 11 percent reduction in alcohol-related traffic fatalities, noting that 2023 was the deadliest year on Washington roads since 1990. The bill includes provisions to study the law's effects on traffic safety, equity outcomes, and business impacts, and is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026. Importantly, the bill clarifies that it does not change existing civil liability standards for alcohol vendors.

Housing and Urban Affairs, Justice, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5067&Year=2025&Initiative=false