The state of Utah is introducing the nation’s strictest DUI law this month.
From December 30, the blood alcohol (BAC) limit for driving will be 0.05. The new law states that anyone over this limit who “operates a motor vehicle in a negligent manner causing the death of another” will have committed a criminal homicide.
“Despite decades of public campaigns and other efforts to discourage driving after drinking, survey and observational data show that many people continue to do so,” the Utah Department of Public Safety said in a statement. “Over the last five years, there were 54,402 arrests for DUI in Utah, which represents an average of 29.8 per day.”
Utah is the first state in the US to reduce the BAC limit below 0.08.
