Number
020099
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. PAWLINSKI, GORDON, RICHARDS AND CAMERON
Title
Substitute resolution directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of legislation to establish .08% blood alcohol concentration as a statewide drunken driving standard.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of legislation to establish .08% blood alcohol concentration as a statewide drunken driving standard. States that do not adopt this standard by September 30, 2003, will lose 2% of their federal highway funds starting in 2004 with the penalty increasing by 2 percentage points each year until the figure reaches 8% in fiscal 2007.
Body
Whereas, In October 2000, the federal government enacted legislation directing all states to adopt a .08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC) drunken driving standard or face the loss of a percentage of their federal highway funds; and
Whereas, Under the formula adopted by the federal government, states that have not adopted a .08% BAC standard by September 30, 2003, will lose 2% of their federal highway funds each year starting in 2004 with the penalty increasing by 2 percentage points every year until the figure reaches 8% in fiscal year 2007; and
Whereas, A recent analysis by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation indicated that the state, if it does not adopt a .08% BAC standard, could lose as much as $9.1 million in 2004, $36 million in 2008 and a total of $124.1 million between 2004 and 2008; and
Whereas, Although some of this money is spent on statewide projects, a sizeable amount is redirected to municipalities - $720 million being set aside for general transportation aids in the 2001-2003 biennium and the City of Milwaukee receiving $17.6 million in state and federal aid for infrastructure construction and repair in 2002; and
Whereas, With all its roads in constant need of care and the reconstruction of the Marquette Interchange scheduled in the near future, the City of Milwaukee must do whatever it can to insure that a fair share of federal highway dollars flows back to both Wisconsin and the City; and
Whereas, 32 other states have already enacted a .08% BAC standard; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division, is directed to seek introduction and passage of legislation that would establish .08% blood alcohol concentration as a statewide drunken driving standard.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB02202-1
jro
04/24/02
Ald. Cameron added as co-sponsor 5/14/02. mbh