HONOLULU — Lt. Governor James R. Aiona Jr., in his capacity as acting governor, today signed into law three bills to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking, a press release from Gov. Linda Lingle’s office states. The enactment of the
HONOLULU — Lt. Governor James R. Aiona Jr., in his capacity as acting governor, today signed into law three bills to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking, a press release from Gov. Linda Lingle’s office states.
The enactment of the new laws is the result of more than three years of collaboration and commitment by the Lingle administration focusing on underage drinking as an underlying factor in addressing drug abuse in Hawai‘i.
“We can no longer view underage drinking as a minor infraction or ‘rite of passage’ for our teens,” Aiona said in the release. “These new laws provide everyone in our state, from law enforcement officers and judges to parents and business owners, with additional resources to help keep our keiki safe and alcohol free.”
House Bill 2639, now Act 201, increases the penalties for anyone who operates a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .15 or higher, the release states. Under the new law, which goes into effect on July 1, a driver with a blood alcohol level exceeding .15 will be considered a “highly intoxicated driver,” subject to a mandatory suspension of his or her driver’s license and vehicle registration. The individual will not be eligible for a conditional driving permit, meaning he or she will be prohibited from operating a vehicle during the suspension period.
The governor’s office says that 85 percent of the 184 alcohol-related fatal crashes in Hawai‘i between 2000 and 2004 involved drivers whose blood alcohol content was .15 or higher, well above the current .08 limit.
House Bill 3242, now Act 202, adds “consumption” and “ingestion of alcohol” to the list of prohibited activities by individuals under the age of 21, making it possible for law enforcement officers to address situations where a person under 21 has illegally consumed alcohol but is not caught possessing or purchasing it, the release states. Current state law only prohibits minors from purchasing or possessing alcohol.
This law takes effect immediately.
Known as the Use and Lose Law, Act 203, formerly Senate Bill 706, suspends the driving privileges for at least 180 days of any person under 21 who illegally purchases, possesses or consumes alcohol, the release states. If the individual is not licensed to drive, a judge would have the discretion to postpone eligibility to obtain a license for 180 days or until the person turns 17. In addition, all violators will be required to perform 75 hours of community service and undergo eight to 12 hours of alcohol education and counseling. The law takes effect on January 1.
“As a former Family Court judge, I know that one of a teenager’s most prized possession is his or her driver’s license because it represents their new-found freedom,” Aiona said. “The Use and Lose Law makes it very clear to teens that if they are underage and they drink, they will lose their driver’s license and the freedom that comes along with it.”
To request a copy of “Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child About Alcohol, contact the Office of the Lieutenant Governor at (808) 586-0255 or the Regional Alcohol & Drug Abuse Resource Network, Prevention Resource Center at the Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawai‘i at (808) 545-3228, ext. 34. Copies can also be downloaded from the Lt. Governor’s Web site at www.hawaii.gov/ltgov.
