Senate votes to toughen drunk driving law

The Iowa Senate has voted to toughen the legal standard for judging who’s driving drunk in Iowa. Iowa’s legal blood alcohol limit would drop to point-oh-eight if the bill becomes law. Republican Senator Andy McKean of Anamosa says it’s good public policy because it’ll save lives. Republican Senator Gene Maddox of Clive says it’s the right move. He says it will protect public safety by keeping some drunk drivers off the road.Democrat Senator Tom Fiegen of Clarence says too many young people are being killed in car crashes caused by alcohol.Republican Senator Don Redfern of Cedar Falls says it’s not a crackdown on social drinkers. He says the vast majority of people have no business being on the highway if they have enough drinks to hit the point-oh-eight level.The feds will withhold highway construction money from states which do not set point-oh-eight as their blood alcohol limit. Only one senator voted against the bill.