DOVER, Del., July 2 (UPI) -- Lawmakers in Delaware passed legislation lowering the legal blood-alcohol limit to 0.08 percent, the 50th state to make the change.
The state House voted 39-0 around 2 a.m. Thursday to approve a Senate-amended measure that lowered the limit for drunken driving to a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 percent. Delaware stood to lose $2 million in federal highway funds if it did not make the change.
The bill takes affect with the signature of Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, who was quoted as saying, "I cannot tell you how happy I am to get that one done."
The legislative battle to lower the limit was a 10-year fight and wasn't secured until the state Senate passed a version that included an amendment protecting first-time offenders cited for drunken driving despite a blood-alcohol content of less than 0.08 percent.
