A new law taking effect in Utah on March 15, 2024, will restrict individuals convicted of extreme DUI offenses from purchasing alcohol. Specifically, this legislation targets those with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.16 or higher, with the aim of reducing repeat offenses and enhancing public safety.
Art Brown, who personally experienced the tragedy of drunk driving, has been a long-time advocate against impaired driving. His four-month-old grandson, Matthew Affleck, lost his life in a DUI incident in 1999. Brown believes that had this law existed at that time, his grandson might still be alive. “The pain and grief cannot be spoken,” Brown shared, recounting how his family was returning home from a play when a driver, after consuming 21 drinks in a bar, struck them.
Motivated by this devastating loss, Brown became involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), serving as the president of MADD Utah for ten years. He emphasized the significance of the new law: “If that person had been refused alcohol as a multiple drunk driver, I may not be in this chair today.”
Legislative Intent and Implementation
The law is designed to prevent future tragedies by limiting alcohol access for individuals with serious DUI convictions. Utah State Senator Jerry Stevenson, a key proponent of the legislation, noted that the necessity for such a law stemmed from the high incidence of repeat DUI offenses in the state. “It’s just the multiple offenses we have on DUIs,” Stevenson explained.
Starting Thursday, those convicted of extreme DUI will face restrictions on alcohol purchases. “We’ve been trying to solve it the same way for a long while. It has not worked,” Stevenson remarked about previous attempts to address the issue.
Judges will have the authority to categorize individuals as interdicted, marking their driver’s licenses with “no alcohol sales.” This mark will serve as a clear notification to alcohol vendors that the individual is prohibited from purchasing alcohol. “It’ll identify the people who are going before a judge multiple times,” Stevenson added.
The law also permits individuals to voluntarily register under the restriction. In a further effort to enforce this legislation, all alcohol purchases across Utah will require identification checks.
Objectives and Public Message
Lawmakers have articulated a clear objective with this legislation: to reduce instances of drunk driving and promote responsible alcohol consumption. Stevenson stated, “The message that we want to send with any law that deals with DUI is don’t drink and drive.” He emphasized that irresponsible drinking is unacceptable in Utah.
With this new law, Utah aims to take a significant step towards ensuring safer roadways and reducing the impacts of drunk driving on families and communities. As advocates like Art Brown continue their efforts, the hope remains that fewer families will have to endure the grief that comes from such preventable tragedies.
