Drunken boating standard lowered in Missouri

Jefferson, MO

Missouri's threshold for drunken boating on lakes and major rivers soon could be lowered to the same level as that for drivers.

Legislation sent to the governor Friday drops the legal
blood-alcohol limit to 0.08 percent. It would apply to lakes and
the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

Lawmakers in 2001 lowered the roadway drunken driving threshold to 0.08 percent.

The bill also requires boats to travel at no-wake speeds within 100 feet of the Water Patrol and other emergency vessels with red or blue lights.

Another provision lets previous convictions in municipal court count in determining whether someone is a repeat drunken driver or boater. The state Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that they did not count.

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Missouri House reiterates need for ignition interlocks for repeat drunken drivers

Jefferson City, MO

The Missouri House wants to increase the use of ignition interlock devices for convicted drunken drivers. Gov. Matt Blunt this year said judges are not doing a good enough job of enforcing Missouri's drunken-driving laws and requiring ignition interlock devices.

A law passed in 2001 requires ignition interlock devices on vehicles of people convicted of two or more drunken-driving offenses. The House bill would require a driver to prove to the Department of Revenue that he has the device to get driving privileges reinstated.

The House also added an amendment that would let Municipal Court convictions for drunken driving count when determining repeat offenders. The state Supreme Court ruled this year that Municipal Court convictions don't count.

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