Awareness Campaign To Educate Utah Drivers About New .05 DUI Law
Dec 12, 2018, 10:52 PM | Updated: 10:53 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah will soon have the strictest DUI law in the country and an effort is underway to educate Utahns about what the .05 limit can mean for them.
On Wednesday, community partners and law enforcement joined together on a campaign known as Enjoy Utah Responsibly. And downtown businesses want people to know they can still enjoy a night out, even after the new .05 DUI law takes effect on December 30.
“If you are planning to drink, please drink responsible, have that plan, know how you are going to get home, travel safe,” said Chief Mike Brown of the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Those who enjoy a drink at dinner at a restaurant or an evening at a bar are being encouraged to take either public transit or a ride share. Lyft is offering a $5 coupon to encourage people to get a ride home.
“We realized this law change needed a friendly voice it needed a friendly voice to say go out and enjoy everything Utah has to offer, but be smart about it,” said Jeremy Neigher, a spokesman with Lyft.
Even though the legal limit will drop to .05, law enforcement officials with the Utah Highway Patrol say their methods for evaluating drivers for impairment will not change.
Utah’s new DUI law has had its critics, concerned the strictest law in the nation will make it nearly impossible for someone to have a drink even at dinner, without running the risk of reaching the .05 limit.
Watch for billboards and radio ads about the new law and ride sharing options before the law takes effect on the 30th, just in time for New Year’s Eve.
