Local MADD chapter supports tough standard

Local Mother's Against Drunk Driving workers cheered Tuesday morning after learning news that a bill slated to be signed into law will set the national blood-alcohol standard for drunken driving at 0.08.

The measure does not install the lower measurement into the 32 states - including Nevada - that use a higher standard. Instead, lawmakers in those states have four years to comply or lose two percent of federal highway funding. That loss would increase to 8 percent by 2007 if the states do not comply.

MADD chapter president Judy Jacoboni, who works in the Lyon County office, said that 200 members statewide have been lobbying to have the legislation adopted in Nevada. Fifteen of those members are active locally.

"We have put a lot of energy into writing and calling Sen.(Harry) Reid to urge his support," she said. "A small delegation of local representatives went to Washington at the end of September to talk to him."

Jacoboni said it's common sense to lower Nevada's standard to .08 because of the high number of per capita deaths that result from drunken driving accidents. For five Nevada state legislature sessions, MADD has offered a bill to lower Nevada's standards, but those efforts have been fruitless. While the threat of withheld government funding is being used to back the state into the new standard, she said the means might justify the ends.

"We really have a lot of hopes for .08," she said. "It will save a lot of lives.

"We're nearly surrounded by states, except for Arizona, that have a .08 standard. Why does Nevada have to hold out?"