HomeMy WebLinkAbout10899i RESOLUTION NO. 10,899
2 A RESOLUTION ENDORSING AN AMENDMENT TO
3 ARKANSAS LAW TO PROVIDE THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL TO
4 OPERATE OR BE IN ACTUAL PHYSICAL CONTROL OF A
5 MOTOR VEHICLE IF AT THAT TIME THERE IS A 0.08
6 PERCENT OR MORE BY WEIGHT OF ALCOHOL IN A
7 PERSON'S BLOOD; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
8 WHEREAS, the current law in the state of Arkansas makes it unlawful for any
9 person to operate or be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle if at that time there
10 was a 0.10 percent or more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood; and
11 WHEREAS, at a forum conducted on April 20, 2000, by Mr. Rodney Slater,
12 Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation, it was discussed that there
13 is a movement in the country to lower the prohibited amount of alcohol which may be
14 in a person's blood when operating a motor vehicle to 0.08 percent; and
15 WHEREAS, statistics maintained by organizations such as Mothers Against
16 Drunk Drivers ( "MADD ") and the National Highway Transportation Safety
17 Administration ("NHTSA") indicate the probability of an automobile accident climbs
18 rapidly after approximately 0.08 percent of alcohol is in the system; and
19 WHEREAS, when citizens are injured or killed in traffic accidents, not only do
20 the individual families suffer, but there are many societal cost as emergency services,
21 uninsured medical care, tax supported rehabilitation programs, higher insurance costs
22 and survivor payments; and
23 WHEREAS, research indicates that lowering the state Arkansas' blood alcohol
24 content limit to 0.08 percent would reduce alcohol- related injuries and fatalities; and
25 WHEREAS, the United States Senate passed legislation in June 2000 that would
26 require all states to reduce their per se alcohol limits for DUI from .10 to .08; and
27 WHEREAS, the Arkansas Municipal League endorsed the .08 resolution in it's
28 Annual Meeting in June 2000.
I NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF
2 DIRECTORS OF THE CI'T'Y OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
3 Section 1. The Board supports research and development of legislation to
4 amend current Arkansas law in order to provide that it will be unlawful to operate or
5 be in actual physical control of motor vehicle if at that time there was 0.08 percent or
6 more by weight of alcohol in the person's blood as determined by chemical tests
7 provided for in Arkansas law. The Board directs the City Manager and his staff to work
8 with all interested parties in developing appropriate legislation to address this issue for
9 inclusion in the City's legislative package for the 2001 session of the Arkansas General
10 Assembly.
11 ADOPTED: September 19, 2000
12
13 ATTEST:
14
15 �
Nan y o9 , City
16 Clerk
17
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM:
18
20 Thomas M. Carpenter
City Attorney
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APPROVED:
J' ailey, Mayor