New bill lowers standard for drunk driving -- October 24, 2000

State Representative Nancy Hollister calls it "blackmail" and "outrageous." She's referring to a bill signed into law yesterday that sets a national stardard for drunken driving. States that refuse to impose the standard will lose millions of dollars in federal highway construction money.

Hollister says Washington has no business telling the states what to do. "Obviously blood alcohol level and drunk driving is a very, very serious situation but for the federal government to come in and say, you will or we'll take something away from you and the irony of it is it's our money to begin with, it's based on gasoline tax money we send to them, so I am opposed to it."

Current Ohio law says drivers with a blood alcohol content of point-one percent are considered legally drunk. The new law lowers that to point-zero-eight percent and Democrat candidate Nancy Aiken is not sure that's good. "I think that point eight, in my opinion, it seems to be a bit low, but again it would have to be looked into and if they're gonna hold a hammer over us, we're gonna have to go along probably."

Aiken opposes Hollister in the general election. They were guests last night at a candidates forum in Athens.