
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 3, 1994                   TAG: 9403030087
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

SENATE PANEL BACKS DRUNKEN-DRIVING BILL

After two hours of discussion, a Senate committee Wednesday overwhelmingly endorsed a bill requiring an immediate seven-day license suspension for anyone arrested for drunken driving.

Del. Richard Cranwell's bill also lowers from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent the blood-alcohol level for prosecuting a charge of driving under the influence. The standard for drivers under 21 would be 0.02 percent.

Another provision allows authorities to impound for at least 30 days the car of anyone arrested for drunken driving while his license is suspended for a previous DUI conviction.

Sen. Joseph Benedetti, R-Richmond, was the only member of the 15-member Courts of Justice committee to vote against the bill, which now goes to the Senate floor. Another bill imposing the 0.08 standard already has passed the Senate, but it did not include the other provisions.

Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, beat back several proposed amendments that he said would weaken the bill and perhaps jeopardize chances of getting tough anti-drunken-driving legislation passed this session.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994

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