Minnesota Becomes Last State In Nation To Adopt 08 DUI Limit

It was only a broken headlight on a beat-up pickup truck, but it led Martin County Deputy Matthew Owens to stop it for a check. The pickup's driver reeked of alcohol and a test showed he had a 0.12 percent blood-alcohol level, enough for a drunken driving offense even on one of the last nights in the last state in the country to have a 0.10 percent minimum for driving under the influence.

Minnesota's DUI limit drops to 0.08 percent today, giving the United States a uniform standard.

''It's taken a long time, but at least we can all be glad that we finally have this sensible national level,'' said John Moulden, former president of the National Commission Against Drunk Driving.

Even though Minnesota has a reputation for being tough on drunken drivers -- automatically revoking licenses when a person is arrested -- the state lagged when it came to adopting the 0.08 limit.

Backers had pushed for the lower limit starting in the 1980s.

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