Driving While Ability Impaired? Another DWI Offense In The Making?

In this morning’s Austin American Statesman, the always excellent Mike Ward (and I don’t say that just because our daughters are in the same class and Girl Scout Troop) has an article detailing a movement pushing for the adoption of a “DWI Lite” crime.   Austin police chief Art Acevedo is among those supporting a new crime of  “driving while ability impaired,” which would make it a crime to drive with a blood alcohol level between 0.05 and 0.07.  To give you an idea what that means, Department of Public Safety statistics indicate that most people would fall below that threshold with one drink, but that 2-3 drinks would cause most people to reach the 0.05 threshold.

This isn’t a completely new idea.  Colorado and New York already have similar laws on the books.

I imagine a number of people will be against the proposal.  But as someone who sees the problems of drunk driving on an almost daily basis, I have a hard time being against this.  I sure would be interested in hearing your thoughts.