The Associated Press reported Jan. 3 that state Sen. Jim Waring (R-Phoenix) wants the BAC standard for repeat offenders lowered from .08 percent. Similar graduated DWI standards are already on the books in 23 other states.

Waring also plans to introduce legislation that would bar people with a prior conviction involving a BAC of .15 percent or higher from driving with any detectable amount of alcohol in their system. The zero-tolerance plan has the support of the state chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. "These are the people that need to be regulated. These are the people that are going to kill somebody," Waring said.

Ninety percent of the 2,700 people in Arizona prisons for DWI-related crimes are repeat offenders.

The Arizona Licensed Beverage Association opposes the .05-percent legislation. "There is absolutely no reason to think the average person will be impaired at 0.05," said Bill Weigele, president of the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association. "Those that socially drink and are not a problem are being put upon pretty hard by the continual reduction of the (blood-alcohol level)."

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