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U. S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces $90.4 Million in Incentive Grants To 31 States, D.C., Puerto Rico for .08 BAC Laws


American Government Topics:  Norman Y. Mineta

U. S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces $90.4 Million in Incentive Grants To 31 States, D.C., Puerto Rico for .08 BAC Laws

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
September 13, 2002


NHTSA 59-02
Friday, September 13, 2002
Contact: Faithia Robertson
Telephone: 202-366-9550

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced incentive grants totaling $90.4 million to 31 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for lowering the legal threshold for impaired driving to .08 percent blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

"I commend the states that have already passed .08 BAC laws," said Mineta. "The people of these states along with the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have sent a strong message that they will not tolerate drunken drivers on their roads."

The fiscal year 2002 incentive grant recipients from the U.S. Department of Transportation are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wyoming.

The grant recipients include 4 new jurisdictions that did not qualify for the fiscal year 2001 grants: Connecticut, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Grant funds may be used for highway safety or highway infrastructure projects.

The funds announced today are incentive grants, authorized under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). It authorized $500 million in federal grants to states over six years beginning in 1998, as incentives to enact and enforce laws that make it illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 or greater.

The total amount awarded this year is $14 million more than was awarded in 2001. A table showing the states and jurisdictions and the amounts received follows. New grant recipients are in capital letters. A list showing eligible recipients and grant amounts follows:


FUNDING FOR STATES WITH .08 LAWS

[SECTION 163]

Eligible States FY 2002 Grant
Alabama $2,477,386
Alaska $728,215
Arizona $2,385,916
Arkansas $1,849,633
California $14,022,185
CONNECTICUT $1,444,595
District of Columbia $728,215
Florida $6,945,349
Georgia $4,041,820
Hawaii $728,215
Idaho $888,362
Illinois $5,817,404
Indiana $3,076,001
Kansas $2,180,980
Kentucky $2,194,799
Maine $728,215
Maryland $2,229,759
MISSISSIPPI $1,700,736
Missouri $3,155,589
Nebraska $1,450,863
New Hampshire $728,215
New Mexico $1,201,428
North Carolina $3,859,434
Oklahoma $2,269,870
Oregon $1,856,188
Puerto Rico $1,541,205
SOUTH DAKOTA $1,014,807
Texas $10,372,603
Utah $1,195,566
Vermont $728,215
Virginia $3,241,036
Washington $2,888,981
WYOMING $728,215
Total $90,400,000

Notes:

  1. States receiving this grant for the first time are in capital letters.

  2. Three states that enacted .08 BAC laws are not eligible for these incentive grants. Louisiana enacted a law in July 2001 and Tennessee enacted a law in July 2002, neither of which will become effective before the September 30, 2002, deadline for FY 2002 grants. Rhode Island enacted a law in July 2000 that does not comply with the Section 163 requirements.

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