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