As the Michigan Legislature heads into its busy December session, there are many bills that we could consider. I certainly hope we will be able to find a reasonable, long-term solution for funding road and bridge improvements.

I would also like to see some reform in our no-fault insurance laws that would help lower premium costs for auto insurance. There is a long list of bills that various legislators have been working on that now are up against a short timeline because after the end of this session bills will have to be reintroduced in January. It promises to be an interesting few weeks.

One package of bills that will come up for consideration is being led by Rep. Matt Lori, R-Constantine, from our neighboring district to the east. Matt is a former sheriff and has a strong interest in public safety. House Bills 4441, 4443 and 4445 concern the acceptable blood alcohol content (BAC) limits for operators of recreational vehicles, including ATVs, watercraft and snowmobiles.

Currently under Michigan law, the BAC limit for automobile drivers is .08, while the BAC limit for operators of boats, ATVs or snowmobiles is higher at .10. Rep. Lori’s bills would match up all the legal limits at .08.

The logic is obvious: if you are legally too drunk to drive a car, why should you be allowed to operate these other vehicles? As a sheriff, Matt witnessed the tragic consequences of drunken operators of these vehicles, and would like to send a message with these bills. We take the problem of impaired driving of all vehicles seriously in Michigan.

I also have witnessed some of the sad results of alcohol-related recreational accidents. I know of two people on separate occasions who were permanently injured when a drunken snowmobile driver ran over them. Another accident I witnessed involved waterskiing, when the skier’s towrope was cut by a drunken boater speeding past. The rope snapped back into the boat and the skier barely escaped serious injury.

Boating sports and riding ATVs and snowmobiles are great family activities, and we live in an especially wonderful state in which to enjoy them. More often than not, our children are involved in some of these tragic drunken sporting accidents. I stand with Matt on these common-sense bills and have agreed to sponsor HB 4443.

Opposition to these bills stems from those concerned with having a few beers while fishing. These bills do not target anglers who are not legally drunk, and I do not anticipate an increase in citations issued to intoxicated anglers. I think these bills, more than anything, send a clear message. We are reminding ourselves and the tourists we welcome to our state that Michigan takes alcohol abuse seriously and it is not tolerated on our waterways and trails.

These bills, like many others, may or may not see passage in December. I hope to be able to report in January on some good pieces of legislation that make it through before the term ends.

 

As a member of our state government, I am aware of many problems that need fixing. I welcome your input about things that I can work on, and will do my best to work for balanced changes. You are welcome to contact my office via email at DavePagel@house.mi.gov, online at RepPagel.com or toll-free at 888-373-0078.