Haslam to call special session to save $60M in highway funds

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam says he’ll call a special legislative session to try to fix the state’s drunken driving law and prevent the loss of $60 million in federal highway funds.

The move Friday comes after the U.S. Transportation Department determined state law doesn’t comply with a federal “zero tolerance” drunken driving statute. The governor’s office said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicated Tennessee would permanently lose $60 million if it remained out of compliance as of Oct. 1.

Under federal rules the maximum allowable blood alcohol content for drivers under 21 is 0.02 per cent. The new Tennessee law raised that limit to 0.08 per cent for 18- to 20-year-olds but added tougher penalties for violators. The 0.02 standard remained in place for drivers through age 17.