ANCHORAGE - Governor Frank Murkowski, in a ceremony Tuesday at the Anchorage Crime Lab, signed SB 224 into law. Sponsored by Senator John Cowdery (R-Anchorage) this legislation increases penalties for a minor who operates a vehicle after consuming alcohol.

This legislation prohibits a person under age 21 from operating a vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft after consuming any alcohol, even if the person is not impaired.

The law also prohibits operating a vehicle within 24 hours of being cited for driving after consuming alcohol, and refusing to submit to a breath test.

Violation of any of these zero tolerance provisions is an infraction with a mandatory fine of $500 and 20 hours of community work service. The community work service must, if available, be related to education about, prevention of, or treatment for the misuse of alcohol.

A second offense increases the penalties to $1,000 and 40 hours of work service while a third or additional offense mandates a $1,500 fine and 60 hours of work service.

"This legislation was important to me because it closed a loophole that too often allowed minors who drink and drive to walk away from court with a hand slap," Senator Cowdery said.

"The goal isn't to 'pile on' minors who drink and drive - the goal is to make sure minors who act against the law face consistent and real consequences. Hopefully, the number of minors who break the law by drinking and driving will learn an important lesson the first time."

"In committee hearings, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) testified that minors who avoid consequences are likely to drink and drive as adults," Senator Cowdery added.

# # #