38 people arrested under new Utah drunk driving law

The Utah Department of Public Safety says it arrested nearly 40 people under Utah’s new drunk driving law in its first month.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported Monday 38 people were arrested in January under the state’s DUI law implemented that month.

Authorities say the statute lowers the legal blood alcohol level for drivers to 0.05.

Police say that in January, 844 people were arrested statewide and 38 of those were arrested for driving with a blood-alcohol level between 0.05 and 0.079.

Utah Highway Patrol officials say the figures show troopers made arrests based on impairment, which is the legal standard for pulling over drivers.

Officials say Utah has the toughest anti-drunken driving law in the nation, with most other states placing a limit of 0.08 percent blood alcohol content.