1994-02-04                     Senate Journal                      Page 2686
SB 278                                                                       
SENATE BILL NO. 278 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                              
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                          
                                                                               
"An Act relating to sobriety checkpoints; and                                 
providing for an effective date."                                              
                                                                               
was read the first time and referred to the Judiciary and Finance              
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
Fiscal note from Department of Public Safety and zero fiscal notes             
from Department of Administration (2) and Department of Law                    
published today.                                                               
                                                                               
Governor's transmittal letter dated February 4:                                
                                                                               
Dear Mr. President:                                                            
                                                                               
Under the authority of art. III, sec. 18, of the Alaska Constitution,          
I am transmitting a bill relating to the use of sobriety checkpoints           
to discover and deter drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs.            
                                                                               
Drunk driving is a major highway safety concern in Alaska.  The                
deterrence, or apprehension and successful prosecution, of drivers             
impaired by alcohol or drugs has been and remains a major concern              
of law enforcement.                                                            
                                                                               
This bill authorizes a law enforcement agency to establish and                 
operate a sobriety checkpoint under a court order authorizing the              
checkpoint.  To obtain the order, the law enforcement agency must              
submit to the judge a written plan describing the proposed                     
checkpoint.  If the  judge  determines  that  the  plan  meets certain         
                                                                               
                                                                               

1994-02-04                     Senate Journal                      Page 2687
SB 278                                                                       
standards and appropriately minimizes delays and intrusions that will          
be caused by its operation, the judge will issue an order authorizing          
the proposed checkpoint.                                                       
                                                                               
In my State of the State address on January 12, 1993, I identified             
"alcoholism, along with the abuse of other drugs," as "Alaska's                
number one health problem."  I reiterated my commitment to dealing             
with this issue in my State of the State address this year, as well.           
This proposed legislation gives law enforcement officers additional            
tools that they need to combat the significant highway safety                  
problem presented by those drivers who drink or use drugs and then             
cause accidents that are fatal or cause serious injury.                        
                                                                               
I urge your favorable action on this bill.                                     
                                                                               
						Sincerely,                                                               
						/s/                                                                      
						Walter J. Hickel                                                         
						Governor