1994-02-04                     House Journal                      Page 2260
HB 444                                                                       
HOUSE BILL NO. 444 by the House 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 Transportation and Finance         
Committees.                                                                    
                                                                               
The following fiscal notes apply:                                              
                                                                               
Zero fiscal notes (2), Dept. of Administration, 2/4/94                         
Zero fiscal note, Dept. of Law, 2/4/94                                         
Fiscal note, Dept. of Public Safety, 2/4/94                                    
                                                                               
The Governor's transmittal letter, dated February 4, 1994, appears             
below:                                                                         
                                                                               

1994-02-04                     House Journal                      Page 2261
HB 444                                                                       
"Dear Speaker Barnes:                                                          
                                                                               
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 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"