News 12 Long Island: LI mother who lost son to drunk driving crash fights to lower BAC limit to .05

A heartbroken Long Island mother is pushing for the passage of a new state law that would lower the legal blood alcohol content limit for charging someone with driving while intoxicated.

Alisa McMorris's 12-year-old son Andrew died in 2018 from injuries caused by a drunk driver.

"As my son took his last breath, I made a promise to him that I wouldn't let this kind of 100% preventable crime happen to anyone else," McMorris says.

The bill would make the legal BAC limit .05. It currently is .08.

Penalties for DWI include loss of driving privileges, fines and possible jail time.

Right now, drivers with a BAC between .05 and .08 can be charged with driving while their ability is impaired by alcohol. That crime carries much lower fines and shorter license suspensions with a conviction.

The only state that has lowered its BAC limit to .05 is Utah. According to a U.S. Department of Transportation study, Utah saw its drunk driving deaths reduced by nearly 20% because of the law.

McMorris says it is estimated they can reduce the amount of alcohol-related fatalities by 11% in New York if the BAC limit is lowered to .05.

McMorris says she will fight to pass the measure for as long as it takes - to keep her promise to her son.

"I have a hole the shape and size of my son in my heart, and I will never ever fill that, but what I can do is step forward to prevent it from happening to you," McMorris says.