According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if the state fails to enact a 0.08 limit by 2004, it will lose 2 percent of federal construction funding -- more than $10 million.
The cut applies to other states as well, and the percentage would increase again in 2007 if a state has still not enacted the new limit.
Sen. Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, said this was the reason for the legislation.
"Whether or not [state legislators] agree with the changes, [they] really have no choice. The loss of funds is just too great," Corman said.
Thirty-six states have adopted the 0.08 level so far, Dent told The Associated Press.
The Senate approved the bill without debate by a 47-0 vote. It now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
The State College Police Department doesn't expect that a new law would increase the number of people arrested for driving under the influence.
Sgt. John Wilson said most people arrested for DUI have a BAC significantly greater than 0.10.
"The tests we have right now are to identify someone who has a BAC of 0.10 or greater. We have no immediate plans to change that," Wilson said.
Other states that recently lowered the BAC level for driving under the influence, such as Maryland, have posted highway signs informing motorists of the change.
Steve Chizmar, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said that the department has no immediate plans to install similar signs.
The possibility of installing the signs would be reviewed in the future, he added.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving lobbied representatives for the passage of the legislation, said Evelyn McKee, a member of the Bellefonte chapter of the organization.
"We have been trying to get the legislation for a long time and are very happy it passed," McKee said. "We feel it will be beneficial in reducing the number of people driving under the influence."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
