NCJ Number
46584
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 25 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 14,16,20,21
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A COMPILATION OF KEY STRATEGIES USED BY ALCOHOL SAFETY ACTION PROJECT (ASAP) EXPERTS DESIGNED TO INCREASE DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI) ARREST RATES, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
CONTROLLING THE DRUNK DRIVER REQUIRES ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, AND REHABILITATION. OF THESE, ENFORCEMENT IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT, AND INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS, WHETHER SPONSORED BY ASAP OR SELF-DIRECTED, TEACHING THESE STRATEGIES HAVE ENABLED MANY DWI UNITS TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THEIR ARREST RATES. INTENSIFIED PATROLLING IN THE AREA OF BARS AND TAVERNS MAY INCREASE ARREST RATES; IN SOME JURISDICTIONS POLICE MAY EVEN BE ABLE TO HAVE OWNERS' LIQUOR LICENSES SUSPENDED FOR FREQUENTLY SERVING OBVIOUSLY DRUNK PATRONS WHO DROVE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT. A NUMBER OF STRATEGIES MAY AID IN IDENTIFYING THE DRIVER WHO IS NOT OBVIOUSLY DRUNK. THESE INCLUDE WATCHING FOR VEHICLES BEING DRIVEN WITH NO LATERAL MOTION AT ALL OR WEAVING WITHIN THE LANE AND NOTING DRIVERS WHO VARY THEIR SPEED NOTICEABLY OR DRIVE EXCESSIVELY SLOWLY. JERKY BRAKING AND FAILURE TO DIM HEADLIGHTS FOR APPROACHING TRAFFIC MAY ALSO INDICATE AN ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVER. STATUTES CONCERNING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION TESTS AND INFORMED CONSENT VARY WIDELY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. STATES WITH AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION OF LICENSE FOR REFUSAL TO TAKE SUCH A TEST HAVE THE HIGHEST DWI ARREST RATES. AUDIOTAPING OR VIDEOTAPING OF THE SUSPECT WHO REFUSES SUCH A TEST MAY AID IN OBTAINING A CONVICTION. BREATH TESTING EQUIPMENT CLEARLY INCREASES THE EFFICACY OF DWI UNITS. A LARGE VARIETY OF SUCH EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE, RANGING FROM THOSE WITH FULL AUTOMATIC OPERATION AND DIGITAL READOUT TO SMALL POCKET-SIZE UNITS FOR USE IN THE FIELD. BLOOD TESTS ARE TIME-CONSUMING, AND THE ROHMBERG TEST, WHILE WIDELY USED, MAY FAIL TO IDENTIFY BORDERLINE CASES. SINCE 1 OUT OF EVERY 10 TO 12 DWI STOPS MAY RESULT IN PHYSICAL ATTEMPTS TO RESIST ARREST, THE USE OF TWO-MAN TEAMS IS RECOMMENDED. IN ADDITION, THE BACKUP MAN CAN DRIVE THE SUSPECT'S CAR TO THE STATION, PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST UNFOUNDED ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS BY FEMALE DWIS, AND CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE IN COURT. SINCE PROCESSING A DWI ARREST CAN REQUIRE UP TO 4 HOURS, DWI PATROLS ARE AN EXCELLENT CONTEXT IN WHICH TO EMPLOY SPECIAL OR AUXILIARY POLICE. UNMARKED PATROLS CARS SHOULD NOT BE USED AS NIGHT WORK REQUIRES MAXIMUM EMERGENCY LIGHT CAPABILITY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT TRAINING, ALERTNESS, AND JUDGMENT BY DWI OFFICERS CAN HELP PREVENT ALCOHOL-RELATED TRAFFIC FATALITIES. (JAP)