NCJ Number
73490
Date Published
1979
Length
40 pages
Annotation
This report provides an analysis of the second year (December 1978 through September 1979) of St. Louis County's Driving While Intoxicated Enforcement Program.
Abstract
The objectives of the program included the increased detection of subjects driving while intoxicated; a reduction in the number of alcohol-related accidents in the categories of property damage, injuries, and fatalities; and a reduction in the average report completion time for driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) arrests. After completion of an 8-hour seminar, 98 officers participated in the program on an overtime basis. Although 43 percent fewer officers participated in the second year, the number of program-related DWI arrests had increased by 6.2 percent, a possible indication of improved performance by the participants. Also, the average breath analysis results increased, and intoximeter tests showed a decrease of 32.6 percent of arrestees in the under 0.10 category. Other results indicated that program participants concentrated on DWI arrests during the second program year and reported fewer instances of nonprogram-related activities. The average processing time was reduced from 2.2 hours during the first year to 2.1 hours during the second, and the average patrol hours per DWI arrest were reduced from 5.7 to 3.8. The total number of motor vehicle accidents decreased by 5 percent, although the number of accidents involving fatalities increased by 10.7 percent; the number of alcohol-related accidents remained the same for the second year. Data tables and graphs and appendixes containing additional statistical information are included.