NCJ Number
181892
Date Published
June 1995
Length
38 pages
Annotation
Following a statistical review of the prevalence and impact of juveniles driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) in America, this report analyzes the various measures that are being and can be used to counter this problem.
Abstract
Many laws have been enacted and regulations adopted over the last 15 years to combat juvenile DUI. One of the most significant measures was the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which obligates the Secretary of Transportation to withhold a portion of Federal highway trust funds from States with laws that allow the purchase or public possession of alcohol by those under age 21. Inconsistencies in key laws and lack of enforcement of the laws, however, account for the recent increases in alcohol-related accidents that have involved juveniles. Twenty-three States do not prohibit minors from attempting to purchase alcohol, and 21 States do not have laws that specifically prohibit alcohol consumption by minors. Nineteen States have no laws against minors presenting false identification. Perhaps the core of the problem is the lax enforcement of the laws already in place. Although the fatality rates for underage drivers are among the highest for all age groups, the DUI arrest rates for the 16- to 20-year-old age group are the lowest of all drivers arrested. Lowering the blood alcohol content (BAC) for minors is an obvious solution. As of September 1994, 29 States and the District of Columbia had lowered their legal BACs for drivers under 18 or 21 years old to levels of zero to .02 percent. Laws calling for a lower BAC for minors can be augmented by another effective sanction, administrative license revocation (ALR), which allows a police officer to confiscate the license of a driver who has an illegal BAC or refuses to take a blood alcohol test. ALR can also be used in tandem with a provisional licensing program for minors. Nighttime driving curfews are another effective measure for controlling youth DUI and the number of traffic accidents for those under 18 years old. To achieve long-lasting, significant results, a variety or, ideally, all of the measures mentioned in this report should become integral parts of a juvenile impaired driving program. 1 table and 98 footnotes