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DUI Initiative: Alcohol Policy Project

DUI Initiative: Alcohol Policy Project. Amanda R. Grohosky Kathleen A. Moore, Ph.D. Department of Mental Health Law and Policy Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute University of South Florida July 31, 2006. Tragic Effects of Drinking and Driving.

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DUI Initiative: Alcohol Policy Project

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  1. DUI Initiative: Alcohol Policy Project Amanda R. Grohosky Kathleen A. Moore, Ph.D. Department of Mental Health Law and PolicyLouis de la Parte Florida Mental Health InstituteUniversity of South Florida July 31, 2006

  2. Tragic Effects of Drinking and Driving

  3. Early on Sunday morning September 19, 1999, Jacqui - then 20 years old - and four friends were on their way home from a birthday party. Reggie Stephey, an 18-year-old high school student, was on his way home from drinking beer with some buddies. On a dark road on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, Reggie's SUV veered into the Oldsmobile carrying Jacqui and the others. Two passengers in the car were killed at the scene and two were rescued. Within minutes, the car caught fire. Jacqui was pinned in the front seat on the passenger side. She was burned over 60% of her body; no one thought she could survive. But Jacqui lived. Her hands were so badly burned that all of her fingers had to be amputated. She lost her hair, her ears, her nose, her left eyelid and much of her vision. She has had more than 50 operations since the crash and has many more to go. In June 2001 Reggie Stephey was convicted of two counts of intoxication manslaughter for the deaths of Jacqui's two friends. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $20,000. http://www.helpjacqui.com/home.htm

  4. Costs Associated with DUI in Florida • Alcohol accounts for 25% of crash costs in • Florida • The average alcohol-related fatality • in Florida costs $3.4 million • Alcohol-related crashes accounted for about • 17% of Florida’s auto insurance payments • Note. Data from the 2002 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

  5. DUI Facts • Impaired driving is one of the most frequently committed • crimes, killing someone in America every 30 minutes • Alcohol-related crashes accounted for 38% of Florida’s • total number of traffic fatalities (NHTSA, 2005) • Hillsborough County is a state leader in DUI crashes • (1,976), injuries (1,432), and fatalities (75) (FDHSMV, • 2004) • There were 7,134 arrests in Hillsborough County this past • year; 5.6% increase from 2004 (HCSO, 2005)

  6. Current Project • DUI initiative has been funded by a Justice • Assistance grant in order to combat drinking and driving • This is in response to the high DUI arrest rate and the need • for law enforcement, legal system, and treatment to • collaborate on this problem • The goal of the project is to assess alcohol policy within • Hillsborough County focusing on: (1) law enforcement, • (2) judicial system, (3) treatment considerations, (4) • gaps in the system, and (5) recommendations

  7. Interviews conducted Tampa Police Dept Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Misdemeanor Court Drug Court State Attorney Division of ABT MADD Salvation Army DUI Counterattack Tampa Crossroads Univ. of Tampa Field Observations Attended meetings Anti-Drug Alliance Tampa Alcohol Coalition MADD City Council (drink specials) Observed two DUI checkpoints Went on two DUI ride alongs Observed court Dependency drug court Juvenile drug court Observed DUI counterattack assessment Accompanied undercover officers in Ybor City Design and Procedure

  8. Flowchart of DUI Process

  9. Flowchart of DUI Arrests and Education/Treatment

  10. Major Gaps in the DUI System

  11. Explanations for the High DUI Rate

  12. Explanations for Repeat DUI Offenses

  13. Recommendations • More public transportation • Inclusion of a DUI court • Stricter enforcement of laws - “Laws shouldn't be • stronger; we just need to enforce what we have. So if an • arrest is for DUI, the conviction shouldn't be for • reckless driving.” • Stricter treatment requirements • Increased education

  14. Recommendations (Cont.) • Increased communication among law enforcement, • judicial system, and treatment • Mandatory blood testing at time of arrest • Hire more DUI prosecutors • Increased public awareness • “We are never going to stop people from drinking – we just need to make it safer”

  15. Next Steps • Meet with the Chief Judge and Drug Court Judge • regarding DUI Court • Facilitate a collaborative meeting with law • enforcement, state attorney’s office, and treatment • providers • Start a new chapter of UMADD at Rider University

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