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ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND CRIME DUI Trends and Countermeasures. Association for Criminal Justice Research McClellan, CA March 17, 2005 Cliff Helander, Chief, California DMV Research. Drunk Driving: is it a crime?. Most (2/3) adult Americans drink alcohol
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ALCOHOL, DRUGS, AND CRIMEDUI Trends and Countermeasures • Association for Criminal Justice Research • McClellan, CA • March 17, 2005 Cliff Helander, Chief, California DMV Research
Drunk Driving: is it a crime? • Most (2/3) adult Americans drink alcohol • 20% of adults drive above 0.08% BAC at least once per year • QUESTION: THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I?
There, but for the grace?….NO! • Less than 1% chance that DUI will lead to arrest • Probability of arrest while DUI is 1 in 140 • Which means a DUI arrestee will have driven drunk, on average, more than 100 times before being caught, and • The average BAC at DUI arrest = 0.16%, which is DOUBLE THE LEGAL LIMIT
DUI SANCTIONS AND COUNTERMEASURES • Fine • Jail • License suspension • 1915 California Vehicle Code (CVC): penalty for first conviction of DUI = $500 fine or 6 months in jail, plus one year license suspension
DUICOUNTERMEASURES WHAT DOESN’T WORK? Jail Fines
DUI COUNTERMEASURES IN CALIFORNIA: WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE REFORM Report to the Legislature In Accord With Senate Bill 776 (Torlakson) September 2002
DUICOUNTERMEASURES LICENSE SUSPENSION WORKS *Reduces subsequent crashes and convictions 30% to 80% compared to similar drivers not suspended *Up to 75% of suspended drivers continue to drive…but less often and more carefully…which explains the effectiveness of license suspension
DUI COUNTERMEASURESWHAT WORKS? • EFFECTIVE DRIVER-BASED COUNTERMEASURES • Minimum drinking age laws • Per se BAC laws • Administrative per se license suspension laws • “Zero-Tolerance” laws for youth • Post-conviction license action • Alcohol treatment programs • House arrest in lieu of jail • Sobriety checkpoints
Effectiveness of Alcohol Treatment Programs: California DMV Research Studies • Sadler & Perrine (1984), Tashima & Peck (1986): Second offender DUI treatment reduces recidivism by 9% to 24% • Tashima & Marelich (1989): Second offender DUI treatment reduces recidivism & alcohol-related crashes • DeYoung (1995): All 3 levels of DDP treatment reduce DUI recidivism • Tashima & Helander (2005): 13-year review of annual DUI-MIS reports: second offender DUI treatment consistently reduces recidivism and alcohol-involved crashes; results less conclusive for first-offender programs
DUI COUNTERMEASURESWHAT WORKS? • EFFECTIVE VEHICLE-BASED COUNTERMEASURES • Vehicle impoundment or immobilization • Ignition interlock • OTHER COUNTERMEASURES IMPACTING ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVING • Seat belts • Graduated driver licensing • Alcoholic beverage control
DUI COUNTERMEASURESWHAT MIGHT WORK? • Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) BAC testing of all crash-involved drivers • Designated drivers and safe rides programs • Alternative treatment modalities, including pharmaceutical treatment
TORLAKSON REPORT (SB 776) MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS • Pharmaceutical treatment of convicted DUI offenders • Alcoholic beverage control • Reduce crashes associated with on-premise drinking • Increase DUI prevention efforts, especially those targeting youth
Percent of California Traffic Fatalities that are Alcohol-Involved