NCJ Number
52604
Date Published
1975
Length
234 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT FOCUSES ON THE VERMONT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND HOW DRUNK DRIVING CASES ARE HANDLED.
Abstract
FOLLOWING A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VERMONT LAW RELATING TO DRUNK DRIVING OFFENSES, SPEEDING, AND CONSENT OF OFFENDERS TO TAKE BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION (BAC) TESTS, THE FUNCTIONING OF THE DRIVING LICENSE SYSTEM AND PAROLE AND PROBATION PROCESSES IN RELATION TO DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED (DWI) CONVICTIONS ARE CONSIDERED. FACTS ON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION IN THE STATE AND ALCOHOLISM REHABILITATION PROGRAMS ARE REVIEWED. THE SECOND SECTION OF THE REPORT DISCUSSES THE FINDINGS OF EMPIRICAL DATA ANALYSES GATHERED FROM VERMONT OFFICIAL STATISTICS ON DRUNK DRIVING CONVICTIONS, ARRESTS, AND CHARGES TO DETERMINE THE INFLUENCE OF SUCH FACTORS AS OFFENDERS AGE AND AND SEX, OCCURRENCE OF A CRASH IN CONJUNCTION WITH DWI OFFENSES, AND MEASUREMENTS OF BAC TESTS IN RELATION TO THE OUTCOME OF THE CASES. STATISTICS ARE ALSO PRESENTED ON THE FREQUENCY AND PATTERNS OF THE OFFENSE, DRUNK DRIVING PROCESSING PATTERNS AND RESULTS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONVICTIONS (E.G. INCREASE IN INSURANCE PREMIUMS, LAWYERS FEES, LOSS OF WORK TIME FOR TRIAL AND DUE TO LOSS OF LICENSE). THE FINAL SECTION CONSIDERS INFLUENCES ON THE DISCRETIONARY DECISIONS OF ARRESTING OFFICERS, DEFENSE LAWYERS, PROSECUTORS, AND JUDGES IN ARRESTING, HANDLING A CASE, AND CONVICTING DWI OFFENDERS. DATA ARE GATHERED FROM INTERVIEWS WITH 91 OF THESE OFFICIALS AND THE TABLES ILLUSTRATE THEIR RESPONSES. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES, PROPOSALS FOR A NEW DRUNK DRIVING LAW, AND STATISTICS ON VERMONT'S AUTOMOBILE CRASHES IN 1969 ARE APPENDED. (DAG)