NCJ Number
63254
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A MASSACHUSETTS STUDY TO DETERMINE THE AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION OF DRUNK-DRIVER DEFENDANTS AND TO ASSESS THE INCIDENCE OF SIMULTANEOUS OFFENSES BY AGE.
Abstract
THIS COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DRIVING-UNDER-THE-INFLUENCE-OF-LIQUOR (DUIL) DEFENDANTS IN MASSACHUSETTS IN FEBRUARY AND OCTOBER 1979 WAS DESIGNED TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A NEW LAW (S. 1727, AMENDED) WHICH RAISED THE LEGAL DRINKING AGE IN THE STATE FROM 18 TO 20 YEARS ON APRIL 16, 1979. WHEN THE OCTOBER SAMPLE WAS COMPARED TO A SIMILAR SAMPLE IN FEBRUARY, THERE WAS A 26-PERCENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TEENAGERS (15-19 YEARS OF AGE) CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF LIQUOR (N=250 IN FEBRUARY, N=316 IN OCTOBER). WHILE TEENAGERS CONSTITUTED ABOUT 14 PERCENT OF THE FEBRUARY DUIL DEFENDANTS, THEY ACCOUNTED FOR OVER 17 PERCENT IN OCTOBER. THIS INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS OF TEENAGERS CHARGED WITH DUIL AFTER THE NEW LEGISLATION MAY BE DUE TO INTENSIFIED POLICE EFFORT, THE FAILURE OF TEENAGERS TO OBEY THE NEW LAW, AND MORE DRINKING BY TEENAGERS IN CARS SINCE THEY CANNOT LEGALLY DRINK IN A TAVERN OR BAR. BOTH THE FEBRUARY AND OCTOBER STUDIES FOUND THAT THE MAJORITY (86 PERCENT IN FEBRUARY, 82 PERCENT IN OCTOBER) OF DRUNK DRIVERS WERE OVER 20 YEARS OF AGE, WITH THE MEAN AGE FOR BOTH STUDIES BEING ABOUT 30. MALES ACCOUNTED FOR OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE ARRESTEES IN BOTH STUDIES. TEENAGERS HAD A HIGHER THAN PREDICTED FREQUENCY OF MULTIPLE OFFENSES, WHICH INCLUDED OPERATING TO ENDANGER, USE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WITHOUT AUTHORITY, LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT WITH PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY, CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY, AND PUBLIC ORDER OFFENSES. DRUNK DRIVING DECREASED IN FREQUENCY IN THE OLDER AGE GROUPS, AND OLDER DRIVERS WERE ALSO UNDERREPRESENTED IN SIMULTANEOUS OFFENSES. THE STUDY WILL BE REPEATED IN OCTOBER 1980 TO FURTHER ASSESS THE ENFORCEMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NEW LEGISLATION. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)