NCJ Number
98866
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 52 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1985) Pages: 60-70,73
Editor(s)
J W Sterling,
C E Higginbotham
Date Published
1985
Length
12 pages
Annotation
These six articles dealing with driving under the influence (DUI) describe sobriety checkpoint programs, review recent case law on roadside checkpoints, describe a program to facilitate police recognition of drug use in drivers, and present research results on blood alcohol level (BAL) and the effect of Listerine on breath test results.
Abstract
Synopses of 12 cases involving the constitutionality of sobriety checkpoints highlight identification, planning, site selection, safety, voluntariness, discretion and supervision of officers, and other issues which must be considered in establishing checkpoints. An intensive checkpoint program in Charlottesville, Va., has significantly increased DUI arrests and convictions while increasing police productivity. Results of an evaluation of a sobriety checkpoint program in California show that it was effective as a deterrent and was largely supported by the public. The Los Angeles Police Department (California) developed a training program to help officers recognize drug-impaired drivers. This program, known as the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program, is being expanded to include more officers; plans are being formulated to replicate the program in other police departments. An analysis of intoxilyzer ratings of alcohol levels following rinsing of the mouth with Listerine antiseptic shows that, while the highest alcohol level was present 1 minute after rinsing, levels declined significantly by 5 minutes, and no appreciable levels of alcohol were found at 10 minutes. Finally, in a controlled drinking test (conducted at the Center for Highway Safety at Indiana University of Pennsylvania) to help judges and attorneys better understand the relationship between alcohol consumption and BAL, two judges and an attorney consumed sufficient alcohol in a 1-hour period to raise their BAL above .10. They then were given the nystagumus gaze test, the modified walk and turn, and the one-leg stand and the retested for BAL over the next 2 hours. All failed at least one test, and a chemical breath analysis confirmed the field test results. All three felt they better understood the alcohol consumption-BAL relationship after their participation.