NCJ Number
111960
Date Published
1987
Length
58 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes the results and policy implications of a seven-part study of California's drunk-driving countermeasure system.
Abstract
Among the study components were the construction of flow charts of drunk-driving case processing from arrest through adjudication, treatment, and action by the Department of Motor Vehicles; and evaluation of a drunk-driver diversion program; an evaluation of the specific deterrent effects of alternative sanctions for first-time and repeat drunk drivers; and an evaluation of the process efficiency and traffic safety impact of the California implied consent program. Other evaluations focused on system processing and deficiencies, the impact of a warning letter for first-time drunk drivers, and a risk-assessment strategy for medically impaired drivers. The study identified numerous deficiencies in the drunk driver control sytem and concluded that license suspension is generally more effective than alcohol rehabilitation programs in reducing the accident risk of drunk-driving offenders. Results suggest that using both sanctions simultaneously would be superior to either alone. An evaluation of pre- and post-1982 rates indicated that the tougher sanctions and illegal-per-se blood-alcohol statutes (0.10 percent) enacted in 1982 reduced the incidence of alcohol-related accidents and drunk-driving recidivism. Key recommendations include enactment of an administrative per-se suspension statute and mandatory suspension of the licenses of both first-time and repeat offenders. 2 tables, 17 figures, and 54-item bibliography.