NCJ Number
111854
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1987) Pages: 307-320
Date Published
1987
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study of individual police officers' perceptions of recently enacted drunk-driving (DUI) legislation in Kentucky found that they overwhelmingly support the legislation and aggressively enforce it.
Abstract
A questionnaire was sent to a sample of municipal and State police officers. It consisted of four general sections: demographics, background information on DUI laws, attitudes about DUI legislation, and knowledge of DUI laws. A total of 88 usable questionnaires were returned from municipal officers contacted through the Fraternal Order of Police, and 15 questionnaires were returned from a sample of State troopers in one post. Responses to one item were cross-tabulated with responses to another question to investigate relationships between items, and then a chi-square test of association was performed to determine the statistical significance of the relationship. Most of the respondents supported the DUI legislation and the broader social movement to 'get tough' on drunk driving. Respondents are aggressively enforcing DUI laws and to a greater extent than under the former law. Police officers were not thoroughly briefed on the DUI legislation, however. Officers who received a briefing on the legislation from outside their agencies perceived more external support for their efforts from criminal justice agencies than officers who did not receive such a briefing. 5 tables and appended questionnaire.