Prepared Statement of Colonel Johnny G Lough (From Oversight Into the Administration of State and Local Court Adjudication of Driving While Intoxicated - Hearing, P 81-88, 1982 - See NCJ-87056)

• NCJ Number: 87059
• Author(s): J G Lough
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Included in microfiche version of NCJ-87056

Annotation

Legislative and enforcement steps taken by Maryland to deal with the problem of driving while intoxicated (DWI) are described, and results are indicated, followed by a list of recommendations for improving law enforcement processing of DWI cases.

Abstract

On May 1, 1981, the Governor of Maryland and the State Police Superintendent announced the most comprehensive effort ever undertaken in Maryland to identify and remove drunk drivers from the highways. The program is being supported in part by a Federal highway safety grant that pays a trooper overtime to patrol roads identified as having a high number of alcohol-related accidents. Troopers also received additional training in ways to spot drunk drivers, and they are using a special detection guide. Since the beginning of the program, there has been a 3.6 percent reduction in overall alcohol-related deaths compared to 1980. A package of six new laws developed by the Governor's Task Force on the Drinking Driver was signed into law and became effective July 1, 1981. One law allows police to conduct a roadside preliminary breath test of persons suspected of DWI, and another law mandates a minimum license suspension of 2 months and provides for up to a 6-month maximum suspension for drivers who refuse to take an evidentiary chemical test for alcohol once they have been charged with DWI. A third law reduces the permissible blood alcohol level to .08 percent. Recommendations for improving law enforcement in DWI cases include (1) the creation of a National Blue Ribbon Task Force by the President to address the problems encountered by police officers and others in removing the drunk driver from the roads, (2) creation of a national breath test law which would set minimum requirements for training and instrument performance standards, (3) Federal assistance in developing training programs for the detection and apprehension of the drinking driver, and (4) Federal assistance in the development of an accurate in-car breath testing instrument.