AAA DUI Justice Link

First of four new DWI processing centers unveiled to combat drunk drivers

admin — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:59:34 +0000

In an effort to combat impaired driving, law enforcement and legal professionals in Harris County, Texas (home of Houston) have developed and are implementing a comprehensive prevention and enforcement initiative. One component of this initiative is the “DWI Testing Centers Project,” creating four additional intoxication-testing command centers the county’s Midwest Patrol Station. These testing centers are key because their proximity allows for stronger evidence and streamlined processing of offenders, they create digital video and audio recordings that can be transmitted in real time to the district attorney’s office, and they are available to law enforcement officers in multiple jurisdictions, leading to a cooperative approach to counter impaired driving. The centers were created at no cost to tax payers. Additional initiative components include “No Refusal Weekends” and risk assessment and rehabilitation services.

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/kingwood/news/first-of-four-new-dwi-processing-centers-unveiled-to-combat/article_01728913-dace-5bc5-97f3-4adfe08c41d8.html

Most Drunk Driving Deaths Caused By Drivers With Twice Legal BAC Limit

admin — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:48:37 +0000

In conjunction with its “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released new research this week that shows that in 2010, more than two-thirds of the 10,228 drunk driving deaths (70 percent) involved drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 or higher. The most frequently recorded BAC among all drinking drivers in 2010 fatal crashes was .18, more than twice the legal limit in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, resulting in one alcohol-related death every 51 minutes. To combat this, Congress approved a $20 million incentive program in July that will award states extra money if they require drivers convicted of drunk driving to have ignition interlock devices installed on their vehicles. To date, 17 states have enacted these laws for first time offenders.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/most-drunk-driving-deaths-caused-by-drivers-with-twice-legal-bac-limit/2012/08/20/c5e969f2-eae4-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html?wpisrc=emailtoafriend

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland: Annual law enforcement campaign reminds everyone to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”

admin — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 17:26:47 +0000

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration kicked off its annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign on August 17^th, and it will continue through Labor Day. The efforts involve over 10,000 law enforcement agencies across the country putting extra resources into detecting and arresting impaired driving offenders. While impaired driving deaths declined in some parts of the country in 2010, new NHTSA statistics show that 70 percent of deaths in impaired driving crashes in 2010 involved drivers with a blood alcohol level that was nearly twice the .08 legal limit. Alcohol-impaired crashes account for nearly one in three deaths on American roadways each year; that’s the equivalent of one death every 51 minutes. NHTSA highlights the need for tough laws, consistent enforcement, and ongoing public education campaigns to make significant progress.

http://fastlane.dot.gov/2012/08/drive-sober-or-get-pulled-over.html#.UDJUQBd5FIF

Lack of state DWI system hampers tracking

admin — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 20:26:33 +0000

With 291 alcohol-related fatalities in 2011, Louisiana’s alcohol-related fatalities are above the national average. Developing a statewide DUI tracking system, an idea that gained traction in 2004 and then subsequently lost support, is now regaining popularity in an effort to curb this trend. This proposed system would link the databases of several of the state’s criminal justice agencies, creating a network in which agencies can access information such as criminal histories, arrest warrants, fingerprints and mug shots across the state, and make the information available to laptop computers in squad cars. Supporters note several benefits: a statewide tracking system would reduce the potential for someone to slip through the cracks and be charged as a first-offender, for example, when that person could have been charged as a second-offender. Also, more accurate information on the front end allows prosecutors to make informed charging decisions, which in turn affects judges’ sentencing decisions.

http://theadvocate.com/news/3275859-123/lack-of-statewide-dwi-system

Repeat Offenders in Texas More Likely to Get Probation

admin — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:13:56 +0000

In Bexar County, Texas, it is not until the third offense that a DWI charge moves from a misdemeanor taken up in County court to a felony taken up in District courts. An analysis of three years worth of court records obtained from the Bexar County District Clerk reveals 52 percent of felony DWI offenders across all Bexar County District Courts get probation in cases where the sentence is decided by a judge. This means that in 700 of the 1,348 cases studied, third time offenders were still put on probation, despite having been put on community supervision for their prior two offenses. One judge cited time between convictions as a factor in his decision. The district does have available alternative sanctions such as ignition interlocks, ankle bracelets, or mandatory blood draws.

http://www.woai.com/mostpopular/story/Repeat-drunk-drivers-most-likely-to-get-probation/l1gfktMa50y1G3ULnEpLig.cspx

Utah Legislature Considers Sobriety Checkpoint Ban

admin — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:59:08 +0000

Lawmakers in Utah are proposing legislation that would prohibit sobriety checkpoints by law enforcement. HB140 opposes the use of sobriety checkpoints for DUI or other offenses. Sobriety checkpoints involve police stopping and checking motorists on a roadway for impairment. Many Utah legislators disagree on the effectiveness of checkpoints at improving safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has shown that there is no correlation between checkpoint stops and alcohol-related fatalities [though this does not address any changes in non-fatal outcomes such as DUI citation or crashes]. Some believe law enforcement already have enough tools to combat impaired driving while others believe checkpoints help deter the behavior.

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=19192238

VA Bill Would Require Interlocks for First-Time Offenders

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:14:47 +0000

Legislation requiring ignition interlocks for first-time drunken driving offenders in Virginia narrowly passed a Senate committee and is headed for the Senate floor. This law would require convicted offenders to have a restricted license with an ignition interlock device for a period of time, often six months. Del. Salvatore Iaquinto proposed the bill and a companion bill has already cleared the House of Delegates. Virginia law currently requires interlocks for repeat drunken drivers or first-time, high BAC offenders. In 2010, drunken drivers killed 274 Virginians and injured another 5,578.

http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/304746

New CT DUI Laws Shorten License Suspensions and Mandate Interlocks

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:56:22 +0000

A new law in Connecticut makes it mandatory for first-time convicted DUI offenders to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle. Previous laws required a one-year license suspension for convicted offenders but the new law reduces that to 45 days, plus a year with an ignition interlock. Offenders with two DUI convictions will also serve the 45-day suspension in addition to having an interlock device on their vehicle for three years. The devices cost those convicted about $100 per month, with the cost being paid by the offender, not the state.

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/New-DUI-Laws-Shorten-License-Suspensions-and-Mandate-Ignition-Locks-136622898.html

Changed AZ DUI Law Is Gentler For First-Time Offenders

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:04:33 +0000

Beginning this year, Arizona’s changed ignition interlock law requires that first-time offenders have an ignition interlock device installed for only six-months rather than a year which was the previous standard. Arizona is one of 15 states requiring the devices for first-time offenders and has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country. The state has required mandatory ignition interlocks for first-time offenders since 2007 and makes it the responsibility of the offender to pay for the costs of the device. Alcohol-related fatalities in Arizona have decreased from 399 in 2006 to 210 in 2010 since requiring first-time offenders to install interlocks.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/70f10ee3e206472fbb3bbfeb817bfd6c/AZ–DUI-Interlock-Devices/

Some AAA Clubs Offer Safe Driving Alternatives During New Year’s Holiday Weekend

admin — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:40:26 +0000

As millions of Americans prepare to ring in the New Year, AAA urges motorists to remember the safety precautions they should take during this festive season. Drive only while drug- and alcohol-free, select a designated driver, take a cab or stay with a friend.

While not a nationwide program, some AAA clubs offer Tow-to-Go or Tipsy Tow service during holidays. Please visit the AAA NewsRoom for a list of states and cities where the service is available. For a comprehensive list of other community programs listed by state, please visit this page on AAA’s DUI Justice Link website.

Please join AAA , by Taking the Pledge, in a commitment to driving only while drug- and alcohol-free.