In 2001, 16,652 people died in alcohol-related car accidents. According to the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this figure represents 40 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year and cost the public $114.7 billion. Research indicates that sobriety checkpoints, DUI patrols by local law enforcement agencies, and the threat of incarceration can be effective in combating drunk driving. However, preventing recidivism by chronic drunk-drinkers is more problematic. Research shows that repeat offenders, usually people who are alcohol dependant, are often not as deterred by conventional penalties. For instance, in 1999, between 21-47 percent of DUI offenders had a prior DUI conviction.
Technological innovation has allowed many states to combat the problem of DUI recidivism through alternative sanctions, including home arrest with electronic remote monitoring, home alcohol monitors, and ignition interlock systems. For instance, electronic remote monitoring is offered to offenders in lieu of serving jail time. In exchange, offenders agree to have their every move electronically monitored, by bracelets worn on their ankle, to ensure that they comply with the conditions of sentencing. Some studies suggest that the use of electronic remote monitoring as a substitute for jail time can produce a recidivism rate one-third lower than that of offenders who are sentenced to jail time.
Home alcohol monitors, often used in addition to home arrest with electronic remote monitoring, enables local agencies to ensure that chronic DUI offenders comply with court orders to abstain from alcohol consumption as a condition of sentencing and probation. Home alcohol monitors test for alcohol on the offender's breath and transmit test results to the monitoring agency via the offender's telephone line. Typically, DUI offenders subject to this condition of home arrest must submit themselves to multiple tests per day. Moreover, voice recognition devices ensure that the DUI offender is truly the person taking the test, therefore ensuring compliance with sentencing.
Studies show that close to three-fourths of DUI offenders subject to suspended licenses continue to drive, and the chronically addicted alcohol users continue do so while impaired. Ignition interlock devices are a suitable solution to this problem. Ignition interlock devices attach to the offender's vehicle and test for alcohol on the offender's breath. Even with a minimal blood alcohol concentration, the offender's vehicle will not start. Research indicates that DUI offenders subject to ignition interlock devices had statistically fewer repeat arrests for DUI than those who had their licenses suspended.
These technologies provide state policy makers and local law enforcement agencies an alternative means to combat DUI recidivism. Research suggests that these alternatives to more traditional legal sanctions such as jail time and suspended licenses may actually be better suited to reducing rates of DUI recidivism. Moreover, using these devices can actually reduce costs associated with punishing DUI offenders since installation and maintenance fees can be charged to the offender.
Links:
