Ullman, Darin F. International Review of Law and Economics 45, “Locked and not loaded: First time offenders and state ignition interlock programs,” 2016, 1–13 The interlock program should be applied to first time offenders who are not just high-BAC offenders. Additionally, the interlock program provides a low cost solution, paid for by offenders, to a dangerous and often fatal activity that imposes large social and economic costs on society. To maximize public health, states with weak interlock laws or states that currently have no interlock program that require mandatory participation for first time off-enders, should adopt strong ignition interlock programs to prevent future costly alcohol-related fatal crashes. Results indicate that the potential for interlock programs to prevent alcohol involved driving and alcohol-related crashes is most significant when the program is applied to a broader cross- section of offenders and a higher proportion of offenders have the interlock device installed. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Mayer, “Ignition Interlocks – What You Need to Know: A Toolkit for Policymakers, Highway Safety Professionals, and Advocates (2nd Edition),” 2014. DOT HS 811 883 The record of breath tests logged into an ignition interlock has been effective in predicting the future drunk driving recidivism risk. Offenders with higher rates of failed BAC tests have higher rates of post-ignition interlock recidivism. National Transportation Safety Board, “Safety Report Reaching Zero: Actions to Eliminate Alcohol-Impaired Driving,” 2013 Administrative license suspension or revocation laws are an effective means of reducing alcohol- impaired traffic fatalities, and such laws could be strengthened by requiring that individuals arrested for drunk driving install an alcohol ignition interlock as a condition of license reinstatement. McCartt, Leaf, Farmer, and Eichelberger, Traffic Injury Prevention, “Washington State’s Alcohol Ignition Interlock Law: Effects on Recidivism Among First-Time DUI Offenders,” 2013. Mandating interlock orders for all first drunk driving convictions was associated with reductions in recidivism, even with low interlock use rates, and reductions in crashes. Additional gains are likely achievable with higher rates. Jurisdictions should seek to increase use rates and reconsider permitting reductions in drunk driving charges to other traffic offenses without interlock order requirements. Voas, Tippetts, and Grosz, Alcoholism Clinical Experimental Research, “Administrative Reinstatement Interlock Programs: Florida, A 10-Year Study.” It is not surprising that the recidivism rate rose with the number of years of revocation. In keeping with past research, the recidivism rate while on the interlock was approximately two- thirds lower than after the units were removed.
For more information, please contact Becky Iannotta at becky.iannotta@madd.org, or 202.600.2032
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