IGNITION INTERLOCKS How To Use Them Effectively to Reduce Drunk Driving

Richard Roth, PhD

ICADTS at TRBSunday January 12, 2014

My 10 Minutes1. Interlocks work.2. ……………… are cost-effective.3. ……………… are perceived as a fair sanction.4. NHTSA urges IIDs for all DWI Offenders.5. Only 25% of DWI offenders are installing IIDs6. State Laws have Loopholes 7. ………………………. Eligibility Prerequisites.8. We know what would get interlocks used.

Roth 10/23/2012 Region 5 Ignition Interlock Institute 2

Roth 10/23/2012 Region 5 Ignition Interlock Institute 3

1.A. Interlocks Reduce DWI Recidivism

1.B. Interlocks are Effective For First OffendersEven Those With Very Low BAC (.08 - .11)

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1.C. 99.993% of Interlocked Days Are No-DWI Days

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In NM, 48,274 DWI offenders were interlocked for 23,204,035 days.

They had 1538 DWI re-arrests. That’s one re-arrest per 41 years of interlocked driving.

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1.D. Fewer Drunk Driving Re-Arrests, Crashes, Injuries, and Fatalities in NM

2. Evidence of Cost-Effectiveness

• Cost of interlocks is less than one third of the savings in the economic impact of the drunk driving crashes prevented. Benefit/Cost ~3.

• National Research that takes into account benefits other than DWI crashes shows an even greater Benefit to Cost Ratio.

• In a survey of 1513 Interlocked offenders, 70% agree or strongly agree that The

benefits of interlocks outweigh the costs.

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3. Evidence of FairnessAnonymous Survey of 1513 Interlocked Offenders:80% responded agree or strongly agree to: “Interlocks are a fair sanction for convicted DWI.”

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Anonymous Survey of 15,641 Convicted Offenders while waiting for Victim Impact Panels to start: 81% responded Yes to the question: “Do you think that interlocks are a fair sanction for DWI?

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4 NHTSA Model Guidelines for State Ignition Interlock Programs.

DOT HS 811 859 November 2013• “Require ignition interlocks for all individuals

convicted of or having their driving privileges suspended for alcohol-impaired driving including first time DWI offenders as a condition of license reinstatement.

• Eliminate or minimize eligibility requirements [Hoops] that prevent offenders from being able to participate in the ignition interlock program.

• Eliminate options [Loopholes] that allow offenders to avoid participation in the ignition interlock program.”

Roth 1/12/14 ICADTS

Roth 1/12/14 ICADTS

Roth 1/12/14 ICADTS

Roth 1/12/14 ICADTS

5. Only 25% of Offenders Install IIDs

• ~ 320,000 interlocks are installed each year.• ~1,400,000 DWI arrests per year

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6. Close Loopholes in State Laws• Too many arrested but not convicted• Waiting out Revocation Period• No effective alternative for those who claim“No

Car” or “Not Driving” • Driving-while-revoked in a vehicle without an

interlock• Few warrants served for non-compliance• No immobilization or interlock between arrest

and adjudication.

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7. Eliminate Pre-requisites for Interlock Eligibility (Hoops)

• Period of Hard Revocation (No longer required)• Fines and Fees Paid• Outstanding legal obligations• Alcohol Screening and Assessment• Medical Evaluation• DWI School• Victim Impact Panel• Community Service

Roth 4/14/13 2013 Lifesavers Conference

Legislation To Achieve Goals

1. License Revocation on Arrest. 2. An interlock license that allows revoked

offenders to drive interlocked vehicles.3. On conviction mandate interlock installation

as a condition of probation.1yr for 1st , 2yr for 2nd…etc

4. Monthly Fee (~$80) for supervised probation of those who claim “no car” or “not driving”.

5. Extend license revocation until >=1 year with no recorded BAC above 0.04.

Roth 1/12/14 ICADTS

Roth 1/12/14 ICADTS

Richard Roth, PhDExecutive Director Impact DWIRichardRoth2300@msn.com

www.RothInterlock.orgwww.ImpactDWI.org

www.PEDAforTeens.org

Thank You!