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High Visibility Law Enforcement


Where we stand: MADD supports law enforcement agencies nationwide in their efforts to reduce drunk driving fatalities and injuries. We support high-visibility law enforcement crackdowns during high-risk holidays including Labor Day and the end-of-year/New Year’s holidays, saturation patrols and roving patrols and sobriety checkpoints.
 

High-visibility enforcement remains the cornerstone of successful efforts to reduce drunk driving – and the American public supports these efforts by law enforcement agencies as they patrol the roads, day in and day out, to protect the public from drunk drivers.

Arizona law enforcement officersHigh Visibility Drunk Driving Crackdowns
  • MADD supports twice-yearly drunk driving crackdowns and heightened law enforcement before high-risk periods – Labor Day and the December holidays.
Saturation Patrols
  • A saturation patrol is a concentrated enforcement effort that targets impaired drivers by observing moving violations such as reckless driving, speeding and aggressive driving among others things.
  • A saturation patrol is generally spread over a larger geographic area than a sobriety checkpoint.
F/Sgt. Tom Woodward of the Maryland State Police demonstrates a field sobriety testSobriety Checkpoints
  • Sobriety checkpoints are a technique where law enforcement officials evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment at specific points on the roadway.
  • Vehicles are stopped in a specific sequence such as every other vehicle or every fourth, fifth or sixth vehicle.
  • Checkpoints are typically publicized in advance and signs are posted at the approaches to the checkpoints warning drivers that a checkpoint is ahead.
  • Police must have a reason to believe the driver stopped at a checkpoint has been drinking before a breath test can be conducted.
  • If the checkpoints are conducted properly, cars are pulled over at random according to their order in the sequence which diminishes the possibility of racial profiling.
  • Law-abiding people are sent on their way within minutes.
  • Average stop time is about the length of a cycle at a stop light.
  • The primary goal of a sobriety checkpoint is not to arrest people, but rather to deter people from committing DUI.
  • Sobriety checkpoints help stop drunk drivers who would likely remain under the radar.
  • The publicity from checkpoints reminds people who drink that drinking and driving don’t mix.
  • Research shows that for every dollar invested in checkpoints, communities save between $6 and $23 in costs from alcohol-related crashes.[1] [2] [3]
  • The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes to society is over $100 billion.[4]
  • Research shows that checkpoints, if done correctly, can be effective with as few as three to five officers.[5] 
                              Ten states continue to prohibit the use of sobriety checkpoints. 
     If you're from one of these states, urge your lawmakers to support sobriety checkpoints.
Resources

 

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[1] Miller, Ted, M.S. Galbraith and B.A. Lawrence , “Costs and Benefits of a Community Sobriety Checkpoint Program.” J Stud Alcohol 59 (1998): 462–468.  

[2] Costs included personnel, equipment, travel delay, trial, punishment, and mobility loss associated with sanctioning (e.g., loss of driver's license) and benefits were estimated by accounting for medical care, property damage, and public costs.  
[3] Stuster, Jack and Paul Blowers. “Experimental Evaluation of Sobriety Checkpoint Programs.” DOTHS 808 287. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, 1995.  
[4] Miller, Ted, M.S. Galbraith and B.A. Lawrence , “Costs and Benefits of a Community Sobriety Checkpoint Program.” J Stud Alcohol 59 (1998): 462–468.  
[5] Stuster, Jack and Paul Blowers. "Experimental Evaluation of Sobriety Checkpoint Programs." DOT HS 808 287. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, 1995.