Table of Contents

Report Summary

Technical Report Documentation Page

I. Introduction

A. Background
B. Study Goals

II. State Law Review

A. Administrative Sanctions and Criminal Penalties for Refusal
B. Refusal as a Criminal Offense
C. Refusal Admissibility in Court
D. Forcing a BAC Test
E. Additional Criminal Penalties for Drivers with a High BAC
F. Circumstances That May Reduce Penalties and Affect Refusal Rates

1. Administrative License Action for Failing a BAC Test
2. Penalties for DWI Conviction

III. State Breath Test Refusal Rates

A. Analyses of 2001 Breath Test Refusal Data
B. Comparison of 2001 and 1987 Breath Test Refusal Rates
C. Trend Analyses of 1996-2001 Breath Test Refusal Data

IV. Case Study of Five States

1. Characteristics of the 5 Selected States

a) Connecticut
b) Maryland
c) Florida
d) Louisiana
e) Oklahoma

B. Case Study Data Collection Method
C. Case Study Results

1. Connecticut
2. Maryland
3. Florida
4. Louisiana
5. Oklahoma

V. Conclusions

A. Connecticut and Maryland
B. Louisiana
C. Oklahoma and Florida

VI. References

Appendix A: Criminal Provisions and Penalties for BAC Test Refusal

Appendix B: Provisions and Penalties for Failing a BAC Test and DWI Conviction

Appendix C: Connecticut Implied Consent Form A-44

Appendix D: Facsimile of Maryland Form DR-15: Advice of Rights

Appendix E: Florida Implied Consent Warning

Tables and Figures

TABLE 1. Breath Test Refusal Percents by State
TABLE 2. 2001 Average Reported Refusal Rate by State
FIGURE 1. 2001 Breath Test Refusal Percents by State
TABLE 3. Comparison of 1987 and 2001 Breath Test Refusal Distributions
TABLE 4. Trend Analysis of Breath Test Refusal Data by State
TABLE 5. Connecticut Administrative Driver’s License Sanctions
TABLE 6. Connecticut Criminal Penalties
TABLE 7. Maryland Administrative Driver’s License Sanctions
TABLE 8. Maryland Criminal Penalties
TABLE 9. Florida Administrative Driver’s License Sanctions
TABLE 10. Florida Criminal Penalties
TABLE 11. Louisiana administrative Driver’s License Sanctions
TABLE 12. Louisiana Criminal Penalties for those 21 or older.
TABLE 13. Louisiana Criminal Penalties for those under 21
TABLE 14. Oklahoma Administrative Driver’s License Sanctions
TABLE 15. Oklahoma Criminal Penalties