1.5 Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Law Review

Alcohol-impaired-driving laws in many States are extremely complex. DWI laws have evolved over the past 30 years to incorporate new definitions of the offense of driving while impaired (illegal per se laws), new technology and methods for determining impairment (e.g., BAC tests, SFSTs), and new sentencing and monitoring alternatives (e.g., electronic monitoring, alcohol ignition interlocks). Many States have modified their laws to incorporate these new ideas without reviewing their effect on the overall DWI control systems. The result is often an inconsistent patchwork of laws that may be difficult to understand, enforce, prosecute, and adjudicate, with many inconsistencies and unintended consequences. In many States, thorough reviews and revisions would produce systems of laws that would be far simpler and more understandable, efficient, and effective.

Effectiveness Concerns: This countermeasure has not been systematically examined. There are insufficient evaluation data available to conclude that the countermeasure is effective.

Further information about the known research, potential effectiveness, costs, use, and time to implement is available in Appendix A1, Section 1.5.

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