Characteristics of DUI Offenders With a High Versus Low Perceived Risk of Arrest

Abstract

Objective: To compare offenders with high versus low perceptions of risk for being stopped by police for drinking and driving using measures of beliefs, behaviors, social context of drinking, and perceived influence from a significant other in their social network.

Method: Telephone interviews were conducted with 161 individuals who received a first-time driving under the influence (DUI) citation in Maryland. They were divided into 2 groups: those who felt that it was almost certain or very likely that they would be stopped by the police if they drove after having too much to drink (n = 56) and those who felt that it was only somewhat likely or unlikely (n = 105).

Results: The 2 groups did not differ in terms of age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, employment, or marital status. Offenders with a low perceived risk of being stopped were less likely to believe that they would be convicted if they were stopped and arrested. They were more likely to report having an encounter with an aggressive driver, running through a stop sign or traffic light, drinking in a context of social facilitation, knowing someone in their social network who had received a DUI citation, and having a member of their social network suggest that they had had too much to drink and could not drive safely.

Conclusions: The social context of drinking and the relationship they have to their social network have important implications for influencing first DUI offenders and preventing them from recidivating.

Keywords:

• first-time alcohol offenders
• perceived risk of arrest

Acknowledgments

This investigation was supported by the Maryland State Highway Administration and the University Transportation Centers Program, U.S. Department of Transportation. The authors acknowledge the cooperation of Jack Joyce, Esq., of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration for his assistance with this project. Portions of these results were presented at the 12th annual meeting of the American Academy of Health Behavior, Austin, Texas, in March 2012.