Emerging Technological Approaches for Controlling the Hard Core DUI Offender in the U.S.

Abstract

Drivers convicted of impaired driving are substantially overrepresented in alcohol-related fatal crashes. Because many such offenders continue to drive with suspended operators' licenses, monitoring their postconviction driving is a significant problem for the criminal justice system. Technology for tracking the location and drinking of such offenders is a rapidly developing field, which promises to provide methods for monitoring offenders on a 24/7 basis. The status of traditional monitoring methods is reviewed and contrasted with the new technologies that are being implemented. Although those technologies offer considerable promise, they have not yet been evaluated in programs for impaired driving offenders. Eight issues related to the probability of rapid implementation of the new technologies are discussed.

Keywords:

• BAC Monitoring
• DUI/Drug Courts
• DUI Sanctions
• Electronic Monitoring
• House Arrest
• Interlocks
• Alcohol Biomarkers

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K05-AA014260 and R01-AA12825).