Impaired Driving Subcommittee Impaired Driving Guidebook - NHTSA

More documents

Recommendations

Info

CRIMINAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIONPARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONSOver a decade ago, the American MedicalAssociation (AMA) recognized that alcohol-relatedtraffic crashes are a “leading cause of unintentionalinjury and deaths and a substantial contributor tohealth care costs in the United States.” 7 There is noabsolute right to drive. 8 People who risk their ownlives, let alone the lives of others, by driving whileimpaired by alcohol and/or drugs should not beallowed to drive.General deterrence is the key to curtailingimpaired driving. Deterrence is based on sustainedhigh visibility law enforcement, coupled with swiftand certain punishment. Traditionally, we—as highwaysafety professionals, advocates, law enforcementofficers, prosecutors, and other stakeholders—worked separately. Our efforts have achievedmoderate success. Working together, we can do somuch more.Proven CollaborationsIntra-Disciplinary PartnershipsStakeholders often can reap great benefits bypartnering with others within their discipline. Thereare many examples of intra-disciplinary collaborationsthat work well, including: Enforcement CollaborationLaw enforcement agencies have achievedtremendous success sharing best practices andresources. Doing this leads to more effectivetraining, sobriety check points, saturation patrols, taskforces, and use of equipment. It also promotesconsistency and enhances working relationshipsbetween city, county, state, and Tribal policeagencies. Toxicology CollaborationToxicologists have joined together to formprofessional alliances that allow them to shareknowledge, address complicated issues, and furtherdevelop their expertise.Inter-Disciplinary PartnershipsThere are numerous effective strategies andtactics that can be relied upon. All of them,however, are dependent upon public support.Accordingly, stakeholders usually can accomplishmore by breaking traditional boundaries and workingwith other disciplines. By expanding productivepartnerships and advancing collaboration, lawenforcement agencies can gain vital support,amplify available resources, and share ownership fortraffic safety enforcement programs and activities.The payback for expanding partnerships is well worththe investment.There are many excellent examples of positiveinter-disciplinary collaborations: Enforcement/Adjudication Collaboration(state vehicle administrators, traffic safetyresource prosecutors, local prosecutors, and judges):These professionals have worked together in manyjurisdictions to identify paperwork issues, addressworkload and plea bargain issues, expand BACtesting, and improve case preparation and quality. Enforcement/Community Collaboration(business leaders, community leaders,organizations, minority leaders, alcohol and drugabuse treatment and health agencies, andadvocacy groups such as MADD): Theseprofessionals have collaborated to generate supportfor enforcement efforts, provide increased visibilityduring special mobilization efforts, obtain additionalresources for special projects (like DUI Courts),promote prosecutor training, and establishcommunity standards of expectations in addressingthe impaired driving violator.Strategies and Promising PracticesThere are many other resources and partnershipsthat have been successful. For example: Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors (TSRP)⎯ A NHTSA priority.⎯ As of 2006, there are 25 TSRPs.⎯ The best TSRPs train and work with lawenforcement officers and prosecutors. Fatal Crash Teams (FACT teams go by differentnames in different jurisdictions)⎯ Traffic homicide detectives and prosecutorsrespond as a team to all felony fatalcrashes.⎯ King County, Washington, and manyIndiana jurisdictions employ FACT teams. Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT)⎯ A collaboration between the WashingtonState Patrol and the Washington StateDepartment of Transportation (WSDOT).⎯ The agencies jointly investigate all fatalitycrashes where three or more people arekilled. “24/7” on-call prosecutors (general and specialized)⎯ Miami-Dade County, Florida StateAttorney’s Office provides “around-theclock”legal assistance to law enforcementofficers and others.11
CRIMINAL JUSTICE COLLABORATION⎯The Harris County (Texas) District Attorney’sOffice also provides around-the-clockprosecutors. Tele-warrant partnerships between law enforcement,prosecutors, and judges.⎯ Arizona prosecutors, law enforcementofficers, and judges established a system toallow officers to quickly and easily obtainwarrants to draw blood in DUI cases. In some jurisdictions, prosecutors and toxicologistsattend and participate in lawenforcement trainings and sobriety checkpointsand do ride-a-longs. In many of thesejurisdictions, law enforcement officers, in turn,participate in prosecutor trainings (seeAppendix C for a listing of potential partners).Car Video, Sobriety Checkpoints, DUI Law Update,Breath Testing, Legislative, Youth & Alcohol, andBureau of Administrative Review and expanded toalmost 30 members. The committee coordinatesactivities statewide by: Identifying new problems and solutions; Developing new legislation; Monitoring case development; and Promoting education and enforcement waves.The committee has published manuals on casepreparation and testimony, coordinated responseson all major legal challenges, and addressed numerouslegislative issues.System Wide Collaborations Strategic Highway Safety PlanningStrategic Highway Safety Plans (SHSP) should beregularly reviewed and updated. The AmericanAssociation of State Highway Transportation Officials(AASHTO) has encouraged all state Departments ofTransportation (DOTs) to engage their state highwaysafety offices and their state and local lawenforcement in the development of the SHSP. If lawenforcement executives from all levels were notinvolved in the original development of their state’sSHSP, they should contact their DOT and urge theybe involved in any review/update process that takesplace. Florida’s Statewide Technical Advisory Committeeon DUI Enforcement and Prosecution(TAC)Florida’s diverse TAC demonstrates how asystem-wide collaboration can achieve tremendouschange. In 1994, several stakeholders, led by theInstitute of Police Technology and Management(IPTM) and the Florida Department of Transportation,created the Technical Review Committee topromote the use of laser speed-measuring devices inthe state. The organizers welcomed law enforcementofficers and prosecutors to the group. The taskforce was so effective that members expanded thecommittee’s scope to include all traffic issues andinvited other stakeholders “to the table,” includingrepresentatives from the state agency regulatingbreath testing (the Florida Department of LawEnforcement), MADD, toxicologists, and judges. Theyrenamed the Committee the Technical AdvisoryCommittee on DUI Enforcement and Prosecution(TAC).During the ensuing years, TAC created severalsubcommittees, including DUI Case Preparation, In-This Washington State Patrol (WSP) Mobile ImpairedDriving Unit (MIDU) was purchased and equippedthrough a collaborative partnership between the WSP,Washington State Traffic Safety Commission; PoulsboRV; State Farm Insurance; and several other companiesthat provided equipment or other services.The MIDU is equipped with three BAC Compact DataMasters; a dark room for DRE Evaluations; threecomputer work stations for officers to prepare theirreports; and two prisoner holding cells.For information regarding the MIDU, contact the WSPImpaired Driving Section at (206) 720-3018.Association CollaborationsAssociations and other advocacy organizationsthat support improving highway safety initiatives,including reducing the incidences of driving whileimpaired (e.g., AAMVA, GHSA, and AAA).Community Collaborations Chamber of CommerceThey clearly have a stake in a safe community:highway safety is good for business and tourism12
Page 1 and 2: P O L I C EImpaired DrivingSubcommi
Page 3 and 4: ACKNOWLEDGMENTSThe Impaired Driving
Page 5 and 6: IACP HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMITTEEIMPAIR
Page 7: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYImpaired driving c
Page 10 and 11: LEADERSHIP Encourage the FBI Nation
Page 14 and 15: CRIMINAL JUSTICE COLLABORATIONgrowt
Page 16 and 17: CRIMINAL JUSTICE COLLABORATION⎯ W
Page 18 and 19: COMMUNICATIONimpact on public behav
Page 20 and 21: COMMUNICATIONaudience have a clear
Page 22 and 23: COMMUNICATIONMany traffic safety pa
Page 24 and 25: ENDNOTES1 Taylor, Dexter; Miller, T
Page 26 and 27: APPENDIX B - Internet Resources for
Page 28 and 29: APPENDIX C - Potential PartnersPote
Page 30: APPENDIX D - Acronym KeyAAAAAMVAAAS

Impaired Driving Subcommittee Impaired Driving Guidebook - NHTSA

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?