Types of DUI:There have been many attempts to find advance indicators of who will drive when impaired by alcohol. The most well-established predictor is prior driving under the influence (DUI) arrests. Also, people who injure others or who have been injured after drinking will have more DUI convictions (Buntain-Ricklefs et al., 1995). Those with more total moving violations and more prior convictions of all kinds have more repeat DUI offenses (Peck et al., 1994). Those who refuse blood alcohol concentration (BAC) tests or have higher BAC test results also have more DUI offenses (Marowitz, 1998). The alcohol ignition interlock is a device installed on the cars of some DUI offenders that requires a low-alcohol or alcohol-free breath sample before the ignition unlocks and allows an engine to be started. Studies in the United States and Canada have shown that the interlock reduces DUI (Beck et al., 1999; Coben and Larkin, 1999; Marques et al., 2001a; Voas et al., 1999). The interlock has also been reported to be a good predictor of DUI risk (Marques et al., 2001b). The BAC lock point for the interlock is stipulated in state or provincial law. Typical lock points range between .02% and .04%. The U.S. national guidelines (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], 1992) recommend .025%; Alberta Canada uses .04%. The interlock’s recorder logs the time and result of all breath tests. The early months of interlock BAC tests predict repeat DUI offenses years later, after… Continue reading
