72 lines
3.4 KiB
Plaintext
72 lines
3.4 KiB
Plaintext
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February 1991
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RESEARCH FORUM
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SURVEY RESULTS: DRIVER LICENSE SUSPENSION PROGRAMS
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Editor's note: As used here, administrative driver license
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suspension programs are those wherein an offender's license
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is suspended on the basis of an administrative finding that
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the person drove a motor vehicle while having an alcohol
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concentration at or above the lawful limit.
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A recent survey of State police, licensing officials, court
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administrators, and local police chiefs in 22 States with driver
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license suspension programs in place reveals widespread support
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for this procedure. The survey was intended to update and
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expand the results of a 1986 survey conducted by the
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International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), which also
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reflected overwhelming support for suspension programs by both
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State and local police managers.
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A total of 132 questionnaires were distributed. In
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addition to one being sent to each State police superintendent,
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driver licensing agency, and court administrator in each of the
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22 States employing a license suspension program (at the time
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of the survey), three local police chiefs in each of the
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participating States were also solicited for their views. Only
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States having a program in place for at least 12 months were
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surveyed.
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The survey form consisted of only four questions and was
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designed to allow the respondents latitude in answering. The
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questions elicited detailed responses and were intended to gauge
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the level of support for suspension programs by each agency.
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RESULTS
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Fifteen responses were received from State Police, 19 from
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driver licensing officials, 10 from State court administrators,
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and 44 from local police chiefs, for a return rate of 64
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percent. The three functions surveyed (police, licensing, and
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courts) gave strong approval to the suspension concept. In
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fact, from the 88 questionnaires returned, only two negative
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responses were given. These were by local chiefs who expressed
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concern about the cost to police departments for providing
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testimony at an administrative hearing and then again at trial
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in criminal court.
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Since prompt licensing sanctions are generally believed to
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encourage guilty pleas, and therefore, reduce court backlogs,
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responses from court administrators were of special interest.
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Seven of the 10 court administrators who responded noted that
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the procedures provide a quick and certain response to a serious
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traffic offense, remove a major burden from the courts, and
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provide a uniform policy for driver license suspension or
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revocation. The responding court officials also stated that the
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program appears to be working well in each of their own States.
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All responses from State licensing officials and State
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police superintendents were favorable and revealed strong
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support for the suspension programs employed in their respective
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States. Except for the two negative comments noted above, the
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response from local police chiefs was also overwhelmingly
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favorable.
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_______________
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Information for this column was submitted by James
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Latchaw (retired), formerly of the National Highway Traffic
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Safety Administration.
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