For law enforcement to be effective as a preventive measure, those who would potentially exhibit the undesired behavior must believe the threat of detection and enforcement. This section examines the driving age public’s experiences with, and perceptions of, enforcement and punishment for drinking and driving violations.

Specifically it covers the following topics:

Approximately 3% of the persons age 16 to 64 report being stopped by the police for suspicion of drinking and driving. [Figure 16-A]. American Indians/Eskimos are more than twice as likely as others to be stopped for suspected drinking and driving violations. Non-Hispanic White and Hispanic males are more than three times as likely as their female counterparts to say they have been stopped, while this pattern does not hold among other racial groups. [Figure 16-C]

Of the 3% of those stopped by the law for suspicion of drinking and driving, about one in seven (15%) were arrested for a drinking-driving violation. [Figure 16-A]. Overall, this translates to less than 1% of all persons age 16 to 64 being arrested for drinking-driving violations. Hispanics report the greatest experience of arrests for drinking-driving violations with about 2% reporting an arrest. [Figure 16-D]

More than one in twenty (6%) drinker-drivers have been stopped in the past year for suspicion of a drinking and driving violation. This is twice that of the other persons of the driving age public. Among those stopped by police, past-year drinker-drivers are three times as likely as non-drinker-drivers to have been arrested for these violations (23% of drinker-drivers vs. 7% of other persons age 16 to 64 who did not consume alcohol within two hours of driving). [Figure 16-B]

*A drinking-driving trip is defined as an occasion when a driver drove within two hours after drinking any alcohol

**Sample base for figures on this page:

The driving age public was asked which outcome they thought to be more likely if someone was driving after drinking too much alcohol: being stopped by police or being involved in a crash. About two-thirds believe that a person who drinks and drives is more likely to be involved in a crash, while 28% believe the person would be more likely to get stopped by the police. Asians are more likely than others to feel that a crash is likely, while those of American Indian/Eskimo descent are least likely to feel a crash is more likely. [Figure 17-A]

Overall, more than six in ten believe that a person is likely to be stopped by the police for driving after having too much to drink. Non-Hispanic Whites are least likely to feel that being stopped by police is likely (62% say it is likely), while those of Hispanic descent are most likely to feel this outcome would be likely (73%). [Figure 17-B]

About half of those ages 16 to 64 feel that punishment is almost certain if one is charged with a drinking and driving violation. [Figure 17-C]. An additional 27% feel that such an outcome would be very likely. American Indians/Eskimos and Hispanics are less likely than those of other races to feel that punishment is a certainty.

Three-quarters of those ages 16 to 64 believe that the punishment for a drinking and driving violation would be somewhat or very severe. About 28% feel punishment would be very severe. Non-Hispanic Whites are least likely to perceive punishment as very severe (25%). [Figure 17-D]

*A drinking-driving trip is defined as an occasion when a driver drove within two hours after drinking any alcohol

**Sample base for figures on this page:

The driving age public supports increased penalties for drinking and driving. Four in ten feel penalties for violators should be much more severe, while an additional third think they could be somewhat more severe. Non-Hispanic Whites are least likely to feel that such penalties should be much more severe (32% as compared to 39% of other races). [ Figure 18-A]

While 65% of those ages 16 to 64 feel that current laws and penalties to reduce drinking and driving are at least somewhat effective, 28% feel laws and penalties are not too effective, and 6% see them as not at all effective in curbing drinking and driving. American Indian/ Eskimos are more likely to perceive the laws to be very effective than do others (38% compared to 12% of others), while Asians are most likely to see the laws as at least somewhat effective (74% as compared to 64% overall). [Figure 18-B]

FIGURE 18: ATTITUDES ABOUT DRINKING-DRIVING PENALTIES