DUI Offenders' Beliefs About DUI Statutes and DUI Law Enforcement: Implications for Deterrence

Development of a profile of those who drink and drive is needed to more effectively deter this behavior. Using data from the 2001 NSDDAB (National Survey of Drinking and Driving Attitudes and Behavior), Bertelli and Richardson found that the existence of DUI (driving under the influence) statutes impacts only those least likely to drink and drive, while concern for the likelihood of arrest and individual agreement with the goals of drinking and driving laws significantly reduces propensity for almost everyone except the "extreme 'hard core' drinking drivers." Using the same NSDDAB items, this study examined propensity to drink and drive for a sample of 58 offenders in a local DUI Court program. A majority of these known DUI offenders were problem drinkers. Results show that DUI offenders were not deterred by DUI statutes and perceptions of DUI law enforcement. Implications for deterrence theory and the legal legitimacy hypothesis are discussed.