Citation

Burns M, Anderson E, Moio J. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 2002; 2002: 673-678.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

The number of driving-under-the-influence of alcohol (DUI) arrests varies widely among traffic officers within the same agency. A study was undertaken in the State of Colorado to evaluate what factors might underlie such differences. Data were obtained by anonymous questionnaire from a sample of Colorado traffic officers who differed in their arrest rates. Differences in DUI arrest rates were not related to the officers' personal experiences with alcohol, their knowledge about its effects, or their DUI enforcement training. The officers who made the most arrests generally were younger with fewer years in law enforcement and were more likely to say they actively seek DUI offenders, whereas those with low arrest numbers were more likely to say they arrest only those that they happen to see. Officers who made more arrests tended to have more positive attitudes about making DUI arrests and engage in a more active enforcement style. However these differences were small.