From Deseret News archives:
5% of Utah drivers have a DUI arrest
Count the cars around you in the logjam at 10600 South and I-15.
If you travel a lot like she does between Salt Lake City and St. George, see how many pass by 18 inches away in the lanes to the right and left.
A study of DUI offenses over 10 years shows about 5 percent of Utahns have been arrested for drunken driving. And of that pool of drunken drivers, one-quarter are repeat offenders, according to the data, compiled from driver license records by Jennifer Hemenway of the state's Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice.
Those are only the people arrested or convicted, said Clark, whose son was killed by a drunken driver several years ago.
"Statistics about the those potential drunk drivers those I see when I drive back and forth to St. George the risk we all face is probably untrackable," said Clark, who was involved with Parents Against Drunk Driving, a grass-roots advocacy group that existed before a Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter came to Utah.
The new report is significant in Utah's ongoing battle against the problem of drinking and driving because demographic information here is so disorganized that there has been virtually no way to draw a clear profile of a drunken driver.
And advocates who fight for tougher sentences and drunken-driving laws say they desperately need this data to build public-awareness campaigns, so they can draw some conclusions from the report's details: such as the fact that Utah repeat offenders don't mess around when it comes to being re-arrested for driving drunk. According to the report, nearly 25 percent of those who are caught drinking and driving again did so within six months.
"What this shows us is that it's probably very much with them an addiction," said Art Brown, an advocate for victims of drunken driving on the statewide council now tackling these issues. "It tells us they have to have the treatment component and they have to be separated from their cars by an (ignition) interlock or some other means."
Advocates of tougher drunken driving laws have testified for years that about 20 percent of drunken drivers are repeat offenders. The new data shows that number is actually 25 percent.
That's an indication that more people are repeating these offenses or police and prosecutors are doing a better job of identifying who's been caught drinking before and who's committing the offense for the first time.
Recent comments
drunk drivers are retated and i cant beleave that someone would want...
Anonymous | Nov. 12, 2007 at 12:18 p.m.
- Russian missile behind Norway lights 12:18 p.m.
- AOL free from Time Warner 12:17 p.m.
- US, allies warn of new Iran sanctions 12:16 p.m.
- Busiest postal day will be Dec. 14 12:03 p.m.
- Westminster pres. joins lib ed group 12:01 p.m.
- Dr.: Mitchell deluded, incompetent 12:00 p.m.
- Arts survey finds drops in attendance 11:03 a.m.
- Palestinian files suit over 'Bruno' 11:01 a.m.
- Alexa Joel 'devastating heartbreak' 10:56 a.m.
- Actress got close to the president 10:55 a.m.
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Psychologist: Mitchell schizophrenic
- Panel passes BCS playoff bill
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- I-15 expansion barreling south
- Max Hall wants to look ahead
- Hot Rod behind mic for Lakers
- Letters: Global warming a lie
244 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
188 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
148 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
140 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
130 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
122 - Revive full food tax?
102 - Panel passes BCS playoff bill
99
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
My wife Lisa and I would prefer never to argue. But that's not going to...
For the latest news in the health care debate and how it affects you...
I hope Bruno has to pay the whole $110 million. He treats other human...
Her point was that the more off-limits something is, the more tempting it is....
Weather exists becuase the equator gets more sun and warms up more than the...
"is there no longer religious freedom in this country" I do not understand...
He seems to have the same political mentors as Ms Anita Dunn. If I was a...
Did anyone even see this show?
What next, citing women for wearing tight knit sweaters on a cold day?...
That is a great group of players but there are sooo many more players than...
Ultra Bob | 10:15 a.m. All Conservatives are NOT Wealthy. So drop the...
Wood's behavior is absolutely shameful, and yet, it is sadly typical of the...



