Background The New York State Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated (STOP-DWI) was developed in 1980 in an effort to decrease alcohol-related fatalities and injuries in the State. The program objective was to lay the foundation for the development of effective, self-funding, local programs. Each New York county has a STOP-DWI Program which has led to the development of creative programs and increased cooperation between localities. Since the program's inception in 1981 and 2000, there have been significant decreases in alcohol-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries in New York State and, the annual average for collected fines has risen from less than $500,000 to $22 million. The counties retain the fine money to operate the program. No taxpayer money has been spent since the inception of the program. The STOP-DWI Program is considered to be an exemplary and effective program, and therefore may be worth examining in order to determine standards and mechanisms that may potentially benefit impaired driving programs in other States. New Jersey and New Mexico are also developing self-sustaining programs to reduce impaired driving.

Objectives Determine why the New York STOP-DWI Program (and, possibly, self-sustaining programs in other States) have been successfully implemented. Compare STOP-DWI Program outcomes to outcomes of impaired driving programs in other States. Determine aspects of the STOP-DWI program that may be desirable for other States to emulate.

Proposed Approach In coordination with the New York State Department of Transportation, perform a process-based evaluation to examine how the STOP-DWI Program works and why it produces successful results. This would include examining the organization of the STOP-DWI program; determining specifics of how the program works; determining specific program successes and shortcomings; determining sources and uses of resources; determining factors that make the program work in New York; and, identifying potential obstacles in other States. The data collection effort would include identifying and interviewing relevant New York State and local officials and identifying and reviewing relevant program documentation including pre- and post-program data. Consider extending the evaluation to other States with self-sustaining programs. The evaluation may require 2-3 years, depending on the extent of data collection.