Creating Impaired Driver General Deterrence
Eight Case Studies of Sustained,
High-Visibility, Impaired-Driving Enforcement

THE CASE STUDIES

Austin Police Department / Creating a DWI Unit
Creating a special-purpose unit within a law enforcement agency can be difficult and time-consuming. Political and institutional barriers and the inertia of traditional approaches can defeat even the best of intentions. This case study describes the process by which the Austin Police Department planned, implemented, and now is perfecting, a dedicated DWI Unit. The experiences of the Austin Police Department will be useful to the managers of law enforcement agencies who are contemplating similar initiatives.

Claremont Police Department / Avoid the 50
The Avoid the 50 program is distinguished by its size (the “50” refers to the num¬ber of participating law enforcement agencies). This case study describes how the man¬agers of a small police department helped organize and later administered one of the largest multi-agency special enforcement programs in the Nation.

East Valley DUI Task Force / Super Saturation Patrols
The East Valley DUI Task Force conducts one of the most intensive and long¬est-run¬ning special enforcement programs in the country. This case study describes the procedures followed by the member agencies of the task force and how their original holiday campaigns have evolved into a year-round impaired driving enforcement program.

Fresno Police Department / Remove Alcohol Impaired Drivers (RAID)
The most salient feature of the Fresno Police Department’s RAID program is that it is the product of a systematic analysis of local conditions related to impaired driving and the depart¬ment’s enforcement procedures and practices. The systems approach allowed managers of the Fresno Police Department to identify several actions, from education through adjudication, with the ultimate objective of reducing the incidence of alcohol-involved crashes. This case study provides useful information to law enforcement managers concerning the full range of issues, from funding to multi-cultural media strategies.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office / Sheriff’s Traffic Operations Plan (STOP)
The Sheriff’s Traffic Operations Plan, developed by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office includes special enforce¬ment and education efforts that rival the programs of many State agencies for which traffic safety is the primary mission. This case study describes many innovative approaches and provides fresh ideas for law enforcement and program managers.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office / Highly Mobile Sobriety Checkpoints
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office routinely conducts roving patrols dedicated to DUI enforcement, but the most distinguishing feature of this agency’s program is the frequent deploy¬ment of highly mobile sobriety checkpoints that are staffed by rela¬tively few deputies and officers in a multi-agency special enforcement program. The organizers learned from previous NHTSA field studies and developed procedures tai¬lored to local conditions. Managers who are considering sobriety checkpoints as a spe¬cial enforcement strategy can benefit from the specific suggestions presented in this case study.

Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital / DUI Task Force and Publicity Campaign
This case study describes how a non-governmental organization developed a structure that overcame obstacles to cooperation by the law enforcement agencies in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital of Cleveland organized and administers the education and special enforcement activities of the Cuyahoga County Speed, Reckless, and Aggressive Driving/DUI Task Force. This program has replaced jurisdictional friction with sincere cooperation and dedication to a sustained, highly visible program of special enforcement that is supported by innovative media strategies designed to elevate public awareness of impaired driving.

Washington State Patrol / A Full Calendar of Special Emphasis Programs
The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is responsible for all aspects of public safety within the State. However, the many special traffic enforcement programs conducted by the WSP reflect the agency’s emphasis on the core mission of reducing the incidence of fatal and injury crashes on state and interstate routes. This case study summarizes the Washington State Patrol’s efforts and provides greater detail about two recent additions to the agency’s full calendar of innovative impaired-driving enforcement events and programs.