License Reinstatement

Cover Page Technical Report Technical Summary Acknowledgements List of Tables Introduction Study Sites Observational Study Focus Group Research Conclusions References

Participant Criteria and Recruitment Participant Characteristics and Licensing Status Circumstances of DWI/OWI Arrest Penalties Imposed Relative Impact of Sanctions Prior License Suspensions Transportation Before and During Suspension Driving While Suspended License Reinstatement Evaluation of License Suspension Sanctions Summary In Milwaukee, only four participants were eligible for license reinstatement prior to the focus groups and all but one had had their license reinstated. In New Jersey, seven participants were eligible for reinstatement at the time of the discussion, and six had had their license reinstated. In both sites, most participants who were not yet eligible for reinstatement knew exactly when their license could be reinstated and intended to regain their license as soon as they could. Two Milwaukee participants had chosen not to have their license reinstated for extended periods of time. Both were women who had little need to drive and were deterred from taking the steps necessary to get their license reinstated for economic reasons. In discussing prior suspensions, two Milwaukee men revealed that they had gone many years without a license while they were college students with little need to drive. Inability to afford the costs associated with reinstatement deterred a young New Jersey man. He had deferred taking the IDRC class several months beyond his suspension because he could not afford it. He had had his license reinstated but still was not driving because he could not afford insurance. Participants generally expected to do about the same amount of driving when their license is reinstated as they did before they were suspended. There was no difference between sites in this regard. Also in both sites, people generally expected to drive more carefully after reinstatement. There was a universal fear of being arrested again for DWI/OWI because the penalties for a second offense are perceived as severe. Although most participants vowed that they will never drink and drive again (or at least keep their drinking within legal limits when driving), few had stopped or intended to stop drinking.