Relative Impact of Sanctions

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 Most participants in both sites had difficulty segregating and ranking the impact of the various sanctions. In both sites, the majority of participants said the worst sanction was the emotional and psychological consequences of the experience. Many participants spoke eloquently about the shame and humiliation of having been arrested, and many described their efforts to hide the arrest from their employers and acquaintances. A number of participants in both sites also mentioned the financial costs. The insurance surcharge was the cost most reviled by New Jersey participants. The participants reported that it is widely perceived as a "sin tax," which is imposed primarily to raise revenue for the state. The perception was that little money is used to make insurance available through the assigned risk pool. Four of the 16 Milwaukee participants said that the license suspension was the worst part of their sentences. Even though the six-month hard suspension (with no occupational license) caused significant lifestyle adjustments for many New Jersey participants, only seven of the 21 New Jersey participants said that the suspension was the worst sanction. Many Milwaukee residents found fault with the alcohol assessment process. These participants complained that the assessment, which cost $180, was superficial and brief. Many New Jersey participants complained about the IDRC's power to require completion of expensive and "onerous" alcohol rehabilitation programs, with no opportunity for appeal of the counselor's decision. They also resented the IDRC's ability to impose additional license suspensions to enforce treatment requirements. One New Jersey man felt that the worst sanction was the loss of his car. His DWI arrest occurred in New York City, and his car was seized "as if I had been a big-time drug dealer." He still owed car payments for two years, but had no car to drive.