MADD's Operation Memorial Day Court Monitoring Project Mirrors National Trends With Observations in 11 States

DALLAS, May 24, 2007; Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) today released information about its Operation Memorial Day court monitoring project resulting in the tracking of 264 DUI/DWI cases filed over the 2006 Memorial Day weekend in 11 communities across the country. Memorial Day is historically one of the deadliest drunk driving holiday times. In 2005, there were 145 drunk driving deaths accounting for 39 percent of 368 total traffic deaths and countless more injuries.

Operation Memorial Day results showed that in Albuquerque, N.M. alcohol ignition interlocks, which help reduce repeat drunk driving offenses by up to 90 percent when installed on first and repeat offenders' vehicles were used in about half (9 out of 20) of the cases. Since this project in 2006, preliminary data in 2007 shows that among the cases being monitored by MADD in Albuquerque, these courts are 100 percent compliant. Other states have a patchwork of laws and do not mandate interlocks for first time offenders, which made up the majority of cases monitored for Operation Memorial Day, and MADD aims to change this.

Additional results from the MADD project include: the average age of offenders was between 22 and 34 and the states all conducted increased enforcement throughout the year to deter drunk driving to some degree. This reflects national data showing that the majority of drunk driving offenders are first time "arrestees," not first time drunk drivers, the average age of offenders is 21 to 34 and research proves that increased enforcement does help deter drunk driving.

"Most likely there would have been more than 276 drunk driving arrests in these communities if it had not have been for increased enforcement and publicity activities warning motorists, especially over the Memorial Day holiday," said Glynn R. Birch, MADD national president. "That is unfortunately the reality of the situation." Annually across the country, there are about 1.4 million drunk driving arrests. He added that also it was troublesome to see such viable current technology be so underutilized in all of the states. "The passage of ignition interlock legislation for all drunk driving offenders is something MADD works diligently on alongside key legislators throughout the country, and if that means we start with a focus on mandating interlocks for higher-risk offenders versus using discretion, that is where we are starting."

Research shows that first-time offenders arrested for drunk driving have driven drunk more than 87 times before their first arrest. Two-thirds of those whose licenses are suspended for DUI drive anyway. Multiple studies have shown alcohol ignition interlocks are up to 90 percent effective in keeping both first-time and repeat offenders from recommitting the crime as long as the interlock is installed on the vehicle, but is estimated that only one in eight convicted drunk drivers, mostly repeat offenders each year currently get an ignition interlock installed. Most of those are repeat offenders. MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving calls for intensive, high visibility law enforcement, mandatory ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, development and exploration of advanced vehicle-based technology and community support. For more information on interlocks and MADD's Campaign, go to http://www.madd.org/campaign.

One example of MADD's court monitoring project at work includes a review of courts in Virginia Beach, Virginia. After monitoring the courts, MADD found that in the courts drunk driving cases were being reduced from "DUI" to "fine only." This sends a clear message that drunk driving is not seen for the serious crime that it is and ultimately because there is little to no accountability and restitution to society, the person is more likely to re- offend sending them back to the courts at some later point. Court monitors brought the situation to the attention of members of the criminal justice system who are currently investigating.

MADD court monitoring is made up of volunteers trained in court procedures that go into the courtroom on a regular basis to observe cases and note their outcomes. By auditing the records of the judicial system, a comprehensive court monitoring system managed by MADD's experts identifies weak points in a system and offers solutions for local judicial leaders. MADD creates a dialogue with local leaders by building a bridge between the judiciary, district attorney, defense bar and law enforcement.

Communities participating in Operation Memorial Day included: Nebraska (Lincoln); Pennsylvania (Harrisburg); Virginia (Virginia Beach); Missouri (Jefferson City); Kentucky (Frankfort); Georgia (Atlanta); California (Sacramento); Louisiana (Baton Rouge); New Mexico (Albuquerque); Hawaii (Honolulu); Texas (Dallas). The project will continue in 2008 with new cities participating.

Other states conducting court monitoring but were not participants in Operation Memorial Day 2006, are: Texas (Houston), Illinois (Springfield), Missouri (St. Louis) and North Carolina (Raleigh-Durham). For more details of MADD's court monitoring project, visit http://www.madd.org/courtmonitoring.