Should Tougher Dui Laws Be Enacted
Should tougher dui laws be enacted? Yes, it would reduce the number of fatal drunk driving accidents, and the increased penalties would deter habitual offenders. But these measures are not the only means of making drunk driving less dangerous. States must also integrate the criminal justice and treatment systems. Only then will fewer deaths be a result of alcohol consumption. If we are serious about reducing the number of deaths caused by DUI, we need to enact tougher DUI laws across the board.
In the United States, a higher BAC intoxication could deter drivers from driving, reducing the number of fatal crashes. While the Netherlands has higher alcohol consumption rates than the U.S., its crash fatality rate was only 19 percent compared to 31 percent in the US. Utah’s DUI law, however, has been controversial, and its implementation was delayed until law enforcement could improve its enforcement. The debate was heated, and safety advocates made impassioned pleas for more stringent laws.
Many studies indicate that California’s current DUI laws have no impact on the number of deaths caused by drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2019, there were 10,142 fatalities involving alcohol-impaired drivers. While Arizona’s alcohol-impaired crash fatality rate is higher than California’s, it is still a much better option than California’s. The state’s geography and existing culture play a role in determining the severity of a drunk driving death, as well as the likelihood of reoffending.
While there is no doubt that tougher DUI laws should be enacted to reduce alcohol-related crashes, some states are doing so. Several states have passed similar laws to tighten the DUI penalties. But the only change that has occurred in the California law is the use of ignition interlock devices. In California, the new law also closed the loophole that allowed police to charge drunk drivers as repeat offenders. In Arizona, the rate of fatal alcohol-impaired crashes is nearly 30%, higher than the U.S. at 27 percent.
The new law increased the use of ignition interlock devices, which made it easier to identify drunk driving suspects. But it also closed a loophole that allowed police to charge these people as repeat offenders. It has also reduced the threshold for a first DUI conviction from. In other states, the threshold for a second conviction is lower than in California, but the consequences are harsher. These new laws should be enacted because of the risk of fatalities and the impact on society.
Tougher DUI laws should be enacted to protect drivers. The more intoxicated a driver is, the more likely they are to crash. The more alcohol-impaired drivers, the higher the chances of being involved in an accident. In California, more alcohol-impaired drivers are more likely to cause fatalities. If a state passes such a law, it is better to enforce it than one that fails to enact it.
