How To Beat A Dui Is A Greater Barrier Than Lax Or Outdated Laws

Office of National Drug Control Policy, Feb 09, 2005

Another way police executives can learn more about underage drinking problems in their jurisdictions is to poll their officers. Beat officers know the problems the community is facing. They also know how cool the court system is to the issue of underage drinking. Often, officers are reluctant to arrest minors engaged in alcohol-related activities if they believe the court, the juvenile justice system, or even their own department is not responsive. All too often, this is a greater barrier to overcome than lax or outdated laws.

It is also useful for police executives to talk with the business community. In particular, police executives should seek out those who operate businesses catering to the young. Fast food and convenience store managers and their employees, for example, generally have a firsthand view of the underage drinking problem in the community that they are eager to share with law enforcement. The local insurance community has a stake in this problem, too. Automobile insurance agents routinely gather facts about drinking and driving for their companies. Candid conversations with these groups can be a source of very telling information about underage drinking.

Community-based groups formed to reduce underage drinking and DUI should not be overlooked. Such groups as Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) serve not only as excellent sources of information about these issues but also as catalysts to ignite community concerns. The zeal of SADD and MADD members can bolster law enforcement executives’ efforts to convince others of the soundness of an arrest-based underage drinking campaign.