Since the United States Supreme Court held in 1966 that forced blood draws are constitutional, forced blood draws have been common.  According to a recent article in the Washington Times, police officers are being trained in both Idaho and Texas by Arizona’s law enforcement phlebotomy coordinator in drawing blood from motorists who are arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving.  The purpose of the training program is an attempt to decrease the number of DUI / Drunk Driving trials. While the forced blood draw procedure by police officers will reduce the number of motorists who refuse a breath, blood or urine tests, it may open up local governments to liability for any improper administration of a forced blood draw.

In a recent medical board discipline case against a Northern California doctor, a California Appellate Court held that a DUI / Drunk Driving conviction is not needed to impose professional discipline on medical doctors. Merely being arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving can form the basis for medical discipline. It is important to note that in the Northern California case, the disciplined doctor had multiple DUI / Drunk Driving arrests that did not result in convictions. While the medical discipline case applies to doctors, this may set a precedent for other professionals licensed by the State of California as well.

According to a recent Washington Supreme Court decision, a driver who drove in both Oregon and Washington can be charged for DUI / Drunk Driving in both states. The court held that there was no double jeopardy violation because both prosecutions in each state are for seperate violations. One violation occured in Oregon and the other violation occured in Washington. The driver, after being followed by Washington State Patrol officers into Oregon, was arrested by Portland police after the Washington State Patrol officers called for assistance.

According to the U.S. Transportation Department, more women are getting arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving all accross the nation. Law enforcement records from 1998-2007 show a jump of nearly 30% for women arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving. The report, authored by the FBI for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, also showed a decline in the number of men arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving during the same period. However, men out number women by four to one. While the report is silent as to the reason for the increase in women arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving, many people indicate that increase pressures on women in the workforce have led to the greater number of arrests.

According to the California DMV, in 2007, the median age of a person arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving was 30 years old. A little more than half (52.7%) of the arrestess were 30 years old or younger. Almost three-quarters (74.6%) were 40 years old or younger. Less than 1% of all DUI / Drunk Driving arrestees were juveniles (under 18). Only 2.2% of people arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving we over 60 years old. Over a 10 year period from 1997 – 2007, there was a 26% increase in DUI / Drunk Driving arrests for people under 21 years old. In 2007, 9.2% of arrestees were under 21 compared to 7.3% in 1997. While males accounted for 81.2% of those arrested in 2007, females went from 10.6% in 1997 to 18.8% of people arrested for DUI / Drunk Driving in 2007.

According to the California DMV, in 2007 DUI / Drunk Driving arrests rates had a range from 0.3 to 2.9 DUI / Drunk Driving arrests per 100 licensed drivers. California’s statewide average rate was 0.9. The five lowest county rates were San Francisco (0.3), Contra Costa (0.6), Santa Clara (0.6), Los Angeles (0.7), and San Mateo (0.7). The five highest county rates were Glenn (2.9), Sierra (2.5), Tehama (2.3), Colusa (2.1) and Inyo (2.0). Among larger counties, San Bernardino had the largest increase in DUI / Drunk Driving arrests with 11.1%. Among smaller counties the largest percentage increase was Shasta (40.8%), Humbolt (26.7%), and Tehama (25.0%). California counties with the largest percentage decline of DUI / Drunk Driving arrests were Lassen (-17.2%), Sierra (-15.0%), and Kings (-14.7%).

According to the USA Today, 11 states now require all people convicted of first time DUI / Drunk Driving to install ignition interlock devices. The US Congress may take up this issue this fall that will mandate states require all people convicted of first time DUI / Drunk Driving to install the devices in order to receive Federal Highway Funds. Any state that does not meet this requirement risks losing Federal Highway Funds. Reportedly, if all states meet the requirement, then there will be nearly 1 million ignition interlock devices installed in the US each year. If each device costs $350 to install and maintain, that translates into $350,000,000 for the ignition interlock device industry!