title: Impact of the revision of DUI legislation in Alabama.
abstract: On May 19, 1980, a major revision in the Alabama DUI laws went into effect which gave judges greater discretion in sentencing. This revision resulted in an increase in the proportion of DUI convictions, a reduction in the number of DUI citations reduced to reckless driving, a reduction in the proportion of offenders acquitted and/or dismissed, an increase in the proportion of revocations, and an increase in court referrals to an educational program on the first offense. However, the 1980 revision was accompanied by a significant increase in the percentage of alcohol-related accidents. Consequently, the Alabama legislature revised the 1980 law on July 29, 1983, the revision taking effect immediately. The more stringent penalties in the new law apparently had a positive effect on all six alcohol-related measures cited above. Most importantly, the latest revision was accompanied by a significant decrease (2.80%) in the proportion of alcohol-related accidents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, Auburn University, Alabama 36849.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maghsoodloo
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Greathouse
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000407:Alabama; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003416:Criminal Law; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*