Implied-consent laws: a review of the literature and examination of current problems and related statutes.
OBJECTIVE
A substantial proportion of drivers arrested for DUI refuse the BAC test, thereby reducing the likelihood that they will be convicted and potentially increasing the number of high-risk multiple offenders contributing to alcohol-related crashes.


METHODS
This paper reviews the information on the current status of implied-consent laws (which impose a sanction on offenders who refuse the BAC test) in the 50 states and the other relevant traffic safety laws and policies that may influence state refusal rates.


RESULTS
Although there appears to be only a weak relationship between state refusal rates and crash rates, there is strong evidence that BAC test refusals significantly compromise the arrest, prosecution, and sentencing of DUI suspects and the overall enforcement of DUI laws in the United States.


CONCLUSIONS
Laws and policies that may reduce the number of refusals are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol-related crash injuries are an important cost problem for U.S. industry because of property damage from crashes, crash injuries to employees that raise health costs, or the reduction of time on the job resulting from a highway injury.
Voas
Robert B
RB
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation 11720 Beltsville Drive, Suite 900, Calverton, MD 20705-3111, USA. voas@pire.org
Kelley-Baker
Tara
T
Romano
Eduardo
E
Vishnuvajjala
Radha
R
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001944:Breath Tests; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D014481:United States
D000431:Ethanol