title: Factors affecting conviction rates of intoxicated driver patients in two large trauma centers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Outcomes from previous studies report the driving under the influence (DUI) conviction rates for trauma patients in several cities within Canada and the United States over the last 2 decades. This study reports charge, conviction, and prosecution rates for trauma patients at 2 level I trauma centers servicing a large metropolitan city.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the trauma databases was completed to identify patients meeting inclusion criteria. Four hundred sixty patients were identified and their records were compared with the district attorney's records for DUI charges and convictions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The conviction rate for this study was 8.7%, demonstrating continued low rates of conviction despite growing interest and public awareness of drinking and driving.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We discuss legal considerations that providers should consider when treating patients who have been drinking and driving.
authors.affiliation: a Emergency Department , 51st Medical Operations Squadron , Osan AB , Korea.
authors.forename: Regan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical Investigation , Womack Army Medical Center , Fort Bragg , North Carolina.
authors.forename: Cristóbal S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Berry-Cabán
authors.affiliation: c Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman, LLP Law Firm , New York , New York.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.affiliation: d Trauma Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio University Hospital , San Antonio , Texas.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Markowski
authors.affiliation: b Department of Clinical Investigation , Womack Army Medical Center , Fort Bragg , North Carolina.
authors.forename: Sara L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Boltinhouse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication; D002170:Canada; D016208:Databases, Factual; D000066448:Driving Under the Influence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: DUI; alcoholism; emergency department; trauma