|
Project
Characteristics |
Innovative
|
|
Program
Areas |
| Alcohol
and Other Drugs |
Type
of Jurisdiction |
| State |
Targeted
Population |
| 18-34
Year Old Men |
Jurisdiction
Size |
| 2
million |
Funding |
OHSP
410 Funds: $69,200
MI State Police: $4,496 |
Contact |
Deborah Savage
Police Traffic Services
Program Coordinator
Ofc. of Hwy. Safety Plng.
4000 Collins Road
Lansing, MI 48909-8133
(517) 333-5325
savaged@michigan.gov
hamblenj@michigan.gov
|
|
Digest
Listing
|
|
|
|
MICHIGAN
BATmobile (OUIL Mobile
Testing Van)
PDF Version
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Michigan law enforcement officers routinely arrest more
than 60,000 people for drunk driving offenses annually. Nearly 40 percent of
Michigan's traffic fatalities each year involve alcohol. One in every 25
Michigan drivers has one or more alcohol convictions on his or her driving
record.
Operating Under the
Influence of Liquor (OUIL) enforcement is a labor-intensive responsibility
for Michigan patrol officers. The amount of time spent processing drunk
driving offenders expends a large part of a patrol officer's shift.
This reduces manpower available to enforce safety.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The BATmobile OUIL Mobile Testing Van project
provides law enforcement agencies conducting driving enforcement with a
tool that will decrease the time spent on processing and increase time spent
identifying and apprehending drunk drivers.
The objectives of the BATmobile OUIL Mobile
Testing Van project are to:
-
Research and secure an appropriate mobile blood alcohol
testing unit that will comply with all evidentiary requirements; Promote collaboration and cooperation of law
enforcement agencies in drunk driving enforcement; -
Publicize the dangers of drunk driving; -
Assist other drunk driving programs.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The BATmobile program utilized the following strategies and
related activities to achieve its goals:
-
Partnered with several law enforcement agencies to conduct
coordinated saturation patrols. -
Collaborated with other traffic safety partners to
publicize the drunk driving message. -
Marketed the drunken driving message at community events
such as fairs, festivals, school events, etc. -
Used the unit to process paperwork and transport offenders
to the nearest lockup facility. -
Located on site for breath testing
during drunk driving enforcement efforts with any law enforcement agency wishing
to participate in the patrols. -
Educated the public about the dangers of drunk driving and
heightened their perceived risk of the likelihood of arrest. -
Publicized and shared project using a brochure and fact card
produced by the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) and shared with law
enforcement agencies. -
Worked with outside agencies, through the BATmobile
housing agency, to respond to requests to use the unit.
RESULTS
Michigan experienced the following positive
results through use of the BATmobile project:
-
Reduced officers' processing time for impaired driving
arrests by as much as 45 minutes to one hour. -
Breath test results reflect the BAC (Blood Alcohol Count)
of the driver closer to the time of the stop. -
Increased community support for law enforcement through the
use of the BATmobile as an educational tool for the public. -
Processed nearly 100 persons suspected of impaired driving. -
Used BATmobile at approximately 75 enforcement or
community events. -
Received outstanding media coverage for debut, enforcement, and community events. -
Prompted OHSP to fund the purchase of three additional
BATmobiles to be located in Marquette, Lansing and Monroe County, providing
comprehensive coverage of the state. -
Provided patrol officers with reduced amounts of administrative work in processing drunk
driving offenders. -
Increased community support for enforcement.
Fall
2003 complete Digest (PDF)
|
