Michigan/Prosecuting the Drunk Driver

Prosecuting the Drunk Driver

MICHIGAN

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS		PROGRAM AREA(S)
	High media visibility		Alcohol and Other Drugs

TYPE OF JURISDICTION
	State

TARGETED POPULATION(S)		JURISDICTION SIZE
	State Prosecutors		9,100,000

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
New legislation creating a "zero tolerance" standard for Michigan minors who drink and drive went into effect in November, 1994. However, prosecutors in the state's court system did not have sufficient information regarding the legislation to properly adjudicate the cases of offenders. In 1995, Michigan's Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) recognized the need to provide prosecutors with a formal training session for this and other changes to the state's impaired driving statutes.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Prosecuting the Drunk Driver was a one-day conference conducted in 1995 to allow state prosecutors to become familiar with Michigan's drunk driving statutes. Specific objectives of the program were to:

Increase awareness of prosecution versus plea bargaining
Inform prosecutors of new legislation regarding minors
Videotape the training session for distribution to all Michigan counties
Present an overview of commercial driver laws
Demonstrate infrared testing procedures, and address admissibility issues
Provide an overview of prosecuting the repeat offender

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The Prosecuting the Drunk Driver training conference was held in Lansing in June of 1995. OHSP officials selected the Alcohol Issues Forum to facilitate the program. Forum members provided logistical support for the function, mailing all relevant materials to Michigan's 83 counties. They were also responsible for videotaping the training session.

The conference was attended by 110 prosecutors. Presenters included OHSP representatives, Michigan's senator who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council and representatives from the Department of State. A variety of topics were covered including:

New laws for impaired driving
Zero tolerance and drug law suspensions
Commercial driver laws
Infrared testing and admissibility
Restoration appeals and repeat offenders
Related issues such as court decisions, proposed legislation and snowmobile, watercraft and recreational vehicle legislation

The conference received statewide media coverage on television and in newspapers. The session was videotaped and copies were mailed to all Michigan counties with accompanying conference materials.

RESULTS
Conference participants asked to evaluate the session indicated a very successful and worthwhile presentation of information. In 1995, a total of 1,046 zero tolerance arrests were made. In 1996, this figure increased to 1,370.

In addition, underage drivers involved in alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes decreased 7.6 percent in 1996, and their involvement in fatal crashes decreased 39.4 percent.

FUNDING
	Section 402:	$8,000
CONTACT
	Deborah Savage Alcohol Program Coordinator Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning 300 S. Washington Square, Suite 300 Lansing, MI 48909 (517) 333-5324

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Summer 1997