Impaired Driving Track Workshops

New Strategies for Communities to Address Alcohol Service Issues

This workshop will cover several successful strategies to promote task forces and community coalitions dealing with alcohol issues in the community. Included are the efforts of the Texas ABC to educate retailers on the importance of voluntary compliance with laws that are designed to protect the public. In 2007, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission implemented the Manager’s Awareness Program across the state. The program, which took four years to create, was a joint effort between the Enforcement, Compliance, Legal and Education Divisions. The program focuses on supporting managers with the day-to-day issue of providing responsible alcoholic beverage service. Finally, an overview of some of the research showing the most effective ways in which communities and law enforcement can work together to reduce alcohol related crime, sales to minors, and impaired driving.

How Probation Handles Impaired Driving Cases

An impaired driver is detected, arrested, prosecuted and sentenced. Then what? It’s up to probation officials to hold them accountable. Some exceptional probation programs for impaired driving offenders will be featured and probation guidelines developed recently by the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) will be described.

Use of Search Warrants for BAC Test Refusals

Several States use search warrants to obtain a blood test from drivers who refuse to provide a BAC test voluntarily. In this workshop, three States will describe how their warrant programs operate. The workshop concludes with a panel discussion on the pros and cons of warrants for States considering their use.

New Laws, New Approaches in Impaired Driving

In the past few years, a few states have taken novel approaches to combating impaired driving. This workshop will highlight three of these approaches and show the results that have been achieved so far. Specifically, this workshop will examine the work of state task forces. A speaker will address an intensive and comprehensive community based program. Another speaker will highlight the increased use of screening and brief intervention in trauma centers under new requirements, established by the American College of Surgeons–Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT), that Level 1 and 2 Trauma Centers must establish procedures for SBI.

Victim Impact Panel

Every impaired driving crash fatality and injury statistic represents a person and a family whose lives are forever changed. This workshop exposes the tragedy caused by impaired driving and the aftermath caused by America's most frequently committed crime.

General Deterrence Strategies for Non-Checkpoint States

Twelve states are unable or do not to conduct sobriety checkpoints, the most effective tactic to deter the impaired driver. A summit was is planned to allow these states to discuss alternative law enforcement strategies that are available to them. This workshop will feature some speakers from that summit and their proven strategies.

Strategies for Small Law Enforcement Agencies

Small law agencies face unique challenges that some of their larger counterparts do not. This workshop will explore ways that small agencies can take advantage of some of the tools available to larger law enforcement departments. This workshop also will describe an effort taking place in Maine to demonstrate a high visibility enforcement effort in a National Park (Acadia) and the plan to expand this program to National Parks across the country.

Focus on Alcohol Responsibility

There are a number of organizations that work with licensed establishments and promote messages and countermeasures under the banner of “responsibility.” Hear from a number of these organizations. What are their goals? Who are their members? What activities are they pursuing? Can they make a difference and help reduce impaired driving?

Reducing Impaired Driving in Diverse Latino Communities

In February 2007, NHTSA hosted a national meeting focused on reducing impaired driving in Latino communities. This workshop will feature speakers from that meeting, and will discuss the latest research on drinking and impaired driving patterns among diverse cultural groups, strategies to consider when developing countermeasures and communications designed to reach this population, and efforts currently underway to reduce impaired driving in diverse Latino communities at the national, state and local level.

Lessons from Low BAC Rate States

Under SAFETEA-LU, the Section 410 program awards grants to states with alcohol-related fatality rates at or below .50 per 100 million VMT. Based on 2005 FARS data, 18 states fit into this category. This workshop will feature representatives from three of these states to identify the steps they have helped them be successful.

What Role do Judges Play in Reducing Impaired Driving

For impaired drivers who are arrested, judges play a pivotal role in holding them accountable for their actions and taking steps to prevent them from repeating their crime in the future. MADD will present regarding its court monitoring program. Judges will present regarding the issues they face in the courtroom.

Innovative Strategies for High Visibility Enforcement

NHTSA recently published case studies featuring three states (Alaska, Georgia and West Virginia) that used innovative strategies to enhance their high visibility enforcement efforts. Learn how they recruited law enforcement participation, energized and publicized their activities, and facilitated reporting.

Model Ignition Interlock Programs

Enacting an ignition interlock law is just the first step. To achieve its maximum effectiveness, use of ignition interlocks must be part of a program that includes appropriate sentences, close supervision and treatment if the offender has an underlying substance abuse problem. Speakers will identify elements of a model ignition interlock program for criminal and administrative settings.

Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving

Speakers will represent the four prongs of this new campaign, which seeks to increase high visibility enforcement, enhance use of ignition interlocks, develop enhanced vehicle technologies to prevent impaired driving and support the other initiatives through grassroots support.

 

Lifesavers Conference, Inc. • PO Box 30045 • Alexandria, VA 22310 • 703-922-7944 • 703-922-7780 (fax)

site design: www.simmonsdesign.com