Alcohol is a substance that reduces brain functions and impairs thinking, reasoning, and muscle coordination which impacts a person’s ability to safety operate a motor vehicle. Drunk driving is the operation of a motor vehicle on a highway with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) beyond the legal limit.
AAMVA members are responsible for enforcement of drunk driving laws and/or the administration of programs and policies to take action against driving privileges for those in violation of drunk driving laws. The goals of these programs are to enhance highway safety by keeping individuals off the highway that are intoxicated and to reduce drunk driving recidivism.
One example of a drunk driving program is the ignition interlock program. In 2023, AAMVA released Edition 3 of the Ignition Interlock Program Best Practices Guide to assist jurisdictions in the administration, development, design, and standardization of ignition interlock programs. The goals of an ignition interlock program are to reduce recidivism and enhance compliance with laws related to driving under the influence of alcohol. These programs have proven to be effective at reducing alcohol-related violations and crashes as long as they are installed and used properly. As of 2018, every U.S. jurisdiction makes ignition interlock devices available within the construct of an administrative, judicial, or hybrid program. AAMVA also developed an Ignition Interlock Law Enforcement Training video which provides education to law enforcement officers in how to properly interact with an ignition interlock device.
AAMVA has partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to raise awareness and collaborate on issues related to drunk driving policy and enforcement. MADD is a non-profit organization whose mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking. AAMVA's Comprehensive Highway Safety Policy Position recommends that AAMVA members support and become actively involved in national, state, and local initiatives directed at intoxicated drivers and that increased efforts be initiated to identify, regulate, and control these problem drivers. AAMVA's Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs Policy Position supports the implementation of a management policy that establishes impaired driving offenses as a top priority for enforcement and administrative sanctions, supports training programs to enhance skills in detecting and apprehending impaired drivers, and encourages policies that support timely pursuit of search warrants for blood whenever a suspected impaired driver refuses to voluntarily submit to a breath or blood test.
Highlighted resources:
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AAMVA members are responsible for enforcement of drunk driving laws and/or the administration of programs and policies to take action against driving privileges for those in violation of drunk driving laws. The goals of these programs are to enhance highway safety by keeping individuals off the highway that are intoxicated and to reduce drunk driving recidivism.
One example of a drunk driving program is the ignition interlock program. In 2023, AAMVA released Edition 3 of the Ignition Interlock Program Best Practices Guide to assist jurisdictions in the administration, development, design, and standardization of ignition interlock programs. The goals of an ignition interlock program are to reduce recidivism and enhance compliance with laws related to driving under the influence of alcohol. These programs have proven to be effective at reducing alcohol-related violations and crashes as long as they are installed and used properly. As of 2018, every U.S. jurisdiction makes ignition interlock devices available within the construct of an administrative, judicial, or hybrid program. AAMVA also developed an Ignition Interlock Law Enforcement Training video which provides education to law enforcement officers in how to properly interact with an ignition interlock device.
AAMVA has partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to raise awareness and collaborate on issues related to drunk driving policy and enforcement. MADD is a non-profit organization whose mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking. AAMVA's Comprehensive Highway Safety Policy Position recommends that AAMVA members support and become actively involved in national, state, and local initiatives directed at intoxicated drivers and that increased efforts be initiated to identify, regulate, and control these problem drivers. AAMVA's Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs Policy Position supports the implementation of a management policy that establishes impaired driving offenses as a top priority for enforcement and administrative sanctions, supports training programs to enhance skills in detecting and apprehending impaired drivers, and encourages policies that support timely pursuit of search warrants for blood whenever a suspected impaired driver refuses to voluntarily submit to a breath or blood test.
Highlighted resources:
- Ignition Interlock Program Best Practices Guide, Edition 3 (October 2023)
- Ignition Interlock Law Enforcement Training video
- Comprehensive Highway Safety Policy Position
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Drugs Policy Position
Below is a list of recently added items related to this topic. At the bottom of the page is a button that will take you to our search results page, where you can find additional items as well as filters to customize your search for content.