A "Mandatory" Jail Sentence for Drinking and Driving

Abstract

The Yakima (Washington State) Drinking and Driving Project was intended to change public attitudes toward drinking and driving, and to decrease its incidence by implement ing a two-day jail sentence for persons convicted of driving while intoxicated. This evaluation was undertaken to assess the implementation and impact of the Yakima Project. Data were obtained through surveys of the public and of law enforcement personnel and from official accident, Breathalyzer,® and court records. It was found that the jail sentence was well received by the law enforcement officers and by the public, and possibly led to changes in public attitudes. However, it did not reduce alcohol involvement in accidents and thus apparently did not decrease the incidence of drinking and driving. Lack of public awareness and variability in judicial enforcement were identified as factors that may have contributed to this failure.