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EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
PRESENTATIONS
BREAKOUT
SESSIONS
CONCLUSION
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Legislative Issues
The legislative process,
either at the state, county or local level, often is slow and cumbersome.
Regulations that impact the alcohol industry often must overcome their
industry's considerable lobbying efforts. The participants felt that new
legislation might act as a deterrent and assist with enforcement activities.
The following suggestions
were made:
- Fostering cooperation
between school districts and law enforcement. Many felt that, when a
child is arrested for an impaired driving charge, the school should
be notified. Individual schools could develop specific policies which
would prohibit students arrested for impaired driving from driving to
school and having their parking permits revoked. Opponents of this process
feel it could affect the child's reputation with their peers, as well
as extra-curricular activities. (Texas and Florida already have such
provisions).
- Enact graduated
driver licensing systems with strict penalties for underage offenders
of alcohol/drug driving offenses. Graduated driver licensing laws allow
for a more prolonged learning process for young novice drivers. The
program consists of three distinct stages including: learner's permit;
intermediate license; and full licensure.
- Enact Zero Tolerance
laws - lowering the per se level to .02 BAC or less for any
person 21 or younger charged with DWI and encouraging law enforcement
to enforce those laws.
- Enact tougher sentencing
guidelines with enhanced penalties for driving under the combined influence
of alcohol and drugs.
- Enact legislation
that mandates pre-licensing alcohol and drug awareness training for
first-time drivers.
- Allow for use of
roadside saliva drug screening tests (when these tests become available).
- Provide for keg
registration to assist law enforcement officers to identify who purchased
the keg and supplied it to underage drinkers.
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