Over the past several years, administrative licence suspension (ALS) has become a popular measure for dealing with DWI offenders in the United States, with 40 states currently using it. The procedure involves giving police the power to seize the licence of a driver who either refuses to submit to a test for alcohol or who registers a BAC in excess of the statutory limit. The driver is issued a temporary licence for a period of time (typically seven days) to permit the individual to make necessary arrangements for operating without a licence. The key feature of ALS is its swiftness - it occurs immediately when a charge is laid and is independent of any subsequent DWI conviction. The results of evaluation studies show both general and specific deterrent effects of ALS. (A)
Samenvatting