This Cary DUI lawyer has previously posted about the high rate of DUI arrests in North Carolina and the increase of DUI arrest among women. Now, I would like to say a few words on the discrepency of arrest rates among law enforcement officers. Presumably, every officer faced with the same facts and circumstances would make a similar decision on whether or not to place an individual suspected of DUI under arrest. A recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, however, found that this presumption was far from the truth.
Factors For DUI Arrests in Raleigh/Cary,Apex & Garner
First, the officer’s age and experience play a significant role in his alcohol-related arrest decisions. Younger officers and those with few years of seniority on the police force, tend to have a more positive attitude toward enforcement of DUI laws — and tend to make more arrests than older officers.
The officer’s personal use of alcohol also plays a significant role in his alcohol-related arrest decisions. Officers who drink alcohol themselves make significantly fewer arrests than those who do not, and those that drink frequently make less arrests than those who drink only occasionally.
Not surprisingly, the time of day can have a significant affect on whether or not an officer will make a DUI arrest. As you get closer to the end of a police shift, the number of DUI arrests decreases dramatically. This is particularly prevalent in departments that have time-consuming procedures for processing DUI cases, and in most departments in the Raleigh,Cary,Apex,Garner, area.
Another factor is the condition of the weather — but not how you might initially think. Arrest rates actually increase if driving conditions are hazardous (again, this statistic is once the stop has already been made — traffic stops, of course, tend to decrease during inclimate weather).
Do other factors such as the suspect’s age, race, etc. play any role in an officer’s decision to arrest a DUI suspect? Absolutely. More on that in the future.
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