There isn’t a lot of sympathy for the repeat impaired driver – especially among brokers – but one jurisdiction is hoping for success with ‘sobriety court.’
Lafayette, Louisiana has a new tool in addressing the problem of repeat drunk drivers: A special sobriety court – OWI court (operating while intoxicated) – for those convicted of third and fourth offense operating while under the influence.
“We treat at the first and second offense,” said City Court Judge Doug Saloom. “OWI court, hopefully, will impact those we're missing.”
Saloom was on a panel for the Acadiana Press Club at the Lafayette Daily Advertiser’s offices discussing possible solutions for drunk driving.
Sobriety court, modeled after a national program that has been proven effective in reducing OWIs (the equivalent of impaired driving in Canada), was established in October.
“The target of the program is hard-core drunk drivers, third and fourth offenders,” said Specialty Court Director Jacob Corbell, who was also on the panel. “If you don't address the underlying issues, they're going to drink again.”
Recidivism for impaired driving in Canada has continued to be a problem.
A recent internal report by the Justice Department shows that 57 per cent of the almost 3,300 people convicted of an impaired-driving offence offended again at least once within an average of five years.
Eight people are currently enrolled in the Lafayette program and each suffers from alcohol and drug addiction, he said. Twenty slots are available.
Once convicted of third or fourth offense OWI, an offender who hasn't harmed anyone has the option of entering sobriety court, said Corbell, which requires a commitment of at least 18 months and up to five years.
The offender is subject to the toughest supervision available, which includes the use of an ankle monitor with a transdermal patch that measures the wearer's blood alcohol level every 30 minutes via his/her sweat. If alcohol is detected, the monitor sounds an alarm. Every two weeks, the offender appears before the judge where he can be punished for non-compliance, including community service or jail time.
One
Insurance Business reader doubts that hard-core impaired drivers truly learn a lesson once caught and convicted (see ‘
No lesson learned by this drunk driver, says broker’)
