MADD Statistics Reveal Alabama Has High Number of Repeat DUI Offenders

Recent figures released by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) indicate that Alabama has one of the highest percentages of repeat drunk driving offenders in the United States. With a statewide population of just over 4.6 million, MADD statistics indicate that there are approximately 22,000 individuals living in Alabama with five or more DUI convictions.

While there are two other states with higher numbers of individuals who have been convicted of driving under the influence five or more times, the populations of these two states are much higher than Alabama's. In the state of California, which has a population of nearly thirty eight million, 44,219 people have been convicted of driving under the influence five or more times. Additionally, the state of Ohio has a population of nearly twelve million and approximately 33,000 people have been convicted of drunk driving five or more times.

The MADD report also revealed that there are fifty one individuals residing within Alabama who have amassed more than twenty DUI convictions, including one individual who has been convicted an astounding thirty three times.

Statistics also indicated that there is a very high correlation between driving under the influence and highway fatalities. Of the 1,110 highway deaths which occurred in Alabama last year, more than 42% were alcohol related. Colonel J. Christopher Murphy responded to MADD's statistics stating, "We're very concerned about all fatalities, and particularly those caused by impaired drivers. We see a DUI as a fatality waiting to happen."

In an effort to decrease the percentage of driving under the influence accidents, the state of Alabama has purchased nine new blood alcohol testing vehicles, or "BATmobiles". These vehicles greatly increase the speed of chemical testing for individuals suspected of driving under the influence, which leaves higher numbers of law enforcement officials available to participate in roaming patrols. The purchase of these "BATmobiles" has made a significant impact on Alabama's drunk driving enforcement. According to Colonel Murphy, this year state troopers have made 200 additional DUI arrests compared to last year and there have been 114 fewer fatalities than this time last year.

However, there is one particular area of the law that MADD has isolated as Alabama's weak spot in the fight against drunk driving. Alabama is one of three states in America that does not have any ignition interlock law in effect. Prior efforts to pass ignition interlock laws have stalled in the Alabama Legislature. However, Colonel Murphy has voiced his desire to work with members of MADD and other law enforcement agencies in order to get an ignition interlock law approved during the next legislative session.

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