Washington DUI News: More money should be spent of DUI Officer training, not television ads

As Labor Day approaches and summer travel peaks, police nationwide will launch a two-week blitz of DUI checkpoints and drunken-driving patrols, NTHSA representative Strickland said.  Further, the federal government is spending $13 million in television and radio ads, mostly at sporting events, to get the message out, Strickland said.  "If you drive drunk, you will be arrested," he said.

I find this very interesting indeed.  I agree that DUI drivers are dangerous, law enforcement must be enhanced during specific times, and those who commit the crime must be arrested (assuming probable cause exists).  However, what is lost in the message is the fact that the government is not spending any more money on the things that will improve law enforcement and ultimately catch and convict more DUI drivers.  Simply, as a whole police officers right now is poorly trained in DUI enforcement.  Their training consists of a few days of specific training at the Academy of DUI detection and every few years they do a one day class.  Further, this training is deficient and the studies relied on are flawed.  Law enforcement will not admit that, after all they won’t openly criticize themselves, but if they want proof they should see an average police officer on the stand during a trial with an experienced DUI defense attorney.  The level of knowledge law enforcement has regarding what they do, enforce DUI laws, is not enough.  I don’t blame the officers, but I do blame the ones in charge.  Better officers with better training (and more advanced and up-to-date training) is the only way to catch (and convict) more DUI drivers.  It’s simple, really. 

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