Nevada Drivers: Lots Of Dui Tickets, Few Dui Deaths

Recent data compiled by the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration

finds that Nevadas rate of DUI-related fatalities is among the lowest in the nation. The Silver States DUI-fatality rate (measured in deaths per 100,000 people) has fallen precipitously over the last decade even as its roads have grown more crowded and its suburbs have sprawled farther from city centers and entertainment hubs. On the other hand, Nevada issues many tickets for DUI relative to other states.

The correlation between DUI citations and DUI fatalities is weak, at least at first glance. Only Utah had a larger decrease in DUI deaths over the period than Nevada did, yet it arrests half as many drunken motorists per capita as Nevada does. And on the other hand, Wyoming has both the most DUI arrests and the most DUI deaths in the country (in per capita rates). Thus, it is likely that DUI tickets alone do not act to deter drivers from driving under the influence. There are likely different alcohol cultures in Nevada as compared to Utah and Wyoming that help shape the rate of DUI deaths, and the same can probably be said for varying policies on alcohol sales, bar closures, road infrastructure, and police-per-resident ratios.

Nonetheless, it should be obvious to any Nevada motorist that DUI enforcement is a major presence in Clark County and areas north. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police as well as county sheriffs make ample use of DUI checkpoints and proactive nighttime road monitoring, especially from Thursday to Saturday. As a result, a great many Nevadans are cited for driving while intoxicated. Therefore, getting a traffic ticket in Las Vegas is not at all unusual. Nevada had nearly 14,500 DUI arrests in 2009, or about 5.5 per 1,000 people.

So-called 24-hour towns like Las Vegas and Reno serve alcohol late into the night or even without end, which can fuel the incidence of driving while intoxicated. In addition, Nevada was the fastest growing state in the country for the last two decades, with most growth in sprawling exurban areas that are a long drive from urban cores. Public transit infrastructure has not kept pace, and the combination of late-night drinking and expensive cab rides home would seem to be a perfect recipe for a DUI epidemic. Despite these factors, Nevadas rate of DUI fatalities fell by more than 53 percent over the last decade.

In addition to this dragnet enforcement, Nevada also takes a hard line against repeat DUI offenders. Three DUIs can lead to a mandatory two-year prison term, and this policy has been a major wake-up call for Nevada two-time DUI drivers. In addition to the cost of fines and alcohol counseling, repeat DUI drivers also have to pay to install breathalyzer devices into their vehicles. It is very likely that these policies have helped lower Nevadas DUI fatality rate, which is welcome news. However, we are all human and sometimes make mistakes. If you need help dealing with a Nevada DUI ticket, use our convenient online form to get fast help online.

by: James Blatt

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