National Hardcore Drunk Driver Project

About the author: The National Hardcore Drunk Driver Project was created by the Century Council, a national, not-for-profit organization, to provide a comprehensive resource to assist in reducing the number of fatalities, injuries, and damage caused by chronic drunk drivers.

Sobriety checkpoints and blanket patrols are two effective methods used by police to deter and identify drunk drivers. At sobriety checkpoints, police officers conduct face-to-face examinations of motorists to determine whether drivers are intoxicated or driving on suspended licenses due to a prior drunk driving conviction. The majority of states allow checkpoints, and research has shown that overall, checkpoint programs deter potential offenders and reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities. Blanket patrols involve officers concentrating on a given area for a set period of time with the goal...