Driving Under The Influence
- Details
- Category: GPS Tracking
GPS Tracking Habitual Drunk Drivers
Should A DUI Offender Be Court-Mandated To Wear A GPS Tracker?
Drinking and driving is serious business that can have lethal consequences. Every year tens of thousands of people are either hurt or killed because of alcohol-related automobile accidents. Many states have taken notice, creating stiff penalties, fines and extended jail time for people convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. Many judges will also force convicted DUI offenders to serve community service, attend AA meetings and spend time in an emergency room setting where the offender will have to be eyewitness to the damage that is caused from drinking and driving.
Although some states have had mild success reducing the number of DUI offenses with specialized programs aimed at creating safer roadways, the problem still persists. Making the situation worse is that many people convicted of DUI are repeat offenders.
What some people are lobbying for to help curb the problem of repeat DUI offenses is court-mandated installation of real-time GPS tracker devices on the vehicles of first-time DUI offenders.
Although there is no legislation pending on GPS tracking of DUI offenders, how the plan may work is pretty straightforward. When a person is convicted of DUI they will then have to pay an installer to equip a real-time GPS tracking device to their vehicle. The tracking device will stay on the vehicle anywhere from 90 days to a year, depending on the judge’s decision. The GPS tracker would document every location the DUI offender travels, noting if they are still driving dangerously or frequenting any bars or taverns.
If the GPS tracking device records any data that could be viewed as concerning, an interview would then be conducted between the DUI offender and a probation officer. If the probation officer believes that the DUI offender may be involved in any behaviors deemed dangerous to the offender or general public, the probation officer could then submit a request to the judge to imprison the offender.
GPS Tracking Thoughts
Could the implementation of GPS tracking devices on the vehicles of DUI offenders lead to safer roadways?
Although the use of personal monitoring systems has been shown to be helpful in combating sexual predators and domestic abuse offenders, do you believe that the technology could also reduce the risk for repeat drinking and driving?