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Administrative License Revocation

“Based upon the extensive experience of the jurisdictions that have adopted administrative license revocation, it works.  It specifically deters those drivers who are caught drinking and driving from doing it again.  And, it generally deters those who have not been caught, because they are afraid of losing their driving privileges.” --Deborah A.P. Hersman, Member, National Transportation Safety Board, April 2006

In order to deter drunk drivers, sanctions must be swift, meaningful, and certain.  Administrative license revocation (ALR) is the removal of a DUI/DWI offender's driver's license at the time of an arrest upon the failure or refusal of a chemical test.  Just like your Department of Motor Vehicles can suspend your license for excessive points or violations, ALR allows them to do it for drunk driving.  As a result, these sanctions are swift, meaning, and certain – a model deterrent.

As a result, they save lives.  When states pass ALR laws, their fatal late-night crashes decrease by an average of nine percent.  (Voas, Tippets, and Fell, 2000) Even though 50 to 75 percent of those whose licenses are suspended or revoked drive any way (which is why ignition interlock devices are needed, (Nichols and Ross, 1990) ALR deters people from ever driving under the influence of alcohol and thus prevents crashes.  (Voas, Tippets, and Taylor, 1998) It also saves significant costs for the state as a result. (Lacey, 1991)

Some worry that this will hurt offenders’ jobs, but studies show license revocations do not lead to losses of job or income (Knoebel and Ross, 1996); also, it is fears like these that give ALR its deterrent effect.  All in all, ALR is effective and it makes sense. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and those who abuse the privilege should have it removed.


Take Action!


Nine states still do not have administrative license revocation: Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Tennessee.  If you are from one of these states, please click here to tell your representatives you would like to see them adopt ALR .

Resources

  • Official Position Statement
  • Studies
    • Beirness, Douglas, et al. "The Impact of Administrative License Suspension and Vehicle Impoundment for DWI in Manitoba.” In C. Mercier-Guyon (Ed.) Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety. Annecy, France: Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches en Medecine du Trafic, 1997: 919-925. (not yet online)
    • Fell, Jim. "Repeat DWI Offenders in the United States.” Washington, DC: National Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Traffic Tech No. 85, February 1995. (Click here)
    • Jones, Ralph and John Lacey. "State of Knowledge of Alcohol-Impaired Driving: Research on Repeat DWI Offenders.” Washington, DC: National Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, February 2000. (Click here)
    • Knoebel, Kathleen and H. Lawrence Ross. "Effects of Administrative License Revocation on Employment.”DOT HS 808 462. Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, May 1996. (not yet online)
    • Lacey, John, et al. Cost Benefit Analysis of Administrative License Suspension. MidAmerica Research, DOT HS 807 689. Washington DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, January 1991. (not yet online)
    • Nichols, James, and H. Lawrence Ross. "The Effectiveness of Legal Sanctions in Dealing with Drinking Drivers.” Alcohol, Drugs and Driving 6(2) (1990): 33-55. (Click here)
    • Peck, R.C., R. J. Wilson, and L. Sutton. "Driver License Strategies for Controlling the Persistent DUI Offender,” Strategies for Dealing with the Persistent Drinking Driver. Transportation Research Board, Transportation Research Circular No. 437. Washington, DC: National Research Council (1995): 48-49. (not yet online)
    • Voas, Robert and A. Scott Tippetts. "The Relationship of Alcohol Safety Laws to Drinking Drivers in Fatal Crashes.” Washington, DC: National Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1999. (Click here)
    • Voas, Robert, A. Scott Tippetts, and Jim Fell. "The Relationship of Alcohol Safety Laws to Drinking Drivers in Fatal Crashes.” Accident Analysis and Prevention 32 (2000): 483-492. (not yet online)
    • Voas, Robert, A. Scott Tippetts, and Eileen Taylor. "Impact of Ohio Administrative License Suspension.” In: 42nd Annual Proceedings: Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine. AAAM, 1998. (not yet online)
    • Voas, Robert, et al. "Effectiveness of the Ohio Vehicle Action and Administrative License Suspension Laws.” Washington, DC: National Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, January 2000. (Click here)