Review and Analysis of ASAP Enforcement Efforts, Volume 1

NHTSA · 1975 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report evaluates the sobriety testing procedures employed by the Alcohol Safety Action Project (ASAP) enforcement countermeasures. Motivated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s goal to reduce drunk driving fatalities, the study assesses the "state of the art" of alcohol detection methods used by law enforcement. The ASAP program utilized a systems approach involving enforcement, judicial, rehabilitation, and public information countermeasures to identify and deter impaired drivers. This specific volume focuses on the operational aspects of sobriety testing, including physical coordination tests, pre-arrest breath screening, and evidentiary chemical analysis. The research was conducted by Planning and Human Systems, Inc., under contract to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Between September 1974 and March 1975, researchers visited 22 of the 35 ASAP sites across the continental United States, observing over 50 individual law enforcement agencies. The methodology involved direct observation of patrol officers during duty tours, interviews with personnel, and the collection of policy documents and forms. Researchers, who were former law enforcement officers with experience in alcohol enforcement, utilized a comprehensive Field Survey Instrument to gather data on detection, apprehension, testing, and incarceration processes. The findings reveal significant variation in testing practices across jurisdictions. Regarding physical coordination tests, 59% of sites had the arresting officer administer them, while 23% did not use them at all. The finger-to-nose and walking-and-turning tests were the most common, though some agencies, such as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, found balance tests to be poor indicators of impairment and instead utilized lateral eye nystagmus or cognitive tests like alphabet recitation. Defense attorneys frequently challenged these tests in court, leading some jurisdictions to discontinue their use. Pre-arrest breath screening was used or planned at 11 of the 22 sites, with devices like the A.L.E.R.T., Alco-Sensor, and Alcolyser being the primary tools. Legal authorization for these devices varied, with some sites operating under experimental protocols or pending legislation. The report also details the use of evidentiary testing devices for blood-alcohol concentration analysis, noting differences in the bodily substances analyzed and the specific equipment deployed at each site. The significance of this study lies in its comprehensive documentation of enforcement practices during a critical period of federal alcohol safety initiatives. By identifying inconsistencies in testing methods and highlighting the legal and practical challenges of physical coordination tests, the report provides a baseline for evaluating the effectiveness of ASAP enforcement strategies. It underscores the transition toward more reliable chemical testing methods and the need for standardized procedures to ensure admissibility in court. The findings offer insights into the operational realities of drunk driving enforcement, informing future policy decisions regarding the deployment of personnel and equipment for alcohol-related traffic safety.

Key finding

Physical coordination tests were widely used but frequently challenged in court, leading some agencies to discontinue them or prioritize breath screening, while pre-arrest breath screening was implemented or planned at eleven of the twenty-two surveyed sites.

Methodology

field_study

Sample size: 22

Provenance

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Topics

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• dui enforcement
• alcohol detection systems
• alcohol