Thank you for taking a few minutes of your
time to complete this survey. Its purpose is to gain a better understanding of
law enforcement perceptions and actions related to impaired driving. The results
of this survey will be included in a chapter of an impaired driving enforcement book I am currently completing. This survey is completely anonymous and no specific identifying information is requested or will be divulged. I would personally appreciate it if you could forward this survey any and all of your
law enforcement friends and colleagues. Please paste it into an e-mail message
and complete it. E-mail to Jack
Gates at mocop405@suddenlink.net
1.
How long have you been a law enforcement officer? ______ years.
2. How old are you? _______
3.
What type of agency do you work for?
a. Municipal
b. County
c. State
d. Federal
e. Other (please specify)
4.
What is your primary position?
a. Patrol
b. Traffic
c. Supervisory
d. Investigations
e. Administrative
f. Other (please specify)
5.
What state are you located in? __________
6.
How many impaired drivers have you arrested in your career? (best guess
if not known)
7.
Out of 100 impaired drivers stopped or contacted by you, how many are likely to be arrested? ____
8.
How many impaired drivers who you’ve stopped or contacted have you not arrested (for whatever reason) in your career? (best guess if not known) _______
9.
What percentage of your fellow officers whom you personally know give breaks (whether regularly or occasionally) to
impaired drivers?
10.
Do you always administer all three standardized field sobriety tests (this does not include situations when the subject
refuses SFSTs or subject is transported for medical treatment)?
11.
If you answered “no” to the last question, which tests do you administer?
12.
If you answered “no” to question #10, why don’t you always administer all three tests?
13.
Do you administer any additional field sobriety tests?
14.
If you answered “yes” to the last question, please list the additional test(s) you administer:
15.
Which test do you find to be the best indicator of impairment?
16.
What additional certifications do you possess related to impaired driving enforcement?
(example: SFST instructor, DRE, DRE instructor, etc.)
17.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 meaning not critical at all and ten meaning extremely critical), how important is arresting
impaired drivers?
18.
If there is one or two things that might discourage a law enforcement officer from making a DWI arrest, what do you
think it would be? (examples: copious paperwork, too much work, court appearances,
offenders are slapped on the wrist, etc.)
19.
What percentage of the motor vehicle accidents that you are called to involve impaired drivers? (best guess please)
20.
What shift do you typically work?
a. Day
b. Evening
c. Graveyard
d. Rotating
21.
What kind of support do you receive from your supervisor(s) regarding impaired driving enforcement?
a. Poor
b. Fair
c. Good
d. Excellent
22.
Does your agency conduct DWI saturation patrols?
23.
Does your agency conduct sobriety checkpoints?
24.
Using a scale of 1 to 10 (one meaning poor and ten meaning excellent), please rate your jurisdiction’s prosecutor(s)
regarding prosecution of DWI offenders.
25.
Using a scale of 1 to 10 (one meaning poor and ten meaning excellent), please rate your jurisdiction’s judge(s)
regarding sentencing of DWI offenders.
26.
If you arrest a subject for impaired driving and the results of a breath test indicate less than the “legal limit,”
what do you usually do?
a. “Un-arrest” the subject
b. Issue a citation for DWI
c. Issue citations for all other violations except DWI
d. Other: (please specify)
27.
How much training (in actual hours) do you have in DWI related courses?
28.
Does your agency pay for your training?
29.
Does your agency designate classes you attend or can you request specific courses?
30.
Do you have access to a Drug Recognition Expert?
31.
Have you ever utilized a DRE?
32.
How many of the impaired drivers you’ve contacted were primarily impaired by a substance
other than alcohol? (best guess percentage)
33.
Are you SFST certified (possess 24 hours of certified SFST training)?
34.
If you answered yes to the last question, have you attended any SFST refresher courses in the last
five years?
35.
What, if any, personal obstacles do you face in attending DWI-related classes?
a.
No interest
b.
Not readily available
c.
Agency will not send me
d.
No obstacles
36.
In your opinion, what would be the best deterrent to impaired driving?
37.
How many law enforcement officers work for your agency?
38.
On a scale of 1 to 10 (one meaning unimportant and ten meaning extremely important), how important
is impaired driving enforcement to you personally?
39.
Does your agency cooperate or partner with other organizations (MADD, community action groups,
etc.) regarding impaired driving enforcement?
40.
Please write any additional comments, concerns, questions or other issues you would like to address
about impaired driving enforcement. Your comments are appreciated!
