Drunk driving punishable by special license plates singling out offenders? Sound crazy? Well it might surprise you that the State of Ohio has been issuing special license plates to those convicted of drunk driving for years. The result? An increase in the amount of alcohol related fatalities.

Full story follows below:

DUI plates are another Ohio flop

By Bob Dyer
Beacon Journal columnist

Published on Friday, Jun 19, 2009

When it comes to combating drunk driving, Ohio leads the league in crackpot ideas.

One of our most recent legislative brainstorms — special license plates for convicted drivers — has been a total bust.

Since the law was changed in 2004, Ohio has issued 46,627 ”restricted plates.”

In Summit County alone, 2,949 individuals and/or families have been sentenced to drive around with the distinctive yellow-and-red plates, the modern equivalent of The Scarlet Letter.

If these plates were working — if the drinking populace is cowering at the notion of having to adorn its vehicles with these things — we would have experienced a significant drop in alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

Nope.

If you compare the last year without special plates, 2003, to the most recent year for which statistics are available, 2007, you find that, while Ohio’s overall crash rate has plummeted, the number of alcohol-related fatalities has increased.

• Total crashes of all types: down 16 percent.

• Fatal alcohol-related crashes: up 2 percent.

• Alcohol-related fatalities per 1,000 total crashes: up 21 percent.

Think it’s coincidence that only one other state uses special plates? According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, only Minnesota forces its offenders to fly different colors.

Here’s further evidence the plates are not having the intended impact: In some circles, especially among younger folks, restricted plates are referred to as ”party plates.” So much for social ostracism.

In our five-county area, the number of DUI plates handed out each year has remained relatively steady. Summit has averaged about 538, or a little more than 10 per week.

Here’s the cumulative box score through the end of May:

• Stark: 3,251

• Summit: 2,949

• Medina: 1,815

• Portage: 1,013

• Wayne: 455

Lord knows how many plates would have been manufactured if the legislature hadn’t changed its mind about mandating them for every offender. Only nine months after the new law was implemented, it was adjusted to eliminate first-timers with a blood-alcohol level below 0.17 percent.

The plates are used only while the owner has limited driving privileges (usually six months to a year). After that, he or she is allowed to go back to the normal red, white and blue plates with the crudely drawn sun and the cheesy logo.

Restricted plates — originally called ”family plates,” apparently because they bring ridicule to the entire family — actually have been available since 1967, but their use was left to the discretion of judges. Clearly, most judges didn’t believe singling out DUI offenders for public humiliation was appropriate.

No kidding. If we single out drunk drivers, why no special plates for murderers, rapists, extortionists, armed robbers and child molesters?

Heck, if legislators really believe public scorn is an appropriate element in our criminal justice system, we should bring back pillories.

At least those might have an impact.

Bob Dyer’s Streets column appears each Friday. He can be reached at 330-996-3580 or [email protected]

When it comes to combating drunk driving, Ohio leads the league in crackpot ideas.

One of our most recent legislative brainstorms — special license plates for convicted drivers — has been a total bust.

Since the law was changed in 2004, Ohio has issued 46,627 ”restricted plates.”

In Summit County alone, 2,949 individuals and/or families have been sentenced to drive around with the distinctive yellow-and-red plates, the modern equivalent of The Scarlet Letter.

If these plates were working — if the drinking populace is cowering at the notion of having to adorn its vehicles with these things — we would have experienced a significant drop in alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

Nope.

If you compare the last year without special plates, 2003, to the most recent year for which statistics are available, 2007, you find that, while Ohio’s overall crash rate has plummeted, the number of alcohol-related fatalities has increased.

• Total crashes of all types: down 16 percent.

• Fatal alcohol-related crashes: up 2 percent.

• Alcohol-related fatalities per 1,000 total crashes: up 21 percent.

Think it’s coincidence that only one other state uses special plates? According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, only Minnesota forces its offenders to fly different colors.

Here’s further evidence the plates are not having the intended impact: In some circles, especially among younger folks, restricted plates are referred to as ”party plates.” So much for social ostracism.

In our five-county area, the number of DUI plates handed out each year has remained relatively steady. Summit has averaged about 538, or a little more than 10 per week.

Here’s the cumulative box score through the end of May:

• Stark: 3,251

• Summit: 2,949

• Medina: 1,815

• Portage: 1,013

• Wayne: 455

Lord knows how many plates would have been manufactured if the legislature hadn’t changed its mind about mandating them for every offender. Only nine months after the new law was implemented, it was adjusted to eliminate first-timers with a blood-alcohol level below 0.17 percent.

The plates are used only while the owner has limited driving privileges (usually six months to a year). After that, he or she is allowed to go back to the normal red, white and blue plates with the crudely drawn sun and the cheesy logo.

Restricted plates — originally called ”family plates,” apparently because they bring ridicule to the entire family — actually have been available since 1967, but their use was left to the discretion of judges. Clearly, most judges didn’t believe singling out DUI offenders for public humiliation was appropriate.

No kidding. If we single out drunk drivers, why no special plates for murderers, rapists, extortionists, armed robbers and child molesters?

Heck, if legislators really believe public scorn is an appropriate element in our criminal justice system, we should bring back pillories.

At least those might have an impact.

The Law Offices of James E. Fabbrini have years of experience protecting people charged with drunk driving. From first time offenders to felony DUI, our Chicago DUI lawyers have successfully fought DUI charges in Chicago and the surrounding areas.

Protect your freedom, avoid trouble, and save yourself money. Contact our office today. All consultations are absolutely free. Call us at (312) 494-3131 or e-mail us your questions at [email protected]