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national dui survey

Van Wagner & Wood, S.C.: Successful Criminal & Drunk Driving Defense - Wisconsin Attorneys

Wisconsin Reported #1 in Drunk Driving?

Attorney Tracey Wood, Wisconsin's foremost authority on drunk driving, addresses a new survey on NBC15 Madison, which points to Wisconsin as the #1 worse Drunk Driving state

Attorney
Tracey
Wood

NBC15.com Madison

Could a federal agency be wrong? That is the question that NBC15 asked Attorney Tracey Wood, Wisconsin's foremost authority on drunk driving laws, because they were wondering the same thing.

A survey, which was released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (Department of Health & Human Services) pegs Wisconsin as the very worse state in the United States for having drivers that drive while under the influence of alcohol and illicit drugs.

When asked for her opinion about the study, Tracey Wood said, "Frankly, I was surprised." :: see the video :: Wood, who estimates that she has defended over 2,000 people in drunk driving cases over her 15 year career, said she doesn't trust the survey, because it doesn't jive with the recent DOT study that says alcohol related crashes and fatalities are down.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation Report on Alcohol Related Crashes & Fatalities

Tracey Wood said, "Wisconsin is not one of the higher states with regard to alcohol related crashes and fatalities. So, when I saw the survey, I was surprised at the results."

Zach Sholtes of NBC15 pointed out that psychologist like to blame Wisconsin's drinking on the cultural history of Wisconsin being heavily populated by people with German ancestry, but Tracey Wood said, "I have never heard that from one of my clients. They have never used cultural excuse whatsoever."

The survey (results below) asked Wisconsin drivers over the age of 18 years if they had driven while under the influence. According to the survey, one in four people said that they had. But Tracey Wood points out that the survey reportedly defined "under the influence" as having "a drink", which is very different from Wisconsin's legal definition of "driving under the influence". :: Blood Alcohol Content ::

Tracey Wood also pointed out that the "study" was a survey, and surveys are known to be the least reliable. In fact, this survey's margin of error was 1.52%; typically, we would be inclined to trust results from a survey showing a .01 or .05 margin of error.

Tracey Wood says, "As far as 'studies' go, this survey is obviously being used as yet another way to argue for greater penalties. The best way to address the issue is to have an open and honest dialogue about what the real numbers are and how best to lessen dangers on the roads--I believe that's through education and treatment options."

Tracey Wood, Attorney at Law and partner with the criminal & drunk driving defense firm of Van Wagner & Wood, S.C., is also President-elect to the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, as well as a Board of Regents member to the National College for DUI Defense.

State Estimates of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the Past Year among Current Drivers Aged 18 or Older: Average of 2004-2006

Driving Under Influence of Alcohol

Driving Under Influence of Illicit Drugs

State

Percent

SE (%)*

State

Percent

SE (%)*

Wisconsin

26.4

1.52

District of Columbia

7.0

0.88

North Dakota

24.9

1.35

Rhode Island

6.8

0.79

Minnesota

23.5

1.35

Massachusetts

6.4

0.70

Nebraska

22.9

1.29

Montana

6.3

0.61

South Dakota

21.6

1.25

Wyoming

6.2

0.67

Kansas

21.1

1.45

Alaska

5.9

0.62

Massachusetts

20.5

1.27

Colorado

5.8

0.78

Rhode Island

20.4

1.44

Minnesota

5.7

0.74

Montana

20.3

1.32

Michigan

5.7

0.33

District of Columbia

19.1

1.14

Vermont

5.6

0.63

Drunk Driving BLOG
NBC15.com :: John Stofflet Interviews Tracey Wood
Nationwide Report
Wisconsin DOT Crash & Fatality Report

Related Topics:
Wisconsin Drunk Driving Laws | Under the Influence
DUI Arrests | Drunk Driving
Reckless Homicide | Vehicular Homicide
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