TEMPORARY VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION - EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM IN OHIO

Driving while suspended is a growing problem in most states. To deal w ith this problem, a number of jurisdictions are impounding and/or immo bilizing the vehicles of driving while suspended or multiple driving u nder the influence offenders. This study evaluates the first 2 years o f the implementation of this type of law in Franklin County (Columbus) , OH. Variations in police enforcement and judicial sentencing policie s resulted in some offenders, though eligible for impoundment of immob ilization, not receiving the sanction. The recidivism rates of these o ffenders were compared with offenders who did receive a vehicle sancti on. Tracking these two groups of offenders for up to 2 years demonstra ted that the offenders who received the sanction had lower recidivism rates, both before and after they reclaimed their vehicles. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science Ltd.