According to the federal Department of Transportation, the figures for women arrested for DUI are increasing, says Broward DUI attorney William Moore. The numbers will come as no surprise to seasoned DUI lawyers, judges, and law enforcement officials in Fort Lauderdale. For years, the percentage of women arrested for driving under the influence has inched up, although women remain much less likely to be arrested for DUI than men, even now.
The Department of Transportation says that the number of women arrested for DUI increased about 29 percent between 1998 and 2007, Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney William Moore has learned. Meanwhile, the numbers for men are dropping slightly, by about 7.5 percent. Overall, women are comprising a much larger share of DUI arrests than they did several decades ago.
In 1998, approximately 126,000 women were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. By 2007, that number ballooned to more than 162,000. In the same period of time, the statistics for men dropped from about 677,000 to about 626,000. The figures show that although men are still far more likely to be arrested for DUI, the figures for women appear to be skyrocketing.
One issue may be that drunk driving education programming focuses more on young men, as the most likely DUI perpetrators. Another issue may simply be that women are drinking more and partying more in their 20s – and beyond. The average age of a woman’s first childbirth has risen over the years, as young people delay marriage and having children. That trend leaves more time for partying for young people. Drinking heavily, or even binge drinking, has also probably become a more socially acceptable behavior for women to engage in. Heavy drinking used to be something that only men engaged in (at least publicly).
Years ago, law enforcement agencies did not take DUI as seriously as they do today. Laws are tougher and the emphasis on enforcement has grown significantly, says Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney William Moore. Rather than offer an intoxicated woman a ride home, in order to save her embarrassment or just to be nice, law enforcement officials will now administer breath tests and field sobriety tests. If the driver fails, she will be placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol or another impairing substance, just as a male driver would.
Fort Lauderdale DUI attorney William Moore provides outstanding DUI defense in Broward, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Lauderdale-Dade Counties. If you have been charged with a DUI, contact Fort Lauderdale DUI Lawyer William Moore, P.A.
This article should be used for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice nor as implied representation of any person.