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Evaluation of Use and Lose Laws

This publication is distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the interest of information exchange. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the Department of Transportation or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. If trade or manufacturers' names or products are mentioned, it is only because they are considered essential to the object of the publication and should not be construed as an endorsement. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers.

Technical Report Documentation Page
1. Report No.
 		2. Government Accession No.
 		3. Recipient's Catalog No.
4. Title and Subtitle
Evaluation of Use and Lose Laws
 		5. Report Date
June 2001
6. Performing Organization Code
7. Author(s)
R.G. Ulmer, V.I. Shabanova, and D.F. Preusser
 		8. Performing Organization Report No.
9. Performing Organization Name and Address
Preusser Research Group, Inc.
7100 Main Street
Trumbull, CT 06611
 		10. Work Unit No.
(TRAIS)
11. Contract or Grant No.
DTNH22-97-D-05018, Task 98-03
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
 		13. Type of Report and Period Covered
Final Report August 1998- November 2000
14. Sponsoring Agency Code
15. Supplementary Notes
Dr. Richard Compton served as the NHTSA Contracting Officer's Technical Representative for the study. We appreciate the guidance and support he provided.
16. Abstract
The term "Use and Lose" describes laws that authorize driver licensing actions against persons found to be using or in possession of illicit drugs, and against young persons found to be drinking, purchasing or in possession of alcoholic beverages. That is, "Use and Lose" has the meaning that if you use alcohol or other drugs you will lose your license. The objective of this study was to assess the highway safety effects of "Use and Lose" in Missouri and Pennsylvania in terms of subsequent motor vehicle crashes and violations of underage persons arrested for alcohol/drug violations. In Missouri, the results showed that in cases where the arrest involved possession or use of alcohol or drugs, license suspension was not applied as often as in cases with DWI-related arrests. In Pennsylvania, license suspension for non-DWI charges was more common. Drivers under the age of 21 suspended for drinking, purchasing or in possession of alcohol or illicit drugs were less likely to have subsequent traffic convictions and crash involvements than young drivers similarly charged but not suspended (adjusted odds ratio of 0.61 for convictions and 0.64 for crashes; adjusted hazard ratio of 0.75 and 0.66 for convictions and crashes respectively). License suspension is recommended for these "high risk" youthful drivers.
17. Key Words
Use and Lose Laws License suspension Subsequent driver records Underage drinking 		18. Distribution Statement
19. Security Classif. (of this report)
Unclassified
 		20. Security Classif. (of this page)
Unclassified
 		21. No. of Pages
38
 		22. Price
Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized

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