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ARE HISPANICS AT GREATER RISK FOR A CALIFORNIA DUI?

POSTED BY THOMAS V. WALLIN || 1-AUG-2011

Hispanics in the United States, especially newly arrived immigrants, who may be unfamiliar with U.S. traffic safety laws, are a greater risk for driving under the influence, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

To further illustrate this point, consider the following statistics gathered by the NHTSA:

• A recent study that compares non-Hispanic white drivers with Hispanic drivers in Colorado found that Hispanics had a higher rate of alcohol involvement with a correspondingly higher crash fatality rate.
• U.S.-born Hispanics are approximately three times more likely to drink and drive than Hispanics born in other countries but who live in the United States.
• Mexican Americans have the second highest alcohol-related fatality rate (after Native Americans) among all four types of road users: drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
• From 1990 to 1994, there were 91,248 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in the United States. Of those fatalities, 11,576 were Hispanics.

In addition, a recent national survey about driving while under the influence of alcohol revealed the following about Hispanic drivers and alcohol use:

• Hispanic men were found to have the highest rate of ever having been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).
• One-fifth of Hispanic males who drove a car during the 12 months before the survey reported being drunk enough to be in trouble if stopped by police.
• Hispanics believed that the number of drinks needed to affect driving was generally higher (four to eight drinks) than what whites and blacks believed.

If you are a Hispanic driver and have been arrested for driving under the influence in California, it is imperative to consult with an experienced California DUI defense attorney who can help you successfully navigate the criminal justice system.