As law enforcement around the state patrols for suspected drunk drivers this holiday period, Mothers Against Drunk Driving says Louisiana has the second-lowest conviction rate in states where they monitor court cases.
Thirty seven percent of drunk driving cases that MADD monitored in sixteen parishes, Jefferson and St. Tammany among them, resulted in conviction. MADD does courtroom monitoring in 15 states, and Louisiana's conviction rate lagged the national average
"All of them, monitored, were at 61, and we're at 37 percent, that kind of speaks volumes, in my opinion," said Asheba Brown, program manager for MADD Louisiana. "New Mexico and Louisiana, out of all the jurisdictions that were monitored, we have the lowest original drunk-driving conviction rate."
MADD found that a nearly equal amount, 35 percent, get deferred -- giving first-time offenders a chance to get into diversion programs to avoid charges. Brown said such a program would work better if Louisiana required ignition interlock devices -- so accused drunk drivers couldn't start their cars if they've been drinking.
According to MADD, only one percent of Louisiana cases result in not guilty verdicts. Others have the charges dropped or changed.
MADD cautions that their numbers should not be taken as a statewide average, since they do not monitor every court district in the state.
