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DUID and the Impact of Marijuana Legaliza9on on Traffic Safety
Na9onal Law Enforcement Liaison Training Conference Linthicum Heights, MD
November 15, 2017
CaptainBruceW.Sheetz,ColoradoHighwayPatrol(Re=red)
TomKimball,DirectorNa=onaltrafficLawCenterEarlG.Penrod,SeniorJudgeIndiana
AmericanBarAssocia=onJudicialFellowincoopera=onwithNHTSA
The Judicial Perspec9ve and the role of the JUDGE …
• Judiciary:separate,co-equalbranchofgovernment;checksandbalances.
• Administra=onofjus=ceandinterpre=nglaw.• Criminaljus=cesystempromotespublicsafetyANDtrafficsafety.
• JudgesNOTpartoftheprosecu=onteam.
Prosecu9ng Wrongdoers • Governmentprotectspublicbyholdingindividualsaccountableforunlawfulconduct.
• Crimes/offensesprosecutedinnameofgovernmentaswrongsagainstpublicasawhole.
• Prosecu=ng/punishingwrongdoerandacquiYnginnocentpromotespublic/trafficsafety.
What Judges Do… • Insurecons=tu=onalprotec=onsforallindividuals.
• Protecttherightsandfreedomsofindividualsfromoverzealous(evenifwellinten=onedgovernmentac=on.
• Imposesanc=onsonlyontheguiltyregardlessoftheunderlyingsocialissue.
SO, WHICH IS IT?
• Shameonjudgeswhoallowtheguiltytogofreebecausetheconstablehasblundered….
• Shameonjudgeswhofailtoupholdthelaw,evenwhendecisionisunpopularorcontroversial…
• Unfairtoholdpolicetothestandardofperfec=onBUTdangeroustominimizeindividualrightsandfreedomsasmeretechnicali=es.
SO… WHAT’S YOUR POINT? • JudgesNOTprecludedfromcommunityengagement.• Ethicalcommunica=onandcoopera=onwithotherstakeholderscanENHANCEjudge’srole.
• Systemmoreeffec=vewhenthereisethicalinterac=onwithandbythejudiciary.
• Lackofresources,limitededuca=onalopportuni=es,complexityofunderlyingissueandlackofunderstanding/respectinsufficientreasonstorefusetoengageinemergingissues/problems/concerns.
“Marijuana-Impaired Driving: A Report to Congress” NHTSA, July, 2017
• EffectsofMarijuanavaryfromindividualtoindividualdependinguponmanyfactors.
• Likewise,impactofmarijuanalawsvariesfromplacetoplacedependingonmanyfactors.
• IMPACTS/EFFECTSYOUHAVESEENINYOURAREA?• TheColoradoexperience.• CriminalJus=ce/prosecu=onissues.• QUESTIONS,COMMENTSANDDISCUSSION
THELEGALIZATIONOFMARIJUANAINCOLORADO
November2000–Legaliza=onofmarijuanaformedicinalusethroughAmendment20
• 2001to2008–5,993pa=entapplica=ons,noknownmedicaldispensaries
• Spring2009–Over20,000newpa=entapplica=onsandover250dispensariesallowedtooperateas“caregivers”
November2012–Legaliza=onofmarijuanaforrecrea=onalusethroughAmendment64
• AsofJune2017:• 392Starbucks• 208McDonalds• 491retailmarijuanastores
• ColoradoincreaseditsDrugRecogni=onExpert(DRE)Programwithmul=pleschoolsin2014&2015
• DrugRecogni=onExpertswereincreasedby60%from147toapproximately240
• Marijuanarelatedtrafficdeathswhenadrivertestedposi=veformarijuanarosefrom55in2013to123in2016
• Marijuanarelatedtrafficdeathsincreased66%between2013and2016comparedto4yearsbeforelegaliza=on
• Inthesame=meperiod,alltrafficdeathsincreased16%• Highwayinterdic=onseizuresofColoradomarijuanaincreased
20%from288in2013to346in2016• Ofthese346,36differentstatesweredes=na=onsforColoradoMarijuana
• Mostcommondes=na=onswereIllinois,Missouri,Texas,Kansas,andFlorida
THEIMPACT
• SeizuresofColoradomarijuanaintheU.S.mailincreased914%from97poundsto984poundsinthe4yearaveragepriorandaqerlegaliza=on
• CrimeinDenverincreased17%from2013to2016• CrimeinColoradoincreased11%inthesame=meframe• ViolentCrimeinColorado:
• increased1.2%from2009to2012• increased18.6%from2013to2016
• HomelesssheltersinDenverreportedthatbetweenapproximately17%&30%ofnewcomersweretherebecauseofcannabis
• Youthpastmonthmarijuanauseincreased12%inthe3yearaveragesinceColoradolegalizedrecrea=onalmarijuanacomparedtothe3yearaverageprior
• Collegeagepastmonthuseincreased16%• Adultagepastmonthuseincreased71%• Thenumberofhospitaliza=onsrelatedtomarijuanaincreased
81%from6,305in2011to11,439in2014• Marijuana-relatedexposurestochildrenincreased139%inthe
4yearaverageaqerlegaliza=on,comparedtothe4yearsprior
• $167,157,150intotalrevenuetaxeswascollectedin2016• Coloradotaxrevenuefromthesaleofrecrea=onalandmedical marijuanawas0.8%ofthetotalstatewidebudgeforFY 2017(approximately$16.5billion)
• WholesalepricesinColoradofell24.5%overthepastyearto$1,471.00perpound(goldat$1,276perounceon11/01/17)• Sinkingpricestranslateintosinkingtaxrevenue
Source:TheLegalizaTonofmarijuanainColorado:TheImpactVolume5,October2017TockyMountainHighIntensityDrugTraffickingAreawww.rmhidta.org
About NDAA…
• Non-profit organization • Provides support to prosecutors &
Law Enforcement • Multiple areas of criminal law • Library of resource materials • Database of experts • Publications • Partners w/other organizations:
• NHTSA, IACP, ETC
About NTLC
• Specific focus on traffic prosecution
• Impaired driving • Vehicular Homicide • Five Specialized Attorneys • “Between the Lines” Newsletter • Monographs (Little Books) • NHTSA Assistance • Compilations of Law and Evidence • Technical Advise • Expert Witness Assistance
NTLC Special Topics Series
Compila9ons of Law
PBT Admissibility Repeat Offenders Revoked/Suspended Licenses Vehicular Forfeitures Vehicular Homicide Administrative License Revocation Drug Toxicology DUI Penalties
Electronic Warrants Prior Convictions Aggressive Driving Laws Enhancing Factors Breath Test Refusal and right to counsel Refusal to Consent Scientific Admissibility Statutes Mandatory Blood Laws Sobriety Check points Vehicular Assault Under Influence Definitions
Encyclopedia of Defense Expert Witnesses
Assistance for prosecutors in preparation of trial with a defense expert. NTLC provides great information and Technical advise.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION
• CONTACTINFORMATION• CaptainBruceW.Sheetz:[email protected]
• TomKimball:• tkimball@ndaajus=ce.org• JudgeEarlG.Penrod:[email protected]
