Reviews:

Readerviews 2009 Winner:  Review of DUI/DWI: The History of Driving Under the Influence

First Place Winner History/Science: 

http://www.readerviews.com/Awards2009Winners.html

Readerviews 2009 Finalists:

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Review of DUI/DWI: The History of Driving Under the Influence

David N. Jolly
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432746223
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (01/10)

As a Psychologist teaching substance abuse classes to college students online, I found this book to be full of valuable information and facts on DUI/DWI’s, the development of law enforcement, and the development of BAC testing. As I started reading this book on a plane back from MS, I was highlighting almost the whole book on information I thought my students would like to know. In addition, I was sitting next to a deputy sheriff from VA and this book sparked quite an interesting conversation.

Mr. Jolly, an attorney, has done an excellent job of providing well-researched information on the history of how we came about with driving under the influence laws. I honestly couldn’t put the book down.  I found each and every chapter to have valuable information. One chapter on DUI Investigations was absolutely filled with information I would have never thought of.  In this chapter he talks about how officers make determinations to stop someone to check for alcohol intoxication, how field sobriety tests work, and great information on Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (rhythmic back and forth oscillation of the eyeball). He also goes into great detail about how law enforcement determines blood alcohol.

One can tell the author knows his subject very well and has done excellent research on this topic. Each chapter  has supporting research, criticisms of some of the ways the law determines driving under the influence and gives examples of what drivers do that get them caught.

I think anyone in a field that works with individuals who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol will find this information fascinating. In addition, the author provides his information in a language anyone can understand.  I will recommend “DUI/DWI: The History of Driving Under the Influence” by David N. Jolly to my students as a great resource for their library and will be using this information to give them a more rounded look at this topic. 

Videos:

The following three videos show the instructions for the three standardized field sobriety tests.  These tests are typically done in DUI cases immediately prior to the arrest of the driver and are used to validate such an arrest.  Please note that these intructional tests have been conducted in ideal circumstances and do not accurately reflect the real world where the majority of tests are performed (ie. outside, poor lighting, distractions, etc).

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fQ2Zaiay2U&feature=related

Walk and Turn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BG48Bt2_u8&feature=related

One Leg Stand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g7vA_qlcko&feature=related