Women and DUIs
More women are being arrested for driving under the influence today than ever before. While the increase in DUI arrests for women is undeniable, the reasons why the increase has occurred are complex and not fully understood.
Statistics show the dramatic increase in women arrested for DUI corresponds with a decrease and leveling off in the number of men arrested during the same time period. From 2003 to 2012, female DUI arrests skyrocketed by about 21%, while male arrests went down about 17%. A study examining arrest rates from 1982 to 2004 found the same pattern for women, with a slight stabilization of male arrest rates.
Experts identify a few possible reasons for the statistics. First, police have been cracking down on DUI drivers with lower and lower blood alcohol concentrations. While in the past officers might let a driver off easy, the last few years have shown a tendency toward no tolerance enforcement and enacting laws with lower BAC limits.
Second, more women are on the road. Compared to 30 years ago, women are more likely to be in the workforce and travelling to and from jobs. Many women involved in DUI incidents recently had very stressful or traumatic events in their lives, often leading to depression, anxiety, and a pattern of increased drinking. Changes in society seem to have led to changes in rates of female DUI arrests.
Third, women’s bodies handle alcohol differently than men. Women tend to be smaller and lighter weight, and women have less water in their bodies than men. When women drink alcohol, they may have a lower tolerance and metabolize the alcohol more slowly. Alcohol affects women’s dexterity and visual abilities more than it does men’s. Some scientists have hypothesized that the rate at which women metabolize alcohol is affected by the menstrual cycle phase or oral contraceptives.
The statisticians caution that women are not actually drinking more than they did in the past. Rather, a change in society coupled with stricter enforcement and different physiology than men has led to more and more arrests of women for DUIs.
Are you a woman charged with a DUI in Oklahoma? Clint Patterson, Esq., of Patterson Law Firm, a former Tulsa prosecutor now using his trial experience and expert-level knowledge of DUI science to defend drivers, can advise you on the additional penalties you may face if convicted. To schedule a case evaluation, visit Patterson Law Firm online or call Clint’s office at (918) 550-9175.