In a recent survey conducted by insurance.com, San Jose appears to have one of the highest DUI rates in the country. As a matter of fact, San Jose ranked 2nd, next to San Diego. According to one pontificator at insurance.com, the reason for this is two-fold: less integrated and use of public transportation and higher drinking and social merriment. Are the people of San Jose drunk party-goers?
No, the real reason is simple enough: far more aggressive DUI enforcement and a greater eagerness to prosecute. San Jose is notorious for "crackdowns" on drunk drivers, routinely setting up roadblocks (often times outside the constitutional parameters for such stops), increased traffic stops (also often times constitutionally impermissible) among other law enforcement procedures.
Also, it may be an issue about money. San Jose Law Enforcement (and San Diego too) is better funded and equipped than other cities. Looking at the list provided by insurance.com, the cities with the lowest DUI rate have the highest crime rate! On the flip-side San Jose was recently named one of the safest big cities in the country.
