Law Enforcement Guide: 2345 Crystal Drive - Suite 910 Arlington, VA 22202 - 202-637-0077

LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE
A Resource Outlining Law Enforcement Challenges, Effective Strategies and Model Programs
2345 Crystal Drive | Suite 910

Arlington, VA 22202 | 202-637-0077
www.centurycouncil.org
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
SECTION I
THE HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING ISSUE
History of the Hardcore Drunk Driving Project
Defining the Problem
Challenges to Investigating the Hardcore Drunk Driving Offender
SECTION II
HOW TO IDENTIFY A HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVER
Identifying the Characteristics of the Hardcore Drunk Driver
DWI Detection
DWI Detection Phase One: Vehicle in Motion
DWI Detection Phase Two: Personal Contact
DWI Detection Phase Three: Pre-arrest Screening
Checklist for Identifying the Hardcore Drunk Driver
SECTION III
TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS TO IDENTIFY A HARDCORE DWI OFFENDER
Passive Alcohol Sensors
Preliminary Breath Test Devices (PBT)
Drug Recognition Program (DRE)
ARIDE Program
In-Car Video
On-site Oral Fluid Screening

SECTION IV
AFTER THE TRAFFIC STOP
Post-Arrest Investigation
Law Enforcement Interview and Booking Interview
Administration of Evidential Tests
Report Writing
SECTION V
BLOOD ALCOHOL TESTING IN DWI CASES
The Refusal Problem
The Search Warrant; Refuting the Refusal
No Refusal Programs
Missouri v. McNeely and Warrantless Blood Draws
Health Care Providers’ Cooperation
HIPPA and Its Potential Challenges to Law Enforcement
HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE 1

SECTION VI
HIGH-VISIBILITY ENFORCEMENT
Introduction
Sobriety Checkpoints
Saturation Patrols
Public Information Campaigns
Multi-Disciplinary Approached to Enforcement
DWI Task Forces
Multi-Jurisdictional DWI Enforcement Task Forces
Multi-Disciplinary DWI Task Forces

SECTION VII
STRATEGIES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES/LINKS
Partnering with Prosecutors and Probation Officers
Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors (TSRPs)
State Judicial Outreach Liaison (SJOL)
National Law Enforcement Liaison (NLELP)
DWI Courts
SECTION VIII
CONCLUSION
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
2 HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Century Council and the Institute of Police Technology and Management gratefully
acknowledge the assistance and efforts of the following people, all of whom played a critical
role in the development of this Law Enforcement Guide. The advisory team was composed
of law enforcement officers and prosecutors who have experience in the investigation and
prosecution of Hardcore drunk driving offenders including what works and does not work as
well as the knowledge of evidence-based/promising practices which are demonstrating success.
JOHN CULLEN MARK NEIL

Detective Senior Attorney
Jacksonville Sheriff ’s Office National Traffic Law Center
Jacksonville, Florida Alexandria, Virginia
ELIZABETH EARLEYWINE DOUG PAQUETTE

Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Coordinator - Impaired Driving
State of Illinois Enforcement Programs
Chicago, Illinois New York State Police
Albany, New York
RONALD ENGLE
Director, Traffic Safety STEPHEN TALPINS
The Century Council Chairman and CEO
Arlington, Virginia National Partnership on
Alcohol Misuse and Crime
DARRELL FISHER Washington, DC
Lt. Colonel (Ret.)
Nebraska State Police AMY WALLING
Lincoln, Nebraska Major
Jupiter Police Department
Jupiter, Florida
Editor
KYLE CLARK
Program Coordinator
Institute of Police Technology and Management
Jacksonville, Florida

Dear Law Enforcement Colleagues,
One of the mission priorities for law enforcement is to ensure highway safety by making our
roads safe for all users. Through enforcement of the motor vehicle code, working in concert
with traffic engineers and community education, law enforcement officers strive to reduce
injuries, property damage, and the loss of life associated with traffic crashes.
Drunk driving is a serious social and public safety problem. Drunk drivers kill thousands of
innocent victims, injure countless more, and cause millions of dollars in property damage
each year. It is imperative that the criminal justice system respond to drunk drivers with
aggressive preventive, rehabilitative, and punitive strategies.
Over the last three decades, the enforcement of impaired driving laws has become a
significant issue to the public. One class of DWI offenders in particular continues to drive
while intoxicated with disregard to the legal, social, and personal ramifications. In order to
successfully identify, prosecute, sentence, supervise, and ultimately, rehabilitate persistent
drunk driving offenders, a comprehensive, systemic approach is necessary.
These offenders are hardcore drunk drivers (chronic repeat DWI offenders and persistent
DWI offenders). For purposes of clarity, we will refer to these offenders as hardcore drunk
drivers throughout this Guide.
The Definition
The Century Council defines hardcore drunk drivers as those who drive with a BAC of 0.15
or above; or who drive repeatedly with a 0.08 or greater BAC, as demonstrated by having
more than one impaired driving arrest; and who are highly resistant to changing their behavior
despite previous sanctions, treatment, or education.
A law enforcement officer is the first contact that a DWI offender has with the criminal
justice system. Identifying and dealing with hardcore drunk drivers often presents challenges
for law enforcement. By definition, those who fall into this category have been through the
judicial system and know how to deter and/or thwart law enforcement DWI investigations. It
is critical to have strategies for dealing with hardcore drunk drivers in every agency’s impaired
driving enforcement program. Without these strategies, many are left to continue their drunk
driving behavior, placing countless drivers in danger.

This Law Enforcement Guide to Detect Hardcore DWI Offenders is the result of a partnership
between the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) and The Century Council.
This Guide was created to provide law enforcement with guidance and tools to develop and/or
enhance enforcement strategies to identify hardcore DWI offenders.
The Century Council and IPTM strongly believe this Guide presents strategies and interventions
that have been shown to be effective in identifying DWI offenders at all levels of impairment.
However, these strategies, unlike strategies directed mainly at first-time offenders, provide law
enforcement officers the ability to identify that small percentage of serious offenders whose
behavior is not changed by traditional interventions designed for first-time offenders. These
offenders need more aggressive interventions.
I hope this Guide provides useful strategies for identifying DWI offenders and hardcore drunk
drivers in particular.
Sincerely,
Steven R. Casstevens
Chief of Police

SECTION I:
THE HARDCORE
DRUNK DRIVING ISSUE
SECTION I:
History of the Hardcore Drunk Driving Project
In 2002, the National Association of State Judicial Educators and The Century Council’s
National Hardcore Drunk Driving Project convened a national panel of judges and judicial
educators recognized as experts on the issue of drunk driving. Their task was to examine the
judiciary’s critical role in reducing hardcore drunk driving. This meeting was the beginning of
an effort to provide judges with the tools necessary to effectively adjudicate impaired driving
cases. The resulting “Hardcore Drunk Driving Judicial Guide: A Resource for Outlining Judicial Challenges,
Effective Strategies, and Model Programs” was introduced to more than 4,000 state and local judges in
thirty-four state judicial education programs.
Judges are but one element in this system and cannot effectively combat hardcore drunk
driving alone. For this reason, The Century Council has worked to include more criminal justice
disciplines in this judicial education program. The National District Attorneys’ Association
partnered with The Century Council to provide prosecutors with needed tools and suggested
courtroom practices – the “Hardcore Drunk Driving Prosecutorial Guide: A Resource for Outlining
Prosecutorial Challenges, Effective Strategies, and Model Programs” coordinates judicial and prosecutorial
efforts by educating prosecutors on promising evaluation, monitoring, sentencing, and treatment
options.
Judges and prosecutors typically handle offenders on the front end of the sanctioning process
and community corrections practitioners supervise these offenders once they have been
sentenced and returned to the community.
What is meant by saying that someone is supervised in the community? It means that probation
and/or parole officers using a combined approach involving surveillance, treatment, and
accountability enforce the court-ordered rules and sentencing meted out to the offenders.
The third publication, one focused towards enhancing the skills and practices of community
supervision, was developed and published in 2010. The American Probation and Parole
Association and The Century Council convened a group of practitioners and administrators
knowledgeable about supervising hardcore drunk driving offenders to develop the “Hardcore
Drunk Driving Community Corrections Guide: A Resource for Outlining Supervision Challenges, Effective
Strategies, and Model Programs.” The guide combined the latest in evidence-based supervision
practices with treatment strategies known to work with alcohol-involved and DUI/DWI
offenders.
Law enforcement is the most recent discipline to be addressed in this series of guides. The
Century Council and the Institute of Police Technology and Management convened a group
of practitioners and administrators with unique skills and knowledge about enforcement and
prosecution of DWI offenders. Their charge was to develop the “Hardcore Drunk Driving Law
Enforcement Guide: A Resource for Enforcement Challenges, Effective Strategies, and Model Programs.”
This guide combines effective enforcement strategies with knowledge concerning the unique
challenges posed by the repeat DWI offender where it is needed most: on the street. To that end,
the panel identified particular issues faced by law enforcement officers in investigating incidents

involving hardcore drunk drivers, practical uses of technology to enhance these investigations,
model programs and operational strategies, and suggestions for government grant opportunities.
Defining the Problem
The first step in this process is a discussion of what a typical hardcore drunk driver looks like.
Hardcore drunk driving offenders have specific identifiable characteristics or traits that can be
utilized by criminal justice officials to more effectively combat hardcore drunk driving.
Convicted DWI offenders have continued to contribute significantly to the criminal justice
problem every year. According to FBI Uniform Crime Statistics, “In 2011, approximately 1.4
million arrests occurred for impaired driving.”1 This number has remained constant for many
years. Even more shocking is that for many of these individuals, it is neither their first time
driving while intoxicated, nor their first time getting caught. In fact, 34% of offenders in jail and
8% of offenders on probation reported having three or more prior arrests or convictions for
DWI2, and a full one-third of DWI arrests each year are repeat offenders.3 In 2011, 70% of all
alcohol-impaired fatal crashes involved a driver with a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
level of 0.15% or higher.4
Research literature indicates hardcore drunk driving offenders have common characteristics.
Behaviorally, they demonstrate aggressive, hostile, and thrill-seeking tendencies.5 Four
noteworthy studies, Jones & Lacey (2000), Siegel et al (2000) White & Gasparin (2006) and
White (2007), identified common characteristics among individuals with repeat drunk driving
offenses. Some of the commonalities included a median age of 35 years old, high school or less
level of education, were mostly blue-collar workers, had prior traffic and criminal offenses, were
predominately white males, and possessed a high percentage of alcohol dependency diagnosis.6
Additionally, the Siegel study (2000) identified that of the people in the sample:
• 98% were diagnosed with alcohol abuse

• 75% were diagnosed with alcohol dependence
• 60% had a history of drug abuse
• 69% experienced a psychiatric disorder sometime in their lifetime
• 62% never attended a driver intervention program
• 33% never participated in an alcohol/drug program
Research literature also shows that offenders who drive intoxicated commit other crimes as
evidenced by criminal histories (Siegel, 2000; Wells-Parker, Cosby, & Landrum, 1986). In fact,
a study by the Center for Drug & Alcohol Research at the University of Kentucky found that
a higher prevalence of criminal activity was associated with multiple DWI arrests (Webster
et al, 2009). Specifically, “probationers with multiple DWI arrests were more likely than non-
DWI offenders to have committed auto theft, drug trafficking, assault and illegal weapons
possession.”7
1
FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, 2011
2
Dunlap, Mullins, and Stein (2007) citing Maruschak (1999).
3
Fell (1995).
4
NHTSA, Prevalence of High BAC in Alcohol-Impaired-Driving Fatal Crashes, August 2012 DOT HS 811 654
5
The Century Council, n.d.
6
Jones & Lacey, 2000; Siegel et al, 2000; as cited by the National Hardcore Drunk Driver Project, n.d.
7
Webster et al., 2009, p. 10

It is clear from these research findings that law enforcement officers frequently encounter
hardcore drunk drivers. As a corollary, successfully changing the long-term behavior of hardcore
drunk drivers can have a widespread impact across the entire criminal justice system. The
Siegel study revealed that its control group was heavily involved in the criminal justice system.
They had a mean average of 7.1 convictions for DWI and 29 arrests for any criminal offense.
Specifically, domestic violence constituted a significant percentage of these criminal offenses.
Even though hardcore drunk drivers comprise a relatively small proportion of all drivers,
the impact of hardcore drunk driving in human and monetary costs far exceeds their actual
numbers.8
• 70% of alcohol-impaired fatal crashes involved a driver with a BAC

of 0.15% or higher. Of particular note, drivers with a BAC level of
0.15% or higher in fatal crashes are 9 times more likely to have a prior
conviction for DWI than drivers with no alcohol. (NHTSA 2012)
• Among drinking drivers involved in fatal crashes, the

median BAC level remains at 0.16, twice the legal limit.
(NHTSA 2012)
• The most frequently recorded BAC level among drinking drivers in fatal
crashes was 0.18%. (NHTSA 2012)
• Among drivers with a prior DWI conviction involved in a fatal crash, three out of four
were hardcore drunk drivers.
• It is estimated that while a small cadre of drivers with BACs in excess of 0.15%
comprise only 1% of all drivers on weekend nights, they are involved in nearly 50% of
all fatal crashes during that time period (Simpson et al. 1996).
• About one-third of all drivers arrested for DWI are repeat offenders and over half have
a BAC over 0.15% (Hedlund and McCartt, June 2002).
• Drivers with a BAC of 0.15% or above are 385 times more likely to be involved in a
single vehicle fatal crash than a non-drinking driver (Zador 1991).
In a study by The Century Council (2007), hardcore drunk driving offenders participating in
DWI Courts from across the country were asked a series of questions to probe the reality
of the problem, their perceptions of getting caught driving intoxicated, and determine what,
if anything, would deter them from drinking and driving. These questions revealed sobering
information about these offenders:
• Self-reported averages of three prior DWI arrests and 2.6 DWI convictions.
• Average blood-alcohol levels were 0.20 (more than twice the legal limit).
• 80% reported drinking and driving at least a few times a month.
• 11% reported drinking and driving every day.
• 86% reported not waiting more than an hour after their DWI arrest to drink and drive
again.
• 32% reported not waiting at all after their DWI arrest to drink and drive again.
8
The Century Council, p.15

Most of the respondents in this study who were
convicted of DWI offenses reported believing The law enforcement officer is the
that if they drove while intoxicated beyond the critical first step in this process by
legal limit, they would be stopped (73%), arrested identifying the hardcore drunk driving
(95%), and convicted (97%). Many respondents offender and entering the offender
into the judicial system.
indicated that more severe sanctions at their
first DWI conviction would have prevented
subsequent drunk driving arrests and convictions
(80%). However, 19% of hardcore drunk driving offenders admitted “They would be unlikely
to change their behavior even if more severe sanctions had been applied after their first
conviction.”
Despite a variety of attempts at modifying behavior, including treatment, incarceration,

and license sanctions, hardcore drunk drivers continue to drive impaired. It is highly
likely that law enforcement officers will encounter these drivers during the course of
their duties. They should be fully prepared to investigate and take appropriate action
when this happens.
Challenges to Investigating the Hardcore Drunk Driving Offender
It is difficult to determine the actual number of hardcore drunk driving offenders being arrested
and entering the system each year. One reason for this is prior records may indicate only a traffic
court violation rather than an alcohol-related driving incident. Another reason is that non-
compatible information reporting systems and lack of information sharing between jurisdictions
thwarts the ability to obtain an accurate account of all prior impaired driving offenses. Finally,
driving records often do not indicate participation in diversion programs; therefore, those prior
incidents may not be included in prior history reports.
The reality of working with hardcore drunk driving offenders is that unless a fatality has
occurred, the hardcore drunk driving offender is most likely to be released back into the
community, often with little or no bond and no pre-trial supervision (NHTSA, 2008). However,
as illustrated above, the hardcore drunk driving offender poses a significant public safety risk to
the community with the potential for serious, long-reaching consequences and thus should be
subject to incarceration or more formal community supervision.
Law enforcement personnel encounter a variety of people during traffic stop investigations,
including impaired drivers. In cases involving the hardcore drunk driving offender, the previous
DWI arrest experience of the offender can be used to pose additional challenges to the
investigating officer.
The following is a list of challenges the hardcore drunk driver poses to law enforcement officers,
each of which will be addressed in the Guide:
• Identification of hardcore drunk driving offenders.

• The unique difficulties faced by law enforcement officers in hardcore drunk driving
investigations.
• Lack of resources to successfully deal with hardcore drunk driving offenders.
• Hardcore drunk driving offenders’ refusal to take BAC tests when arrested. Research
shows that more than 50% of repeat offenders refuse BAC tests.

• Low level of cooperation among hardcore drunk driving offenders during the
investigation, including field sobriety test refusals.
• Unfamiliarity with equipment that can be utilized effectively in evidence-gathering in
hardcore drunk driving investigations.
• Real or perceived difficulties in obtaining information from healthcare providers.
• The proper preparation of complete, accurate arrest reports.
• Proper administration and interpretation of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.
• Dealing with the media.
• Lack of funding for investigative equipment.
• Lack of resources to utilize technologies.
• Lack of knowledge of promising practices and evidence-based programming.
• Ineffective partnerships and communication among other law enforcement agencies.

SECTION II:
HOW TO IDENTIFY A
HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVER
SECTION II:
Identifying Characteristics of the Hardcore Drunk Driver
The successful identification of a hardcore drunk driver begins with effective law enforcement
and a thorough investigation. This task is not complicated when the offender submits to some
form of chemical testing that reveals a BAC of 0.15% or above, or when the driver’s record
reflects multiple DWI arrests. But there is a third key element in recognizing the hardcore drunk
driver, one that law enforcement may not realize they are in an ideal situation to assess: Is this
particular offender resistant to changing his/her behavior?
Disproportionately to “first-time” offenders, a hardcore offender can create a challenge for the
traffic enforcement officer throughout the course of the DWI investigation. This may be the
person who was pulled over for an infraction that does not necessarily suggest impairment, such
as speeding, tail light out, or driving on a revoked license. This is often the driver who refuses
the field sobriety tests or is able to complete the psychophysical portion of the tests without
revealing significant impairment. This is also the person who frequently refuses chemical testing.
In summary, these are the drivers who continue to drive impaired because they can. These
individuals are risk takers who believe they can and do in fact “beat the system.”9
“Seen as a whole, most DWI offenders have, are developing, or will go on to develop, a serious
substance-related problem” (White & Gasparin 2007). Some statistics:
1. 40-70% of so-called first time DWI offenders have a prior history of alcohol or drug
related criminal offenses. (Taxman & Piquero, 1998; Chang and Lapham, 1996; Kochis,
1997)
2. An “average” DWI offender has driven impaired many times before their first arrest.
Some studies suggest it may take anywhere from 200-2000 incidents of DWI to
statistically generate one arrest. (Borkenstein, 1975; Jones & Joscelyn, 1978; Voas &
Hause, 1987; Beitel Sharp, & Glauz, 2000).
3. The vast majority of DWI offenders are found to have a significant problem in their
relationship with alcohol and/or drugs. (Lapham et al, 2004).
Despite, or perhaps because of, their attitude toward drinking and driving along with their
perceived ability to flaunt the system, hardcore drunk driving offenders often provide numerous
identifying characteristics. Information obtained both during the three phases of the DWI
investigation and subsequent to the arrest decision may provide the most accurate assessment
possible during the entire criminal justice process.
In terms of the arrest event itself (initial contact with the vehicle until the decision to arrest is
made), the hardcore drunk driver is likely to fall into certain statistically relevant groupings. The
most conspicuous of these is that the hardcore drunk driver is more often a male, age 25 – 45.
He is more likely to be driving alone and ultimately have other charges associated with the DWI
arrest such as fleeing or resisting. Additionally, because the hardcore drunk driver is prone to
have a history of prior DWI arrests, yet continues to drive, there may be a higher incidence of
9
Siegal

driving while license suspended or revoked (DWLS/R) being the probable cause for the traffic
stop.
DWI Detection
DWI detection is defined as “The entire process of identifying and gathering evidence to
determine whether or not a suspect should be arrested for the DWI violation.”10 Detection
begins when the officer develops the first suspicion a DWI violation is occurring. Detection ends
when the officer decides whether there is or is not sufficient probable cause to arrest the suspect
for DWI.
A DWI traffic stop investigation involves three phases:
Phase One: Vehicle in Motion – the officer observes the suspect operating or being in
actual physical control of the motor vehicle.
Phase Two: Personal Contact – after the officer has stopped the vehicle, there is usually
an opportunity to observe and speak with the suspect face-to-face.
Phase Three: Pre-Arrest Screening – the officer usually has an opportunity to administer
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests to the suspect to evaluate the suspect’s degree of
impairment.
At the conclusion of each of these phases, the officer reaches a decision point on whether or
not to proceed to the next phase, or in the case of phase three, whether or not to arrest the
suspect for DWI. In other words, the officer must determine if there is sufficient reasonable
suspicion necessary to proceed to the next phase in the detection process. The ultimate decision
to arrest for DWI is based on the totality of all relevant evidence from all three phases and
whether or not it provides probable cause to make the arrest.
DWI Detection: Phase One, Vehicle in Motion. Consists of the initial observation of
vehicle operation, the stop decision and the observation of the stop. The initial observation of
vehicle operation begins when the officer first notices the vehicle and/or the driver. What was
it that attracted the officer’s attention to the vehicle? If the initial observation discloses vehicle
maneuvers or human behaviors that may be associated with alcohol or drug influence, the officer
may develop an initial suspicion of DWI.
Drivers who are impaired by alcohol and/or drugs usually exhibit common effects or signs of
impairment such as slowed reactions, increased risk-taking, impaired judgment, impaired vision,
and/or poor coordination. These common effects of alcohol on the driver’s mental and physical
faculties may lead to predictable driving violations and vehicle operating characteristics.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsored research to identify
the most common and reliable initial indicators of DWI. This research led to the development
of a DWI detection guide and training materials, including a training video. The detection guide
describes a set of 24 driving cues that were found to predict blood alcohol concentrations
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Participant’s Manual (2006),
10
Oklahoma City, p. IV-1.

(BAC) of 0.08% or greater. This set of behaviors can be used by officers to detect motorists
who are likely to be driving while impaired. Officers should be trained and aware of these high
probability indicators so they are able to recognize the significance of their visual observations
while on patrol. A brochure containing this information can be downloaded from:
www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/808677.pdf.
The task of making initial observations of vehicle operation is the first step in the job of DWI
detection. Proper performance of that task demands two distinct but related abilities:
1. The ability to recognize evidence of alcohol and/or drug influence;

2. The ability to describe that evidence clearly and convincingly.
It is not enough for a police officer to observe and recognize symptoms of impaired driving.
The officer must be able to clearly articulate what was observed so that a judge and/or jury
will have a clear mental image of exactly what took place. The officer must provide convincing
testimony that these observations indeed established probable cause for the arrest.
Hardcore drunk driver arrests have the potential to result in litigation. Multiple offenders,
because they face enhanced penalties which often include large fines, imprisonment and license
suspension, are more likely to engage legal counsel and demand a trial. A jury trial will surely
challenge an officer’s ability to provide courtroom testimony. Achieving the ability to recognize
and clearly describe observational evidence requires proper training and practice.
The NHTSA/International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) training program DWI

Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing provides officers with the ability to
recognize the most reliable, high probability indicators exhibited by impaired drivers as well as
the necessary practice for describing those indicators clearly and convincingly. This program is
managed by the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) of the IACP which can be accessed at:
http://theiacp.org/About/Governance/Committees/HighwaySafetyCommittee/
HighwaySafetyInitiatives.
Based upon initial observations of the vehicle operation, the officer must decide whether there
is reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle. Alternatives to stopping the vehicle include delaying
the stop/no stop decision in order to continue observing the vehicle or disregarding the vehicle
and continuing on patrol. Whenever there is a valid reason to stop a vehicle, the officer should
always be alert to the possibility that the driver may be impaired by alcohol and/or drugs.
Officers must select a safe location for the traffic stop and consider an area with sufficient
space that may permit a DWI investigation to be conducted. Once the stop command has been
communicated to the suspect driver, the officer must closely observe the driver’s actions and
vehicle maneuvers during the stopping sequence. Sometimes significant evidence of alcohol
influence comes to light during the stopping sequence. In some cases, the stopping sequence
may produce the first suspicion of DWI.
Remember, drivers impaired by alcohol and/or drugs may respond in unexpected and dangerous
ways to the stop command. Repeat offenders may be quite capable of driving a vehicle in a
straight line. They are difficult to detect unless an unexpected event requires them to react
in a manner that they have not anticipated. Their impairment diminishes their ability to take
corrective action. This may manifest in apparent delayed reactions or over-reactions in response

to the unexpected event (i.e., sudden swerving; overcompensating on turns; etc.). It is common
for repeat offenders to be identified by something other than their driving actions, such as an
equipment or safety belt violation.
There are key indicators that may signal to an investigating officer that the driver under
observation may be a hardcore drunk driver. These indicators appear throughout the
investigation. The common ones are indicated below:
Key indicators that you may have stopped a hardcore drunk driving offender:
• Driving while license is suspended or revoked.

• Moving violations not necessarily associated with the “NHTSA Impaired Driving Clues.”11
• After being signaled to pull over, suspect flees (as opposed to merely failing to stop).
DWI Detection: Phase Two - Personal Contact. This phase consists of the face-to-
face observation and interview of the driver (usually while still in the vehicle), the decision to
instruct the driver to exit the vehicle, and the observation of the driver’s exit from the vehicle.
The interview/observation of the driver begins as soon as the suspect vehicle and the patrol
vehicle have come to complete stops, continues through the officer’s approach to the suspect
vehicle, and involves all conversation between the officer and the suspect prior to the suspect’s
exit from the vehicle. Prior to any face-to-face observation and the interview of the driver,
the officer may already have developed a suspicion that the driver is impaired based on the
observations of the vehicle operation and of the stop, i.e., moving traffic violations.
Alternatively, the vehicle operation and the stop may have been fairly normal, and the officer
may have no particular suspicion of DWI prior to the face-to-face contact, i.e., vehicle defect
with no moving traffic violation. Regardless of what evidence may have come to light during
detection phase one, the initial face-to-face contact between the officer and the suspect usually
provides the first definitive indications that alcohol and/or drugs may be present.
Despite, or perhaps because of, their attitude toward drinking and driving along with their
perceived ability to flaunt the system, hardcore drunk drivers often exhibit numerous identifying
characteristics. Information obtained both during the three phases of the DWI investigation and
subsequent to the arrest decision may provide the most accurate assessment possible during the
entire criminal justice process.
In terms of the arrest event itself (initial contact with the vehicle until the decision to arrest
is made), the hardcore drunk driver is likely to fall into certain statistically relevant groupings
mentioned in Section I:
• Often a male, age 25 – 45,

• Likely to be driving alone,
• Has other charges associated with the DWI arrest such as fleeing or resisting,
• History of prior DWI arrests,
• Higher incidence of driving while license suspended or revoked (DWLS/R) is the
probable cause for the traffic stop.
11
Moving violations not normally associated with impaired driving as listed in the Standardized Field Sobriety
Testing curriculum

Typical Hardcore Drunk Driving Behavior:
Once the officer reaches the suspect vehicle for an interview, the hardcore drunk driver may
complicate this task by only cracking the window open to smile and nod rather than speak. He
or she may attempt to conceal their alcohol consumption via breath mints or air freshener. Some
drivers may refuse to get out of the car when requested by law enforcement, or try to limit law
enforcement access to the passenger compartment of the car.
Many states and agencies have established procedures for these passive refusal situations. Law
enforcement officers who conduct DWI investigations should consider the use of technology
during this phase to address problem situations such as described.
Passive alcohol sensors (PAS) may provide a technological advantage for law enforcement by
checking the ambient air in the vehicle. PAS devices are small electronic devices which are
built into flashlights or clipboards and can detect ethanol in ambient air. They are not usually
noticed by the driver12. The sensors are quick, objective, and provide additional support for law
enforcement to establish reasonable suspicion and/or probable cause to identify the impaired
driver. In cases involving the hardcore drunk driver, a PAS device may help thwart attempts
to conceal the odor of the alcoholic beverage and may provide initial evidence of a potential
impaired driving violation. For information on PAS devices, see the Technology Section.
Officers should also look for evidence of an ignition interlock device, either based upon a
restriction on the driver’s license, or by looking for a device which has been installed near the
vehicle ignition area. If an ignition interlock device is present, it can be a helpful tool in your
investigation. Here are some suggested procedures for conducting a traffic stop with a driver
required to have an ignition interlock device:
1. Verify the ignition interlock device is legitimately installed in the vehicle. This can be
inspected from outside the vehicle by examining the mouthpiece device, and checking
the security of the connection cable by slightly tugging on it to verify it is physically
installed on the vehicle.
2. Safety dictates that suspected traffic offenders turn off their vehicle ignition during the
course of the traffic stop. Have the driver turn off the ignition and wait 2-3 minutes and
attempt to re-start the vehicle. A period less than two minutes usually will not require
the driver to provide a breath sample to re-start the vehicle. When the driver re-starts
the vehicle, the breath sample will provide valuable evidence if the driver has been
consuming alcoholic beverages.
3. If the vehicle starts, the law enforcement officer should continue with the original
purpose of the traffic stop. Remember: if a driver passes the ignition interlock breath
test, there remains the possibility the driver could have ingested a drug which could
have impaired driving performance. Continue to look for evidence of divided attention
impairment during the face-to-face interview of the driver.
4. If the first breath test fails to re-start the vehicle, the failure may have occurred as a
result of a nervous driver. Law enforcement officers may consider offering the driver
a second chance to start the vehicle to verify the failure. Ignition interlock devices
are programmed to prevent the starting of the vehicle if the driver’s breath alcohol
12
Law enforcement should speak with their prosecutors regarding the admissibility of such technology even for the
limited determination of reasonable suspicion. The law on this will vary from state to state and such technology
even may be deemed to require a Frye or Daubert hearing prior to testimony in court.

content is over a certain level, often 0.02 g/210 L of breath. If the driver fails the
second attempt, continue the impaired driving investigation to determine if the driver is
impaired.
5. If a driver has a license restriction requiring an interlock device, and the device is not
properly installed, this may constitute a violation of state law. Also, if the device prevents
the vehicle from starting, the driver should be investigated for a possible impaired
driving offense. Further, if the driver appears to be impaired, despite the successful start
of the vehicle, the investigation should continue for possibly operating while impaired by
drugs or medications.
Based upon the interview and face-to-face observation of the driver, and upon the previous
observations of the vehicle in motion, the officer must decide whether these observations
provide sufficient cause to instruct the suspect to exit the vehicle. Once the decision to instruct
the suspect to exit has been made, the officer must closely observe the suspect’s actions during
the exit and walk from the vehicle, and note any additional evidence of impairment. Officers
must always practice appropriate officer safety tactics while the suspect exits the vehicle.
The decision to instruct the suspect to exit the vehicle may be based on suspicion that the
suspect may be impaired. Even though that suspicion may be strong, the suspect usually is not
yet under arrest at this point. How the suspect exits the vehicle, and the actions and behavior of
the suspect during the exit sequence, may provide additional important evidence of alcohol and/
or drug impairment. However, as mentioned previously, hardcore drunk drivers may refuse to
exit the vehicle to perform the sobriety test batteries. Be prepared to continue your investigation,
taking this refusal in to consideration as a possible indicator of DWI.
Key indicators for hardcore drunk drivers Personal Contact Phase:
• Odor of alcoholic beverage.

• Attempts to mask the odor of the alcoholic beverage.
• Open alcoholic beverage container or other drug paraphernalia in plain view.
• Minimal levels of cooperation (lowers window a few inches, etc.)
• Minimal speech impediment.
• Minimal physical signs of impairment (fumbling, etc.).
• A driver license status or vehicle check reveals that the driver:
o Is required to have ignition interlock, but is driving a car not so equipped or
device is circumvented.
o Is suspended or revoked from driving due to prior DWIs.
o Has a history of high-risk driving offenses, such as prior crashes, dangerous
moving violations, high-risk insurance or no insurance.
o Has a current or prior failed probation history (subsequent information may
reveal this is due to failure to complete mandated treatment).
• Becomes angry, verbally abusive or aggressive without provocation.
• Exits vehicle showing minimal physical signs of impairment.
• Refuses to exit vehicle for field sobriety tests.
DWI Detection: Phase Three- Pre-arrest Screening. Consists of structured, formal

psychophysical testing and preliminary breath testing (if available) of persons suspected of
DWI, and culminates in the arrest/no arrest decision.

Psychophysical tests are methods of assessing a suspect’s mental and/or physical impairment
by focusing precisely on the human capabilities needed for safe driving. The most significant
psychophysical tests are the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) that are administered
at roadside. The preliminary breath test can also be very important in helping to corroborate
all other evidence, and in helping to confirm the officer’s judgment as to whether the suspect’s
ability to drive is impaired. The final stage of detection phase three is the arrest decision.
There are three SFSTs which research has confirmed as having considerable accuracy to assist
officers in making DWI arrest decisions (Burns and Anderson 1995; Fazzalaro 2000). Field
studies with officers trained and experienced with the battery of tests found arrest decisions
were more than 90 percent correct (Burns 1999) in detecting impaired drivers at or above a
0.08% BAC.
Many prosecutors prefer officers to administer only the SFSTs to help make arrest decisions
for DWI because the test battery is the only one to have been scientifically validated and is
defensible in court (NHTSA 2001). However, the administration of field sobriety tests is
the aspect of the test battery most often attacked in court, with the defense arguing that the
arresting officer’s interpretation of the performance of the SFST is subjective or that the officer
did not precisely follow the protocol outlined in training documents.
The standardized field sobriety test battery consists of the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN),
the Walk and Turn (WAT), and the One Leg Stand (OLS) tests. The SFSTs are designed to
detect impaired drivers. The results of these tests should be considered with other evidence
and the totality of the investigation. Driving patterns, as well as driver appearance and behavior
should also be taken into account with the SFST results in making a decision to arrest or release
the driver.
Officers should take into consideration that some multiple offenders are fully aware of the field
sobriety tests and may in fact practice them. If they are indeed impaired, they may perform the
Walk and Turn and One Leg Stand tests adequately, but more slowly and deliberately because
of their impairment. In this situation the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test becomes absolutely
critical.
Key indicators of hardcore drunk drivers (Standardized Field Sobriety Testing):
• Exhibits significant clues on horizontal gaze nystagmus test, indicating impairment.

• May or may not exhibit vertical gaze nystagmus.
• Exhibits minimal impairment on psychophysical field sobriety tests (Walk and Turn, One
Leg Stand).
• If driver consents to a preliminary breath test, the test results in a high BAC without the
other gross signs of intoxication.
• Becomes angry, verbally abusive or aggressive without provocation.
• Most likely to refuse to participate in SFSTs.

Additional Resources for Standardized Field Sobriety Tests
• Burns, M.M., and Anderson, E.W. 1995. A Colorado Validation Study of the
Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) Battery, Final Report Submitted to the Colorado
Department of Transportation. Denver, CO: Colorado Department of Transportation.
• Burns, M.M. 1999. Identification of alcohol impairment outside the vehicle: Field
sobriety tests. In: Issues and Methods in the Detection of Alcohol and Other Drugs.
Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board, National Research Council.
• Burns, Marcelline. 2007. The Robustness of the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test. Los
Angeles, California: Southern California Research Institute.
Additional indicators of a potential hardcore drunk driver:
• Statements or behavior indicating a lack of empathy or remorse (injury or fatality cases).

• Statements indicating an underestimation of impairment level.
• Statements indicating projection of blame upon others.

CHECKLIST FOR IDENTIFYING THE HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVER
Key indicators that you may have stopped a hardcore drunk driving offender:
FF Driving while license suspended or revoked.

FF Moving violations not necessarily associated with the “NHTSA Impaired Driving
Clues.”13
FF After being signaled to pull over, suspect flees (as opposed to merely failing to stop).
Key indicators for hardcore drunk drivers Personal Contact Phase:
FF Odor of alcoholic beverage.

FF Attempts to mask the odor of the alcoholic beverage
FF Open alcoholic beverage container in plain view.
FF Minimal levels of cooperation (lowers window a few inches, etc.)
FF Minimal speech impediment.
FF Minimal physical signs of impairment (fumbling, etc.)
FF A driver license status or vehicle check reveals that the driver:
o Is required to have ignition interlock, but is driving a car not so equipped or
circumvented.
o Is suspended or revoked due to prior DWIs.
o Has a history of high-risk driving offenses, such as prior crashes, dangerous
moving violations, high-risk insurance or no insurance.
o Has a current or prior failed probation history (subsequent information may
reveal this is due to failure to complete mandated treatment).
FF Becomes angry, verbally abusive or aggressive without provocation.
FF Refuses to exit vehicle for field sobriety tests.
Key indicators of hardcore drunk drivers (Standardized Field Sobriety Testing):
FF Exhibits significant clues on horizontal gaze nystagmus test, indicating impairment.

FF Exhibits minimal impairment on psychophysical field sobriety tests (Walk and Turn, One
Leg Stand).
FF If driver consents to a preliminary breath test, the test results in a high BAC without the
other gross signs of intoxication.
FF Becomes angry, verbally abusive or aggressive without provocation.
FF Most likely to refuse to participate in SFSTs.
Additional indicators of a potential hardcore drunk driver:
FF Statements or behavior indicating a lack of empathy or remorse (injury or fatality cases).

FF Statements indicating an underestimation of impairment level.
FF Statements indicating projection of blame upon others.
FF Other indications or observations of impairment
13
Moving violations not normally associated with impaired driving as listed in the Standardized Field Sobriety
Testing curriculum

SECTION III:
TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS
TO IDENTIFY A HARDCORE
DWI OFFENDER
SECTION III:
Passive Alcohol Sensors
While law enforcement professionals rely primarily on their senses to identify impaired drivers,
technology exists that can assist in identifying those who attempt to conceal their alcohol
consumption via breath mints, air freshener, or by limiting law enforcement access to the
passenger compartment of the car. Such practices are common among hardcore drunk drivers.
Passive alcohol sensors (PAS) may provide a technological advantage for law enforcement.
Passive alcohol sensors are small electronic devices which are built into flashlights or clipboards
that can detect ethanol in ambient air. The sensors are quick, objective, and provide additional
evidence for law enforcement to establish reasonable suspicion and identify the impaired driver.
In cases involving the hardcore drunk driver, a passive alcohol sensor may help thwart attempts
in concealing the odor of the alcoholic beverage and may provide initial evidence of a potential
impaired driving violation.
Passive alcohol sensors are significantly different than traditional breath testing instruments. A
PAS encases a fuel cell in a passive “non-intrusive” instrument designed to act as an “extension
of the operator’s nose,” sensing the presence of ethanol within seconds. A major difference is
the suspect does not have to cooperate or actively participate with the PAS to result in a positive
test for the presence of alcohol. The device simply needs to be positioned to sample the interior
air of the vehicle to obtain a reading. The results from the PAS lack the precision or accuracy
of a traditional breath test. However, the results can aid the officer in detecting the presence of
alcohol coming from a person’s breath or a beverage in the car in sufficient concentration that
further investigation is warranted.
After a positive reading from the PAS, an officer can then investigate further by looking for
additional physiological indicators of impairment, such as bloodshot or watery eyes, slurred
or mumbled speech. In some cases the indicators of impairment are obvious prior to the
administration of the PAS. If the investigation warrants, the officer can proceed to conduct
Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. While the PAS is an effective screening tool, officers should
not rely solely on a positive reading to develop probable cause. It is just one tool in an officer’s
comprehensive tool box. A PAS should be used in conjunction with the officer’s training
and experience. Admissibility of these devices may differ from state to state; therefore law
enforcement should consult with their prosecutor regarding routine use in DWI practice.
While PAS results are usually not permitted in the court as prima facie evidence of DWI, they
can assist in establishing probable cause for further investigation by an officer. It is important to
note that these devices can be relatively expensive if being provided to large numbers of patrol
officers. Because of the cost, a majority of officers lack regular access to them.
How Effective Are Passive Sensors?
Studies have found these devices to be very effective. Their use has led to fewer high BAC
drivers avoiding arrest and fewer low or zero BAC drivers being detained. A series of studies has
shown passive sensors increase the detection rate of drivers with BACs at .10 or greater by about

50% in checkpoint operations (Voas et al. 1997). One study found passive sensors can identify
about 75 percent of drivers with BACs at or above .10 and 70 percent of BACs at or above .08
— a vast improvement over the 40 – 50% detection rate by police officers at checkpoints not
using sensors (Farmer et al. 1999).
Additional Resources for Passive Sensors
Burns, M.M. 1999. Identification of alcohol impairment outside the vehicle: Field sobriety tests.
Issues and Methods in the Detection of Alcohol and Other Drugs. Washington, DC: Transportation
Research Board, National Research Council.
Farmer, C.M., Wells, J.K., Voas, R.B., and Ferguson, S.A. 1999. Field evaluation of the PAS III
Passive Alcohol Sensor. Journal of Crash Prevention and Injury Control 1(1): 55–61.
Fell, J.C. 2000. Comments on “Increasing the Opportunities to Examine Impaired Drivers.”
Issues and Methods in the Detection of Alcohol and Other Drugs. Washington, DC: Transportation
Research Board, National Research Council.
Grey, S.L. Spring 2001. Passive alcohol sensors and the fourth amendment. Impaired Driving
Update. Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute, Inc.
Hedlund, J.H. 2000. What’s needed to improve police detection of alcohol and other drugs
in drivers. Issues and Methods in the Detection of Alcohol and Other Drugs. Washington, DC:
Transportation Research Board, National Research Council.
Voas, R.B., Romano, E., & Peck, R. (2006). Validity of the passive alcohol sensor for estimating
BACs in DWI-enforcement operations.
Preliminary Breath Test Devices (PBT)
Today, law enforcement officers and prosecutors rely on breath alcohol, urine or blood testing
to investigate and/or prove their DWI cases. In a number of states, officers are authorized to
use preliminary breath testing devices (PBT) to identify impaired drivers at roadside to help
determine probable cause. They then rely on evidential breath testing devices (EBTs) for breath
or forensic laboratories to examine blood or urine to prove their guilt. Some hardcore drunk
drivers display only minimal indicators of impairment during psychophysical testing, providing
a false impression of sobriety. Some have been known to use breath contaminants that may
diminish or conceal the detectable ethanol within the breath. Preliminary breath tests are an
effective screening tool when used in conjunction with the standardized field sobriety tests in
identifying the hardcore drunk driver.
Some states allow law enforcement officers to utilize preliminary breath testing at roadside to
screen suspected impaired drivers. While the results of the PBT typically are not admissible as
proof of guilt in the DWI trial, they may be used to support probable cause in pre-trial motions,
such as motions to quash arrest or suppress evidence. Preliminary Breath Test technology has
made the devices more accurate and cost effective, thus increasing the number of products
available to law enforcement. There are three basic types of preliminary breath testing
instruments: infrared, wet chemical, and electrical. Each is designed to take a breath sample and

calculate the amount of alcohol it contains, but the methods used may differ.
The use of PBTs, where applicable, can strengthen an officer’s case where alcohol consumption
caused the observable impairment. However, an officer must make certain the PBT is approved
for use in the appropriate state, as well as calibrated to the state and manufacturer’s specifications
to avoid defense challenges. In addition, the investigating officer should ensure the test is
conducted within manufacturer’s guidelines to reduce the possibility of an erroneous reading.
A number of states have legislated that these devices may be used to make a determination of
whether or not a suspected offender is alcohol-impaired at roadside and help establish probable
cause for a DWI arrest. However, unless the devices are truly certified as evidential breath test
devices, they cannot be used to establish the driver’s BAC in court.
Like the PAS, these devices can be relatively expensive if being provided to large numbers of
patrol officers. This means that a majority of officers lack regular access to them. “Officers in
our survey estimate that over three-fourths of all DWI arrests result from routine patrol, so it
is imperative that patrol officers have regular and consistent access to PBTs to assist with the
detection of repeat DWI offenders during routine traffic stops.” (Simpson and Robertson 2001)
PBT is only one component of detecting hardcore drunk drivers. More experienced officers
offer a note of caution with regard to the use of PBTs. In their experience, newer officers come
to rely extensively on these test results. That means that they may not develop proficiency at
identifying DWI offenders without electronic devices. These devices should be used only after
an officer has determined that probable cause exists that the offender is a DWI. If the arresting
officer cannot establish reasonable grounds for applying the test, the results may be of no use in
the prosecution of the case. The PBT device does not relieve the officers from standard arrest
procedures to build a case to justify arrest and being familiar with standard signs of intoxication
and adept at conducting the SFST.
Additional Resources
NHTSA. (2004). Conforming Products List. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol/ebtcpl040714FR.pdf
Shults, R.A., et al. 2001. Reviews of evidence regarding interventions to reduce alcohol-impaired
driving. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 21(4S): 66–88.
Simpson, H.M., and Robertson, R.D. 2001. DWI System Improvements for Dealing with Hard Core
Drinking Drivers: Enforcement. Ottawa, Ontario: Traffic Injury Research Foundation.
Voas, R.B., Holder, H.D., and Gruenewald, P.J. 1997. The effect of drinking and driving
interventions on alcohol-involved traffic crashes within a comprehensive community trial.
Addiction Supplement 2: S221–S236.
DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT PROGRAM
In the early 1980s, the NHTSA partnered with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)
and the IACP to develop the Drug Evaluation Classification (DEC) program which was based
on the LAPD’s Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) program. The DEC program, which became

operational in 1987, is currently managed by the Technical Advisory Panel of the Highway Safety
Committee within IACP.
The purpose of the program is to train officers to recognize behaviors and physiological states
associated with psychoactive drugs. The evaluation is conducted by a DRE, often at the request
of an arresting officer, when a suspect’s BAC is inconsistent with his driving and behavior.
There are 12 steps associated with a DRE evaluation. At the end of the evaluation, the DRE
is in a position to determine if a suspect is impaired by drugs and which drug category or
combination of categories is causing the impairment. It also enables the DRE to rule out other
possible causes such as neurological deficits, diseases and illness.
The procedure was designed to aid the officer in determining what specific type of drug or
drugs was the likely cause of the observed impairment. The program was intended to help
develop evidence of impairment and guide the analyses of biological specimens when looking
for the presence of drugs other than alcohol in impaired drivers.
There are seven drug categories that the program is designed to detect:
1. Central Nervous System Depressants

2. Central Nervous System Stimulants
3. Hallucinogens
4. Dissociative Anesthetics
5. Narcotic Analgesics
6. Inhalants
7. Cannabis
The DEC training requires nine days in the classroom and additional days of field certification
training. The program is designed to provide for only a limited number of DREs in a
jurisdiction. It is not designed for the routine patrol officer.
To retain proficiency, DREs also need to use their skills regularly, participate in training programs
to stay current with, and be vigilant to detect, emerging patterns of drug use within their
respective communities. This includes testifying regularly to maintain their courtroom testimony
skills.
Certification is issued by a state coordinator and credentialing is provided by the IACP. There are
over 7,000 police officers certified as DREs in 50 states, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany,
and China.
ARIDE PROGRAM
The Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) program was developed
by NHTSA in cooperation with IACP, the IACP Technical Advisory Panel and the Virginia
Association of Chiefs of Police.
The purpose of ARIDE is to address the gap in training between the SFST and the DEC
Program by providing officers with general knowledge related to drug impairment. The ultimate
goal of the program is to encourage the use of DREs in states that have the DEC Program.
The ARIDE program also stresses the importance of securing the most appropriate biological

sample in order to identify substances likely causing impairment.
The main prerequisite to qualify for receiving ARIDE training is the completion of the SFST/
DWI Investigation course and a demonstrated proficiency in the SFST test battery. The course
is 16 hours long and is traditionally taught by DRE instructors who hold state and IACP
DRE credentials. The IACP highly recommends that every instructor be a graduate of the
NHTSA/IACP DRE Instructor Training Course, however, states with a shortage of DRE
Instructors and have a hardship have been permitted to teach ARIDE with a DRE who is also
a DWI Instructor. The training also promotes interaction with representatives from the state’s
prosecution community. Part of the course may be taught by a local prosecutor or the state’s
traffic safety resource prosecutor (TSRP).
The ARIDE program is managed by the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) of the IACP and is
being used in most states.
IN-CAR VIDEO
Many law enforcement agencies throughout the United States utilize onboard video recording
which can assist in gathering evidence in a DWI investigation with a hardcore drunk driver.
There is widespread agreement that cameras can protect the rights of both police and citizens,
exonerating officers of false complaints and monitoring professional administration of police
duties. An in-car video camera enables the officer to record the actions of the vehicle prior to
the stop as well as the performance of the DWI suspect on the SFSTs. Prosecutors report DWI
offenders often will plead guilty after watching a video of their arrest. These admissions of guilt
reduce plea-bargain attempts, requests for costly jury trials, and the amount of time officers
spend in court. Although there are limitations with in-car video – such as a two-dimensional
limited field of view – used properly, the video can document much of the results of the
investigation.
Many police agencies welcome video cameras as a way to document that traffic stops are justified
and conducted in compliance with sanctioned policies and procedures. Law enforcement officers
frequently use video to document the arrest from the initial citing of a traffic violation through
transporting the defendant to jail. This helps establish that the offender was afforded due
process and protects the officer as well. Officers investigating a hardcore drunk driver offender
can record the actions of the driver and any attempts at thwarting the investigator’s efforts to
acquire evidence. Here are some good practices for using in-car video in a hardcore drunk driver
case:
1. First, recap what just happened. You have just observed some action by the suspect,
possibly a traffic violation. This action caused you to start the recording. It is very
important to verbalize what you just observed, as it might not have been captured on
video. Such statements should be made contemporaneous with the event whenever
possible.
2. Provide a constant commentary. As there is no way to be certain if the system is
capturing video, it is essential to have audio. Additionally, there is no way for the system
to know what you are thinking. So, give your “partner” (your in-car video system) a
blow-by-blow commentary.

3. Safety first! Officer safety should always be your first consideration when making a stop.
Drive the car and do not become distracted by camera placement or angle during the
stop.
Courts have ruled that there is no right to privacy in the back of a patrol car. In-car video
cameras should be set up to record both video and audio of the impaired driver while being
transported. Many times, offenders will make statements that reflect their consciousness of
guilt while in the back of a patrol car. These statements are admissible and should be captured
for trial. Again, this is especially important in the cases of hardcore drunk drivers who may not
display the obvious signs of impairment as other DWI violators.
Finally, it is extremely important for an officer to review the video prior to writing the report and
again before testifying in court. Any discrepancies between the video and the officer’s report or
testimony can cause enough reasonable doubt to jeopardize the case.
The value of in-car video as a means to gather evidence is crucial. Officers, however, need to be
cognizant of its limitations and utilize best practices when conducting a traffic stop and DWI
investigations on video. It is important to remember that when dealing with the hardcore drunk
driver, it is more than just the SFSTs that make the case, it is the entire DWI detection process
and that entire process should be captured as completely, professionally, and safely as possible.
Be aware that this is not a Hollywood production. You are gathering evidence at a
one-time event! There are no rehearsals or retakes!
ON-SITE ORAL FLUID SCREENING FOR DRUGS
In some cases, hardcore drunk drivers may be impaired by drugs in addition to alcohol. DWI
offenders in many states are required to participate in treatment as a condition of probation.
Although offenders typically are evaluated as part of the treatment process, most will deny or
minimize their problems to avoid having to do any more than absolutely necessary.14 Without
a forensic test to document drug use, many of these offenders will avoid drug treatment.
This creates a significant problem because many DWI offenders abuse alcohol and drugs and
offenders with drug misuse issues appear to pose a higher risk of recidivating than those who
do not.15 Researchers in Norway have conducted the most extensive study on this issue. They
followed 850 drunk drivers with BACs between 0.16% and 0.19% and 1,102 drugged drivers
for seven years after arrest. They found that drugged drivers were re-arrested twice as often as
drunk drivers:
• 57% of the drugged drivers were re-arrested;
• 28% of the drunk drivers were re-arrested.16
Oral fluid kits may help determine the source of impairment. These kits are easy to use, fast
and inexpensive (they cost between $5.00 to $25.00, depending on quality and volume of kits
14
See e.g. Lapham, S., C’de Baca, J., McMillan, G., and Hunt, W., Accuracy of alcohol diagnosis among DWI
offenders referred for screening, 76 J. Drug Alc. Depend., 135-141 (2004).
15
See e.g. C’de Baca, J., McMillan, G., Lapham, Repeat DUI Offenders Who Have Had a Drug Diagnosis: Are They
More Prone to Traffic Crashes and Violations?, 10 Traffic Inj. Prev. 134-140 (2009).
16
Christophersen, A., Skurtveit, S., Grung, M. and Morland, J., Rearrest rates among Norwegian drugged drivers
compared with drunken drivers, 66(1) Drug Alc. Depend. 85-92 (2002).

purchased). However, caution must be exercised since there are no standards in existence for
their use, nor are there performance standards for these tools.
Do On-Site Oral Fluid Screening Kits Work?
Today’s oral fluid kits are not nearly as sensitive as urine kits. However, they may still have good
value. In a recent study17, researchers published three articles that provide insights on the efficacy
of oral fluid drug testing.18 Researchers tested eight commercially available on-site oral fluid kits
on volunteer subjects who participated in a roadside survey, suspected drugged drivers, patients
in treatment center and rehabilitation clinics and coffee shop customers.19
As expected, researchers determined that the kits varied dramatically in overall quality. In field
evaluations, researchers determined that on-site oral fluid tests can help strengthen an officer’s
suspicion of an impaired driver’s drug use.20
In 2010-11, the Missouri Safety Center assessed the Drager DrugTest 5000, Oral Drug
Screening Device. Police officers collected two oral fluid samples and a urine sample from
arrestees suspected of driving under the influence. One oral fluid sample was screened with
the DrugTest device. The other samples were submitted for laboratory testing. The second oral
fluid sample was screened via enzyme immunoassay while the urine sample was tested using a
gas chromatograph. Researchers determined that the DrugTest 5000 performed comparably
to the laboratory oral fluid enzyme immunoassay testing. In fact, the DrugTest 5000 had
a higher detection rate for cannabis and amphetamines (though a lower detection rate for
benzodiazepines and opiates). Both methods were significantly less sensitive than urine testing;
a drug or drugs were identified in 64.5% of the subjects using the DrugTest 5000, 63.5%
of the subjects using enzyme immunoassay methods, and 90.8% of the subjects using gas
chromatography.21
The use of oral fluid kits is still in its infancy and is not universally accepted, either in the law
enforcement setting or in the courts. It must be remembered that this test method cannot
replace evidentiary confirmatory testing conducted in a laboratory. At best, they are most useful
to law enforcement in the probable cause determination, similar to a PBT. Few jurisdictions
have rules or laws delineating collection and testing methods and approved kits. Should this
be considered, it is imperative that law enforcement work closely with both prosecutors and
chemists in developing sound protocol.
17
(DRUID)
18
All articles are accessible at: http://www.druid-project.eu/cln_031/nn_107542/Druid/EN/deliverales-list/
deliverables-list-node.html?__nnn=true.
19
BIOSENS Dynamic (Biosensor Applications Sweden AB), Cozart DDS (Cozart Bioscience, Limited), DrugTest
5000 (Drager Safety), DrugWipe 5 (Securetec Detections – System AG), OraLab6 (Varian), OrAlert (Innovacon),
Oratect III (Branan Medical Corporation), and Rapid STAT (Mavand Solutions GmBH)
20
See D 3.2.2 Analytical evaluation of oral fluid screening devices and preceding selection procedures (DRUID
March 30, 2010)
21
See Report for the Missouri Safety Center Concerning the Use of Saliva as a Tool for Law Enforcement in
Missouri (Missouri Safety Center October 2011), available at: http://www.ucmo.edu/safetycenter/.

SECTION IV:
AFTER THE TRAFFIC STOP

SECTION IV:
Post-Arrest Investigation
In a hardcore drunk driving offender’s DWI case, gathering evidence does not stop with the
decision to arrest. Just as valuable evidence of the driver’s impairment will be collected after the
arrest is made, so too will valuable information regarding whether the driver is a threat to re-
offend.
Of considerable significance is the driver’s BAC. A BAC of 0.15% or higher is typical, but it is
often substantially higher. On a rare occasion, a hardcore drunk driver may have a low BAC.
This may be the result of the offender being stopped and detected early in a planned series
of drinking episodes. Of course, these individuals are well-versed in the DWI-related criminal
justice system, meaning that they are disproportionately more likely to refuse chemical testing.
It is also probable that, related to this familiarity with the system, the hardcore drunk driver’s
record will reflect prior refusals and perhaps prior DWI arrests without corresponding
convictions. A more detailed investigation into these priors (typically conducted by the
prosecutor or probation department at a later time) may reveal similar information related to
the current arrest: an individual who cooperates minimally, refusing field sobriety and chemical
testing, and whose exhibition of impairment does not reflect the true level of intoxication.
Law Enforcement Interview and Booking Interview22
At some point after the arrest, but prior to booking, the offender is typically Mirandized and
asked questions relating to the arrest. General observations about the offender’s demeanor,
dress, and actions are also documented. Many agencies use an “Alcohol Influence Report” on
which to document this information. With some basic follow-up to the information typically
obtained by completing these forms, the prosecutor, probation, and treatment provider can all
have a wealth of data to identify the hardcore drunk driver.
Again, the information obtained in this phase of the investigation is likely to reveal that the
offender falls into certain statistically relevant groupings. For example, in addition to driving
alone, the hardcore drunk driver is more likely to drink alone.23 Any social network the offender
does have will consist of other heavy drinkers and drinking drivers.24 As mentioned above, the
hardcore drunk driver may come from a lower socio-economic status and have a blue-collar
job.25 Additionally, the offender may have less education and an unstable work history.26 While
law enforcement often equates the need to light up a cigarette by DWI offenders as an attempt
22
Information obtained at booking is not always admissible as evidence of guilt. It may, however, be valuable
information in determining the defendant’s honesty in substance abuse evaluations and determining proper
sentencing requirements
23
White, William: Management of the High Risk DUI Offender, University of Illinois at Springfield Institute for
Legal, Administrative and Policy Studies via a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation. August, 2003,
p. 59.
24
Ibid. p. 56
25
Ibid. p. 55
26
Ibid.

to mask the smell of alcohol, it is also statistically probable that the hardcore drunk driver is a
heavy smoker and began this habit at an early age.27
Finally, questioning at this phase of the investigation may reveal the driver’s true attitude toward
drinking and driving. The offender may make comments suggesting an ability to drive safely even
after consuming large quantities of alcohol and consequently underestimate their true level of
impairment; brag about their ability to “beat the charge” or the system in general; or continue to
blame bad luck, targeting by law enforcement, or dysfunctional family relationships for his/her
current situation.
General observations made by officers during this phase of the investigation should be
documented in a manner that ensures it will be recorded systematically and consistently in all
investigations. An example method of recording this information is below:
• Do the clothes suggest manual labor or potentially periodic employment (i.e., mechanic,
carpenter, builder)?
• The condition of the clothing – particularly “disorderly,” “soiled,” or “mussed” may be
one of the few signs of mental and/or physical impairment that you may obtain.
• The offender’s attitude may be critically important in proving the case as well as
identifying the hardcore drunk driver. Is the offender’s attitude consistent with the
situation?
o Does it change throughout the period of contact?
o In addition to using forms like this one, consider detailing the offender’s attitude
in more detail in the narrative report. Be comprehensive in your description.
• Any unusual or odd actions may also be one of the few actual signs of mental or
physical impairment and critical to proving the case.
• This list is just a starting point. Again, consider detailing these actions in the narrative
report.
o Did the belching conveniently start just moments before the breath test?
o Did the offender start laughing at an inappropriate time or for no apparent
reason?
o Be specific!
• Statements/Behavior indicating a lack of empathy or remorse (injury or fatality cases).
• Statements indicating an underestimation of level of impairment.
27
Ibid. p.59

• Statements indicating projection of blame upon others.
• Statement indicating that the observed impairment is from some other source – illness
or injury. Repeat offenders will often bring up at trial that the “real” reason for their
actions the night of the arrest was due to a medical or physical problem.
• Repeated requests or attempts to smoke – officer should attempt to elicit information
regarding smoking habit such as “how long?” and “how much?”
• Questions related to the drinking pattern should include an indication of where the
offender was drinking, with whom the offender was drinking, and whether any plans had
been made to designate a driver.
• If the offender is being cooperative, it can be beneficial to attempt to learn more about
his/her drinking patterns, such as if the quantity consumed on this occasion is the
typical amount; if the people the offender was socializing with are the typical comrades;
why the offender did not call to have someone pick him/her up, etc. This can provide
insight as to the offender’s attitude toward drinking and driving at a time when they are
likely to be more honest about it.
• This can also be an opportune time to gather information about the offender’s life that
may have relevance to the question of their being a hardcore drunk driver.
o For example, hardcore drunk drivers frequently have dysfunctional family
relations.
o Learning their relationship status, particularly if there is indication of domestic
violence in the offender’s background, can be helpful in ascertaining the
likelihood of recidivism.
o Erratic employment may be an indicator of the individual being a hardcore
drunk driver. Some labor jobs change with each new contract, so offenders may
attempt to appear unemployed during the transition between contracts.
o Attempts should be made to learn about key aspects of the offender’s personal
life.

Administration of Evidential Tests
Non-Consensual Chemical Tests
As noted above, hardcore drunk drivers are among the individuals most likely to refuse
everything, increasing their ability to manipulate the system and get away with their behavior.
Unless there is a strong prosecutor standing behind the case and a knowledgeable judge who
understands that impairment is not proven just by bad driving and poor performance on SFSTs,
the hardcore drunk driver will be free to roam the streets unchecked. Every state, however,
has an effective tool to combat this – the per se BAC violation. As long as there is a legally
admissible and reliably obtained chemical test showing a BAC of above 0.08, obstacles to
successful prosecution of the hardcore drunk driver are greatly minimized.
Understanding state law in regards to obtaining non-consensual chemical tests and the use of
search warrants is vital to this effort. Offenders often mistakenly believe they have the right
to refuse. Implied consent should not be confused with an absolute right. The question really
is to what extent law enforcement can go to obtain a non-consensual test and what steps are
necessary prior to obtaining the sample. Officers must follow the protocol provided by their
department.
Law enforcement must know if they are required to obtain a search warrant prior to requiring
the offender to provide a sample of blood. They also must know to what extent reasonable
force may be used to obtain the sample, regardless of the need for a warrant. Law enforcement
agencies should work with their prosecutor partners to establish policies and procedures as to
when non-consensual chemical tests are obtained. Do the resources exist to require testing in
every arrest? Or by necessity does the procedure need to be limited to those cases involving
repeat DWI offenders?
Conclusion
We are aware that when first approached with this issue, law enforcement officers may ask
themselves “what can I do to help identify a potential hardcore drunk driver and why should I
take the time to do it?
Hopefully the information presented thus far has made it clear why you would want to address
these dangerous offenders. Hardcore drinking drivers cause a disproportionate number of
alcohol-related injury and fatal crashes that occur on the roadways every day. By being aware of
the existing factors, you become a vital component in the proper identification and treatment
of the hardcore drunk driver. It should be clear that many of the strategies to address these
offenders is accomplished by things you are already doing. That which may have seemed
anecdotal at best, when observed in a new light becomes not only relevant, but essential.
REPORT WRITING
The Basics of the Report
A law enforcement officer’s arrest report is a document that tells everyone what happened. It
will be used repeatedly by law enforcement, the prosecutor, the defense attorney, the judge, and

the probation officer. An arresting officer is only as good as his/her report. In circumstances
involving a hardcore drunk driver, the value of the report may increase dramatically.
The credibility of the arresting officer, along with his/her skill and judgment are an important
issue in every DWI trial, but this is even more so than with the hardcore drunk driver. These
cases often involve minimal evidence due to the refusal of the offender to cooperate with the
officer during the investigative and evidence collection phases of the case. A well-written,
complete and accurate report is an important mirror of an officer’s believability and credibility
while at the same time highlighting the culpability and unreasonable lack of cooperation shown
by the offender. Everyone who views this report will form an opinion about the case itself and
the integrity, professionalism, and credibility of the law enforcement officer who wrote it.
A Report Must Be Thorough and Accurate
The law enforcement officer’s job is to ensure that the arrest report is accurate and thorough.
One of the major concerns of law enforcement officers in any impaired-driving case is the
quantity of the paperwork. Because of the number and complexity of the details, it takes more
time to do this report than almost any other type of crime. However, it is here where the time
must be spent, particularly in cases involving the hardcore drunk driver.
A complete well-written report is essential to the success of any DWI case. Often cases are
heard many months after the arrest. Undocumented facts can be hard to remember. The ability
of a law enforcement officer to thoroughly recollect and testify about the facts in a case may
hinge on the quality of the report. As a direct result, a detailed report may be instrumental in
obtaining a defendant’s guilty plea or a guilty verdict. It will reduce the reasons to conduct a pre-
trial hearing, or even a trial in many cases.
Officers must fully articulate the events and observations of the DWI investigation to provide
the judge and jury sufficient information and evidence on which they can base their verdict. In
other words, a thorough and accurate report can save time and effort in the end and it will play
an important role in getting a favorable resolution.
The defense attorney will thoroughly review the report. If the defense finds any mistakes or
inaccuracies, they will use it to create doubt over the rest of the report. The defense attorney
will put a law enforcement officer in a box: either the officer was careless and unprofessional, or
the officer is a liar. If the law enforcement officer was wrong about one fact, what else could be
wrong in the report? Either way, the law enforcement officer loses.
Omissions are critical also. Some law enforcement officers believe that it is better to leave
information out, to avoid being challenged on it or to make it more difficult for defense
attorneys to attack the case. However, the exact opposite is true. When the facts are missing
from the report, the defense attorney may believe there is an issue in the case. That increases the
likelihood that the investigating officer will have to testify in pre-trial hearings and also in trial to
establish probable cause for the arrest.
To prevent these events from occurring, the law enforcement officer should double-check the
report right after it is written for thoroughness and accuracy. Once it is complete, it should be
read over yet again, to ensure that all the facts of the case are included and correct. This is a
time consuming process but the desired result, an accurate and complete report, will make trial

preparation and testimony that much easier. Remember, it is better to correct a mistake early in
the station house than to try to do it in front of a jury later.
If any recordings are made during the investigation and arrest process, the investigating officer
should compare them to ensure that the report is consistent with what is seen or heard in those
recordings. Often, events occur that are not seen or heard on the recordings but were seen or
heard by the law enforcement officer. Those details must also be included in the report.
The Basics of the Report
As we stated earlier, there are many key facts that are critical in creating a professional arrest
report. To ensure that all of the critical information is recorded, officers may benefit from using
a boiler plate format with which to refer to ensure that the basics facts are included in every
report.
These key facts include:
FF Date, time, & location of the incident

FF What attracted the law enforcement officer’s attention to the vehicle
FF Vehicle in Motion
FF Personal Contact
FF Pre-arrest screening
FF Other observations
FF Witness activities and statements
FF Time of arrest
FF Chemical testing
FF Defendant activities and statements
FF A list all audio and video recordings
FF A list of any physical evidence
It is not a law enforcement officer’s job to anticipate every potential defense, nor what facts will
be significant at a later time. The defense attorney will often have the report well before the trial.
This provides the opportunity for them to craft a defense around the facts documented in the
report. Experience shows that the more documented facts that are included in the report, the
more difficult for the defense attorney to attack the arresting officer’s case.
Do not editorialize when doing a report. Law enforcement officers should report their
observations precisely as seen and/or heard without making conclusions. This protects the law
enforcement officer’s credibility, integrity, and professionalism.
Witness Statements
Once seated upon the witness stand, it is not uncommon for a witness to testify to something
entirely different than what they told the investigating officer. There are numerous reasons why
the testimony may vary from their original statement:
• Witness may be reluctant to testify;

• Witness may have a motive to change his/her statement; or
• Witness’ memory of the facts has faded.

By taking a thorough and accurate statement from the witness at the crime scene, the
investigating officer can help the witness recall what happened, or help the prosecutor refresh
his/her recollection. The only question is how to ensure that the statement is accurate. Accuracy
begins with a thorough interview of the witness.
The two most common ways to obtain witness statements are to 1) record it, or 2) write it down.
Both have their benefits and drawbacks.
Recorded statements:
When taping the statement, be sure that the equipment works prior to the interview and confirm
that it is clearly picking up all of what is being said. A recording that is not clear is close to
worthless and raises more questions about the law enforcement officer’s capabilities. If there
is no handwritten backup, everything is lost. Conversely, a clear recording puts the witness in
a box on what was said at the time of the investigation. If a recording is made pursuant to
departmental protocol, be sure to turn it in as evidence in the case.
Handwritten statements:
If the witness writes a handwritten statement, it should be reviewed by the law enforcement
officer and the witness, prior to the witness signing it. It is extremely common for a witness to
write a different series of facts than the ones described to the investigating officer. This does not
necessarily mean the witness was trying to be deceptive. The law enforcement officer needs to
confirm with the witness those items that are missing and have the person add them - if those
items were true. Make sure the witness acknowledges the truth of the entire content of the
statement prior to the witness signing the statement.
The least preferable handwritten option is for the law enforcement officer to write the
statement. When taking statements from the witnesses, the officer cannot paraphrase what
the offender said. Only the actual statement can be used, regardless of the language. When
completed, the officer should review the statement with the witness, and then request his/her to
sign and/or initial it. There is the potential that this may create issues as the witness may later say
the statement or its contents are not correct or were coerced. The statement with the witness’s
signature should reduce the likelihood of that claim being determined credible. In either case,
the law enforcement officer should also summarize the witness statements in the narrative of the
report.
Preparing an Impaired Driving Report
One of the concerns of law enforcement officers in an impaired driving case is the quantity of
the paperwork. It takes more time to do this report than almost any other type of crime because
of the number and complexity of the details. Notwithstanding, it is here where the time must be
spent.
These cases are not just about the BAC results from a chemical test. The charge has two possible
outcomes. The first results in a BAC of 0.08 or higher or the person was under the influence
of alcohol and/or drug(s). The second occurs if the chemical test is successfully challenged.
Then the law enforcement officer must be able to defend the administration of the Standardized
Field Sobriety Tests and his/her opinion that that the suspect was under the driving under the
influence.

The report should follow the same format for hardcore drunk drivers that is used in any
impaired driving investigation - Vehicle in Motion, Personal Contact, and Pre-Arrest Screening,
etc. For each component, be sure to provide the details of what was observed, smelled, heard,
and touched. If the law enforcement officer is using a form with check boxes, a narrative should
always be included to describe the observations.
Vehicle in Motion Observation
Clues from observations of the vehicle in motion provide reasonable suspicion to stop the
vehicle. The report must include all of the observations in deciding to stop this vehicle.
For the vehicle in motion component consider the following observations when preparing the
report:
FF What drew the officer’s attention to the vehicle in the first place?
FF Were there any vehicle code violations?
FF How many times did the vehicle go over the white edge line?
FF How many times did it go over the center or lane line?
FF How far over was the vehicle in relation to these lines?
FF Was there any on-coming traffic while the vehicle was over the center line?
FF Was there any weaving within the lane?
FF Did the vehicle strike a curb?
FF Was there inappropriate speed?
FF Were there any apparent delayed reactions or over-reactions that the driver made in
response to some event (i.e., sudden swerving; overcompensating on turns; etc.)?
FF How many traffic signals and signs were disobeyed?
FF How long did it take for the driver to react to the officer being behind him?
FF How far did the vehicle travel after the officer signaled the driver to stop? When
determining this, use common measurements such as miles, blocks, yards, etc.
FF Is vehicle within the law enforcement officer’s jurisdiction?
FF What were the road conditions?
FF What was the traffic volume on the roadway?
FF What were the weather conditions while driving?
FF What was the time of day?
FF Also, if a video recording is being used, it should be noted if the time on the
videotape is incorrect.
FF How many people were in the vehicle?
FF What was the behavior of the driver (and other occupants) in the vehicle prior to
the stop?
NOTE:
If the law enforcement officer does not observe the vehicle in motion, the investigating officer
must fully explain in the report how initial contact with the driver happened. Also, it should
be included in the report how the law enforcement officer determined that the subject was the
driver.

Personal Contact
When coming into contact with the driver or any passengers, consider some of the following
observations and document:
FF How was the driver’s identity obtained?
FF Were there any unusual movements by the driver?
FF Describe the driver’s manner of speaking in detail.
FF Did the driver make unusual statements to the law enforcement officer?
FF What are the names of all the passengers in the vehicle?
FF Did the passengers exhibit any unusual behavior, intoxication level, etc.
during the stop?
What were their responses to such questions as:

FF How much have you had to drink?
FF What were you drinking?
FF Where are you going?
FF Where have you been?
FF Do you have any medical conditions or other factors that would affect your
driving or ability to perform field sobriety tests?
Document any physical evidence observed during this phase including such things as:
FF Nightclub stamps on hands or wrist bracelets
FF Credit card or other receipts
FF Open containers of alcoholic beverages
FF Drug paraphernalia
FF Odors
Alcohol ignition interlock devices

FF Does the driver have an ignition interlock restriction on their driver’s license?
FF Is the vehicle equipped with an approved ignition interlock device?
FF Is the device properly installed and operating?
FF Has the device been circumvented?
FF Did the driver turn off engine, and attempt re-start after a three-minute pause.
Describe how the subject got out of the vehicle:

FF Was the offender able to control their balance?
FF Did the offender use the vehicle for support?
FF Document the condition of the exterior of the vehicle.
Pre-Arrest Screening
During the pre-arrest screening phase, field sobriety tests should be documented fully, including
the following:
FF Describe the conditions for the testing:

o The weather conditions.
o The lighting conditions.
o The condition of surface on which the tests were conducted.
o The kind of shoes the driver was wearing.

FF Describe administration of the test protocol
o Document that the law enforcement officer’s instructions and demonstrations
for each of the SFST tests to the subject.
o Document the subject’s responses to the instructions.
o Describe the entire test as the subject performed it.
FF Was a preliminary breath test offered to the offender?
o Was the device at proper operating temperature?
o Was the device in proper operating order.
o Was the mouthpiece clean?
o Did the result indicate a BAC higher than 0.08% BAC?
o Was the offender cooperative?
o What was the offender’s reaction to the test result.
Arrest Decision
Once the decision to make an arrest is made, the arresting officer has a whole new battery of
observations and actions to document.
FF Document the time of the arrest.
FF Document that the defendant was advised about chemical testing.
o Some states require that the defendant be advised about chemical testing prior
to being under arrest. Some require that the defendant be advised post arrest.
o The law enforcement officer must know their state’s law about chemical testing.
Post Arrest
Once the person is arrested, there are certain topics that should also be documented in the
report:
FF Results of any search of the vehicle as well as impoundment and towing.
FF Chemical test protocols followed:
o The law enforcement officer should state in the body of the report that proper
protocol was followed.
FF Evidential breath test
o For evidential breath testing, specifically note in the report the required
observation time period, checking of the mouth for cuts or lesions, food, gum,
regurgitation, etc. as required.
FF Blood test,
o Make sure to put the name and witness information of those individuals in the
chain of custody in the report.
o Include the time of the blood draw in the report.
o If there was an extended delay, document the reasons for the delay - especially
if the delay is due to the defendant’s actions.
o Offender’s refusal of chemical testing
o Offender’s explanation for test refusal.
FF Once in custody, document any notable behavior and spontaneous statements by
the defendant and names of any witnesses to this behavior.
FF Document whether there is any recording of the stop, arrest, booking process or
administration of the breath test.
o Note whether or not the recording(s) was placed into evidence.

FF Document any evidence discovered during the search of the person incident to an
arrest such as credit card slips or other documents that will indicate where the
person had been and how much they had to drink.
Conclusion
A well-written report is essential to the success of any DWI case. The ability of a law
enforcement officer to thoroughly recollect and testify may hinge on the quality of the report.
As a direct result, a detailed report may be instrumental in obtaining a defendant’s guilty plea or a
guilty verdict. Officers must fully articulate the events and observations of the DWI investigation
to provide the judge and jury sufficient evidence and information on which they can base their
verdict. The time invested in writing the report is time saved later.

SECTION V:
BLOOD ALCOHOL
TESTING IN DWI CASES
SECTION V:
The Refusal Problem
The amount of alcohol in a driver’s blood is an important piece of evidence in demonstrating

the influence of alcohol on a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. In all states, a blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or greater is per se evidence of
driving while impaired (DWI). More than half the states have enacted high BAC DWI laws with
more severe sanctions for drivers with BACs exceeding 0.15 or 0.16 g/dL.28 Implied consent
laws in all states require drivers arrested for DWI to submit to chemical testing, which provides
evidence of the driver’s BAC, upon request of law enforcement. This evidence is typically
obtained from a breath test, the most accessible and economical form of BAC testing, but urine
and blood tests are still used.
Test refusal (breath, blood, urine) is often the first step a hardcore drunk driver takes in avoiding
prosecution and sentencing. Many DWI suspects refuse to cooperate with the police by refusing
to answer questions, participate in the field sobriety tests, or take a breath test.
Test refusals are most common with hardcore

drunk drivers, primarily because they know
they will test high and they are familiar with the Hardcore drunk driver offenders
loopholes in DWI laws. In most jurisdictions, know that the criminal consequences
sanctions for refusing to cooperate with police of providing the sample ultimately
will be more severe than any civil
are much less severe than sanctions for a DWI
sanctions they may receive for
conviction, especially repeat offender sanctions. refusing.
When drivers refuse, police officers are hindered
in gathering the evidence needed to support a Jared Olson, Idaho TSRP
DWI charge. In many states, the test refusal is
not admissible as evidence in trial. As a result, in
many states, drivers who are impaired and refuse testing avoid a criminal conviction and may not
be identified as repeat offenders the next time they are stopped. Test refusal is one way hardcore
drunk drivers continue to evade prosecution and sentencing.
“Officers say they encounter some form of refusal in one-third of the DWI cases
they process. And, 95 percent of the officers say that refusals are much more
common among repeat offenders. Refusal rates vary widely across jurisdictions,
from as low as 5 percent to as high as 50 percent, largely as a result of differences in
the sanctions imposed on those who refuse” (Simpson and Robertson 2001).
Despite implied consent laws, obtaining BAC evidence from the hardcore drunk driver is far
from guaranteed. These offenders are system savvy. They know that the criminal consequences
of providing the sample ultimately will be more severe than any civil sanctions for refusing.29
Very few states criminalize refusal, which allow the prosecutor to obtain equivalent sanctions for
28
Hedlund, J. H., & Beirness, D. J. (October 2007). Use of Warrants for Breath Test Refusal: Case Studies. DOT HS
810 852, p.1. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
29
(Hedlund & Beirness, 2007).

a refusal as for the DWI charge. Many states experience high refusal rates, particularly among
repeat offenders, one criterion for identifying the hardcore drunk driver.
Impact on Prosecution
In a 2002 study on DWI prosecutions, three-fourths of the prosecutors interviewed said the
BAC test was the single most critical piece of evidence needed for a conviction, evidence they
are frequently without (Simpson and Robertson 2002). Some states report refusal rates of up to
50 percent for drivers with a prior DWI (Jones and Lacey, 2000). Even without the test results,
DWI charges may still be brought against the offender, but conviction depends entirely on the
law enforcement officer’s observations and subsequent testimony.
Without evidence of the driver’s BAC, the evidence supporting a DWI charge is limited to an
officer’s observations of the driver during the course of the investigation. The fact is, without
BAC evidence, DWI cases are more difficult to prove, resulting in fewer DWI convictions. One
strategy to combat high refusal rates, particularly regarding the hardcore drunk driver, is the use
of a search warrant to obtain blood and/or urine samples from a driver who refuses to provide a
breath sample voluntarily.
The Search Warrant: Refuting the Refusal
Several states and local jurisdictions address this problem by following the request for a breath
sample with the demand via a search warrant for a blood sample in refusal cases. In practice,
once confronted with this eventuality and realization that his/her initial refusal does not
terminate law enforcement’s ability to obtain a chemical test, the drivers often become less likely
to refuse the breath tests. Additionally, he/she may now be subject both to implied consent
sanctions for refusing as well as a blood draw that may contain the BAC evidence that he/
she sought to avoid. Either way, law enforcement obtains chemical evidence relevant to any
subsequent impaired driving prosecution.
There are multiple benefits of proceeding with search warrants in the case of a refusal. With the
blood evidence:
• Hardcore offenders with high BAC results are identified,

• fewer cases are pled down to lesser charges,
• defendants more often plead guilty,
• more DWI convictions are obtained,
• fewer cases go to trial,
• more cases are disposed more quickly, and,
• court time is reduced.
The basic procedures for obtaining a blood search warrant are the same as obtaining search
warrants for any other evidence. Law enforcement should follow agency policy as well as consult
with their local prosecutor to establish specific protocols for a particular jurisdiction. Once
the driver arrested for DWI refuses to provide a breath test, the arresting officer will complete
an affidavit establishing probable cause for the seizure of the evidence, and then contact a
magistrate or judge. Law enforcement must remember the BAC evidence is dissipating during
this time, therefore, timing is critical. Assuming the warrant is approved, the officer arranges for

the blood sample to be drawn in accordance with state rules pertaining to blood testing for BAC
evidence.
The difficulties of obtaining blood search warrants in terms of resources, logistics, and staffing
are outweighed by the benefits to their prosecution of impaired driving cases. Particularly in the
case of hardcore drunk drivers, the acquisition of this evidence may make the critical difference
in prosecution, adjudication, and treatment of the offender.
No Refusal Programs
In response to high BAC test refusal rates, a number of states have implemented No Refusal
programs to reduce the number of test refusals. No Refusal programs ensure BAC test results
by enabling police officers to obtain a search warrant from a judge or magistrate for blood
samples of drunk driving suspects. Judicial cooperation with the program is essential to its
success.
State and/or municipal police agencies are conducting No Refusal or warrant programs in
Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Texas and Utah. Many
other states have the necessary legal authority to conduct No Refusal programs, including
Alaska, Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi,
New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South
Dakota, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia (NHTSA, 2012). Each jurisdiction
is implementing its No Refusal program differently, but the basic idea is outlined below:
After law enforcement officers arrest a DWI suspect who refuses the opportunity to give a
breath sample, the prosecutor on site will review the case and may present a warrant to the judge
on site. If the judge grants the warrant, it gives the qualified personnel (nurse, phlebotomist)
authority to draw a blood sample.
In Montgomery County, Texas, the No Refusal Program has reduced the county’s refusal rate
from 45 percent to 25 percent. The BAC levels for those who provide samples via the warrant
are higher than those who submit to the test without a warrant (.19 percent versus .13 percent).
The county’s rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities has been reduced by about 70 percent.
Other counties implementing the program report similar results. Judges should refer to their
own constitutions, case law, statutes and ethics rules to determine if No Refusal programs can
be conducted locally.
NHTSA has created a No-Refusal Weekend Toolkit for use by jurisdictions wishing to
conduct a No-Refusal program. The link to the toolkit is: http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/
CAMPAIGNS/. It contains resources which includes talking points, banner ads, sample earned
media, logos, sample search warrants, sample blood forms, initiative facts and traffic safety facts.
Missouri v. McNeely and Warrantless Blood Draws
The United States Supreme Court in its Missouri vs. McNeely ruling may make the processing of
DWI offenders more challenging for law enforcement. This case arose after a Missouri State
Highway Patrol corporal observed Tyler McNeely driving erratically. He was stopped, and the
officer determined that he was intoxicated. When asked to submit to a chemical test, he refused.

Based on this refusal and a change to Missouri law which the officer believed authorized
warrantless blood draws under the exigent circumstances exception, he was transported to a
local hospital and a blood sample was drawn.
Missouri, like every other state, has an implied consent statute. Under this statute, anyone who
drives on public roads or highways has impliedly consented to submit to a chemical test upon
being arrested for DWI. If a person refused this test, his license could be revoked. Prior to
August 2010, the Missouri statute also included language providing that if a person refused a test
then “none shall be given.” In 2010, this statute was amended to strike the phrase “none shall be
given.” Based on existing case law, it was determined that officers could now rely on the exigent
circumstances exception to secure a blood sample without first securing a search warrant.
The primary case relied on in making this determination was Schmerber v. California, 384 U.S. 757,
86 S.Ct. 1826, 16 L.Ed.2d 908 (1966). In Schmerber, the United States Supreme Court held that
taking a blood sample from a person suspected of driving while intoxicated without consent
and without a warrant was permissible under the Fourth Amendment. Because alcohol in the
blood begins to dissipate shortly after the person stops drinking, resulting in the destruction
of evidence, the court found that the exigent circumstances exception applied to this situation.
Some states, including Missouri, had case law interpreting this decision to mean that the
dissipation of alcohol was alone sufficient to justify a warrantless blood draw. Other states read
Schmerber to require “special facts” in addition to the dissipation of alcohol to be present before
exigent circumstances could be found.
In McNeely, the Supreme Court did recognize that alcohol in the body begins to dissipate once
it has been fully absorbed, that it continues to decline until it is eliminated, and that a significant
delay in testing will negatively affect the probative value of the test result. In spite of that, the
Court ruled that the natural metabolization of alcohol in the blood stream does not present a
per se exigency that justifies an exception to the warrant requirement in all drunk driving cases.
Rather, the Court held that exigency must be determined case by case based on the totality
of the circumstances. Specifically, the Court said that in “those drunk driving investigations
where police officers can reasonably obtain a warrant before a blood sample can be drawn
without significantly undermining the efficacy of the search, the Fourth Amendment mandates
that they do so” (Missouri v. McNeely, 133 S.Ct. 1552, 1561 (2013)). This ruling has created a
complex situation for law enforcement because it did not identify the precise circumstances
under which an officer would be justified in concluding that exigent circumstances existed.
Though it does leave some questions unanswered, McNeely clearly allows for warrantless blood
draws when exigent circumstances can be shown. Under McNeely, officers should be able to
obtain warrantless draws where there has been a crash that will require time to investigate
thereby delaying any test (133 S.Ct. at 1560), where they have made repeated unsuccessful
attempts to contact a prosecutor or judge (133 S.Ct. at 1562), or where there is evidence that a
substantial portion of alcohol consumed is being eliminated based on the time of the suspect’s
last drink (133 S.Ct. at 1563). These, and other factual situations, will have to be litigated to
determine the exact parameters of the exigent circumstances in DWI cases.
Officers in most states will have to analyze their own particular legal environments to determine
how McNeely will impact whether and when they are permitted to do a warrantless blood draw.
This case will have the most significant impact in those states that had adopted a per se exigency
analysis allowing for warrantless blood draws in any case where a suspect refused testing. It

is clear that those states will have to re-work their policies and procedures. Those states that
routinely secured a warrant before a blood sample was drawn will feel little, if any, impact from
this ruling. This ruling will also have little impact in those states that have statutory restrictions
on the practice of seeking blood draws, with or without a warrant.
To ensure that impaired drivers continue to be held accountable for their actions in your state,
officers and prosecutors must work together. If an officer chooses to seek a warrantless
blood draw, he should document each and every fact on which he will rely to show exigent
circumstances. Officers should talk to their local prosecutors about how to apply McNeely in
their own jurisdictions. And, prosecutors should develop procedures to expedite the warrant
application process as much as possible. Officers can and should continue to do warrantless
blood draws when and where appropriate under the circumstances.
This article was reprinted from Volume 22 Number 1 of Between the Lines, a publication
of the National Traffic Law Center.
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS’ COOPERATION
The issue of needing warrants also arises when the hardcore drunk driver is involved in a crash
involving personal injury or death. Seventy percent of all alcohol-impaired fatal crashes involved
a driver with a BAC of .15 or above.30 High BAC is one criteria of identifying the hardcore
drunk driver.
Often offenders are hospitalized as a result of injuries incurred in traffic crashes. In addition,
the hospital may be the location local law enforcement must take suspected DWI offenders to
obtain blood samples for non-crash DWI arrests. This makes the hospital or medical facility
a critical element in the adjudication of hardcore offenders. It also requires law enforcement
officers to work collegially with hospital personnel to obtain the necessary chemical evidence.
It is not uncommon for law enforcement officers to encounter resistance from these facilities
in the collection of blood samples for prosecution of offenders. Misconceptions about the
criminal justice process may lead hospital medical personnel to hesitate or outright refuse to
assist in the evidence collection process. This more than likely is due to the fact that health care
professionals and hospital attorneys may have limited knowledge of any immunity statute that
applies. In addition, they may be less than enthusiastic about offenders, who are having blood
drawn against their will and being restrained in their facilities.
The potential that staff involved in drawing blood may be frequently subpoenaed to testify
in court has been known to concern health care providers. These fears may contribute to
hospital administrators’ concerns about employee costs, time away from their duties, the need to
provide coverage for the missing employee and even possible civil litigation. For these reasons,
supervisors may put extraordinary pressure on employees not to cooperate. An occasional
uniformed officer applying extreme pressure to hospital staff can only serve to exasperate the
situation.
These situations create an opportunity for law enforcement officials and prosecutors to work
together with the health care community to find effective solutions for these situations. The first
30
FARS 2012.

step in this process is to assemble a team to meet with hospital administration and staff. This
team should include the lead prosecutor and the heads of all of the law enforcement agencies
affected by hospital policies regarding blood draws.
The team should work to understand the fears and misconceptions of hospital personnel
to allow for a true meeting of the minds. The team should identify the health care officials’
concerns about involvement in the blood draw and be prepared to propose strategies to address
them to the satisfaction of both sides.
The group should also decide who will be the “voice” of the group in the meeting. Usually, this
will be the prosecutor. It is critical to properly identify the members of the health care team that
should be invited to participate. That list should include everyone who may be affected by the
proposed strategy, such as the Director of the Emergency Department, the Laboratory Director,
the Hospital Attorney, the Hospital Administrator or their designee, the Director of Nursing
and the Chief of Hospital Security.
Prior to any meetings, you should make contact with your state Law Enforcement Liaison
Officer, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor or Governor’s Highway Safety Office. They should
be aware of any jurisdictions within the state that have experienced the same issues. This could
lead to the identification of potential solutions or strategies that have proven effective in those
jurisdictions.
The goal of the team should be to create a strategy that addresses the needs of both law
enforcement and the health care community in a positive manner. Particularly in the case of
the hardcore drunk driver, the acquisition of this evidence could make a critical difference in
prosecution, adjudication, and treatment of the offender.
Issues that should be addressed include:
• Create a policy that applies to ALL law enforcement agencies.

• Discuss what the health care provider’s role really is in the blood draw procedure.
• Make it clear that they will not be involved in restraining the suspect.
• Explore the use of hospital security personnel as an aid in suspect restraint as well as a
liaison with law enforcement agencies should any unforeseen issues develop.
• Discuss the availability of a restraint chair or bed along with a room away from other
emergency patients for use with a combative suspect.
• Discuss the procedure to be used if the suspect is admitted as a patient and is already out
of the emergency department and in residence in a patient room.
• Create a written Standard Operating Procedure for the draw to avoid confusion and
disagreement between hospital staff and law enforcement.
Provisions should also be made to fulfill blood draw requests of other agencies from outside
of your jurisdiction relative to suspects who are routinely taken to the subject hospital for
treatment. This is critical when dealing with a hospital emergency department that is a Level
One Trauma Center or one that is located so as to be commonly used by out of state emergency
medical services. An agency should be identified as the liaison for those outside agencies to deal
with in obtaining the blood draw using the protocol established for your jurisdiction.

Alternate Arrangements
If an agreement cannot be reached to use hospital personnel to obtain blood draws, the team
will need to create an alternate plan to secure another provider. This option must also be
discussed with all involved law-enforcement agencies in advance, since budgeting for these draws
will be a concern.
These discussions should include the possibility of:

• Including the cost of the blood draw in the costs imposed by the Court upon conviction.
• Considering the creation of a blood draw facility.
◦◦ In Tennessee, one of the Sheriff ’s departments has dedicated a room equipped
with a restraint chair and video cameras for blood draws and allows the jail nurse
to draw blood for impaired driving cases 24/7.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Its
Potential Challenges to Law Enforcement
One of the challenges a police officer may encounter is obtaining critical information about a
suspect who has been transported to a hospital or medical facility for treatment. At the medical
facility the officer may start asking a nurse or doctor about the suspect’s injuries or blood alcohol
concentration, clearly critical information related to the ongoing investigation. It is possible the
officer will be told that the patient has not authorized the release of that information and that
“HIPAA” does not allow the facility to release it.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known by the acronym HIPAA,
was enacted in 199631 to protect an individual’s private health information. In general terms,
HIPAA contains seven sections that cover everything from applicability and definitions32, uses
and disclosures of protected health information33 to transmission requirements and compliance
dates.34 Civil and criminal penalties were also established for the unauthorized disclosure of a
person’s private health information. However, at the same time several exceptions for non-
disclosure were created.35 The first exception listed is when the law requires it.36 The exception
makes no distinction on whether the law is state or federal. Therefore if a state law requires a
medical facility to provide certain information, it appears they must still follow the state law.
When a state law requires disclosure, an oral request by a police officer for toxicology results
does not, on its face, appear to be prohibited by this section of HIPAA. However, the better
practice is to make the demand in writing with some form of state authorized process.37 If
making the request for health information in a state mandated written form, the hospital will
appreciate a HIPAA letter and, if authorized by state law, a general court order. The letter should
cover the requirements contained in the relevant section of HIPAA.38 For example, a HIPAA
31
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996: 42 U.S. C. Section 1320D et seq.
32
45 C. F. R. sections 164.500 and 501
33
Ibid. 164.502
34
Ibid. 164.532 and 534.
35
Ibid. 164.512
36
Ibid. 164.512 (a) (1)
37
Id at section (t) (1) (ii) (A)- (C)
38
Id at section (t) (l)- (6)

letter could state that the request is relevant and material to a legitimate law enforcement inquiry,
is specific and limited in its scope to the extent reasonably practicable in light of the purpose for
which the information is sought, and that “de-identified39” information could not reasonably be
used.40 Providing a statutory citation in the HIPAA letter will also assist the hospital attorneys
in reviewing and approving the request. A separate court order, although not necessary when a
subpoena or warrant is issued, will also help to alleviate the hospital’s reluctance to comply. Any
prosecutor or police officer that regularly responds to the scene of a crash should keep a sample
letter, standard form court order and subpoena handy.
HIPAA also recognizes other circumstances where law enforcement officers have legitimate
reasons for the requested information with a section specifically entitled: “Standard: Disclosures for
law enforcement purposes.”41 It goes on to list six additional exceptions to non-disclosure. Of the six,
the first exception will most likely cover the majority of impaired driving/motor vehicle crash
cases. It repeats the original exception, if disclosure is required by law, and then additionally
allows for disclosure when in compliance with a court order such as a search warrant issued by
a judicial officer or a grand jury subpoena.42 Therefore, when armed with a search warrant, the
medical facility must comply with it.
The second exception listed within the law enforcement section also allows for quick and easy
access to information for law enforcement.43 It authorizes disclosure of limited identifying
information (name, address, social security number, type of injury, and a few other distinguishing
characteristics) to law enforcement for the purpose of identifying or locating a suspect. While
this specific exception does not allow for release of toxicology results and may not reveal all the
needed evidence, it can be helpful in locating a suspect.
This is a complicated process when experiencing it for the first time. It is not the purpose of this
guide to be a primer on HIPAA, but to make officers aware of the possibility of encountering
the privacy protections provided by the act. When this occurs the investigating officer should
first request assistance from the department’s command structure. More than likely the officer
will be referred to the jurisdiction’s prosecutor. The prosecutor will be aware of the requirements
and will be able to provide assistance in submitting the proper documentation for obtaining the
critical information.
39
De-identification is where identifiers are removed from the health information. Typically it is used to obtain
information for research purposes or similar actions.
40
These are the requirements for a law enforcement request made administratively under section (f) (1 \ (ii) (C).
Therefore, they do not apply to other requests under this section, but it may facilitate obtaining the requested
information by using this language.
41
45 C. F. R. section 164.512(f)
42
Ibid. 164.512(f)(1)
43
Ibid. 164.512 (f) (2)
43
Ibid. 164.512(f)(1)
43
Ibid. 164.512 (f) (2)

SECTION VI:
HIGH VISIBILITY
ENFORCEMENT
SECTION VI:
Introduction
One of the mission priorities for law enforcement is to ensure highway safety by making our
roads safe for all users. Through enforcement of the motor vehicle code, and community
education, we strive to reduce injuries, property damage, and the loss of life associated with
traffic crashes. Identifying and dealing with the hardcore drunk driver can provide challenges for
law enforcement. By definition, those who fall into the hardcore drunk driver category have been
through the judicial system and have an idea of how to deter and/or thwart law enforcement
DWI investigations. It is best to have strategies for dealing with the hardcore drunk driver in
every agency’s impaired driving enforcement program.
For many years, law enforcement agencies have employed strategies that are based upon the
principles of general deterrence. The concept of general deterrence is to create a high enough
perception of risk among potential DWI drivers so they believe that if they drive impaired,
there is a strong chance that they will be arrested for DWI. Multiple studies have shown that in
order to be effective and raise the perception of risk of arrest for impaired driving, enforcement
activities must be well planned, properly executed, visible and sustained for substantial periods
of time. DWI enforcement strategies must be complemented by aggressive, timely and
complementary public information campaigns or “media blitzes.”
A 1996 study of repeat offenders showed when police presence was certain, there was a
decrease in DWI behavior among study participants. Additionally, the threat of arrest and/or the
consequences of arrest caused 61 percent of the repeat offenders studied to stop their behavior
for some period of time.44
“Research has shown that likelihood of High visibility enforcement efforts

including sobriety checkpoints are
apprehension is more important in deterring
a critical part of a state’s program
offenders than is the severity of punishment. to reduce drunk driving. These
The key to creating this perception is checkpoints, accompanied by a
enforcement. Merely putting strong laws on the complimentary media campaign,
books is not enough. Enforcement efforts must remind drivers that there will be
serious consequences for driving
be sustained and well publicized and create a
drunk.
realistic threat of apprehension.”45
Kendell Poole, Chairman, GHSA
Enhanced DWI enforcement strategies are
typically in the form of sobriety checkpoints
and/or saturation patrols. This section examines
sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols individually and with the understanding that
extensive research has shown that each of them, in order to have an impact, must be used in
concert with a strong public information campaign which may include media blitzes.
44
Wiliscowski, C. et al. Determine Reasons for Repeat Drinking and Driving (1996), Washington, D.C., National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (DOT HS 808 401).
45
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Q&A: Alcohol: Deterrence and Enforcement, 2000,
http://www.iihs.org/safety_facts/qanda/alcohol_enforce.htm.

NHTSA funded seven state alcohol demonstration projects between 2000 and 2003 to examine
this concept. The programs were conducted in Georgia, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee,
Texas, Indiana and Michigan. While each individual program was different, each of the
programs was premised on well-publicized and highly visible enforcement. There were a number
of findings in the evaluation of this comprehensive program, but most importantly: “Based
upon previous research and some of the implications from this study, a State impaired driving
enforcement program is more likely to be successful if it incorporates (a) numerous checkpoints
or highly visible saturation patrols conducted routinely throughout the year along with mobilized
crackdowns and; (b) intensive publicity coverage of the enforcement activities, including paid
advertising.”46
NHTSA recently completed another study on High Visibility Enforcement (HVE). This study
conducted six case studies of HVE programs currently operating in the United States. Three
county level programs were examined—Anoka County, Minnesota; Charles County, Maryland;
and Pasco County, Florida; a city level program in Escondido, California; a regional State
program (Southeast Wisconsin); a multi-state program covering six States (Delaware, Kentucky,
North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia); and one in the District of Columbia.
“The case studies showed HVE strategies can be creative and flexible. They need not depend on
the use of sobriety checkpoints. In several States in which sobriety checkpoints are not allowed,
agencies conducting HVE activities have nevertheless incorporated many of the high visibility
elements normally associated with checkpoints (e.g., publicity in media, increased concentration
of law enforcement officers, lighted signs, reflective vests) into their HVE strategy.”
One of the major findings was that public information coverage of the programs was very
difficult to secure at the levels believed to be necessary to create a high perception of risk in the
driving population. Both NHTSA reports can be obtained at their website:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Impaired.
Sobriety Checkpoints
Sobriety checkpoints are a proven tool used by traffic law enforcement agencies nationwide in
their efforts to deter impaired driving. Properly conducted, sobriety checkpoints involve the
stopping of all vehicles, or a specific sequence of vehicles, at a predetermined, fixed location.
The primary purpose of a sobriety checkpoint is to focus increased attention on the problem
of impaired driving by employing high profile enforcement and public information activity, thus
creating a very high perception of risk of arrest. One of the consequences of the high visibility
is that sobriety checkpoints do not usually result in large numbers of DWI arrests. This is due
to the fact that research has shown the increased risk of arrest deters many potential DWI
offenders from driving impaired while the checkpoints are being conducted. This results in
fewer alcohol-related crashes.
PLANNING FOR SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS

Before implementing a sobriety checkpoint program, it is paramount that agency legal counsel or
the prosecutor’s office be contacted and ensure all activities fall within the limits established by
46
Fell, J. C., McKnight, A. S., & Auld-Owens, A. (2013, February). Increasing impaired-driving enforcement visibility: Six case
studies. (Report No. DOT HS 811 716). Washington, DC: National Highway Trafffic Safety Administration.

both federal and state constitutions as well as pertinent case law. It is the responsibility of each
agency to comply with these guidelines and not jeopardize this aspect of DWI enforcement for
their state.
NHTSA has published guidelines to assist law enforcement in implementing checkpoint

programs. You can link to them at: http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/enforce/
LowStaffing_Checkpoints/index.htm. These guidelines suggest and describe procedures
police administrators may want to consider to ensure that sobriety checkpoints are used legally,
effectively, and safely. These points are consistent with those specified in recent court decisions,
including the United States Supreme Court ruling in Michigan Department of State Police v.
Sitz, upholding the constitutionality of sobriety checkpoints.
To specifically target the hardcore drunk driver, sobriety checkpoints should be scheduled for
times when the incidents of impaired driving are likely to be high. Normally, the highest number
of incidents, as indicated by crash statistics, occur on weekend nights between the hours of
9 p.m. and 3 a.m. As stated earlier in this publication, crashes are closely associated with high
BACs, a significant factor in identifying the hardcore drunk driver. Other strategic times may be
consistent with other periods of high visibility enforcement, such as Thanksgiving weekend or
Super Bowl weekend.
Saturation Patrols
Saturation patrols, while not

always as highly visible as Saturation Patrol
checkpoints, work toward Location Selection Criteria
another strategy of dealing
with the hardcore drunk Location selection is the first critical step in conducting
driver: sustained enforcement. effective saturation patrols. Selection criteria can
Interviews with hardcore drunk include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
driving offenders indicate that
they expect to be caught. The 1. Areas with a history of high crash rates,
most effective way to increase especially those where alcohol or drug-impaired
the odds of this happening is crashes have been noted
with sustained enforcement. 2. Areas where high-profile impaired crashes have
Saturation patrols should be recently occurred
consistently used in areas with 3. Areas where a high number of DWI arrests
high incidents of alcohol- have been made.
impaired crashes. As with
sobriety checkpoints, technology
should be considered to increase
the effectiveness of a saturation patrol. A marked patrol vehicle equipped with a license plate
recognition system can be utilized to detect the possible presence of drivers suspended or
revoked due to DWI.
Even though saturation patrols will provide more initial information toward the driver
impairment than a checkpoint, law enforcement still must develop reasonable suspicion within
a relatively short period of time. The hardcore drunk driver may be sophisticated enough to
initially be cooperative. Once the investigation indicates the need for SFSTs, the hardcore

drunk driver may change his/her attitude toward cooperation and may initiate “passive refusal.”
Officers should be prepared for a refusal to submit to SFSTs and for claims of medical problems
that would affect such tests.
Public Information Campaigns
When used in conjunction with enforcement

campaigns, media blitzes and public information The concept of deterrence is key
campaigns play an important role in the fight to effective DWI enforcement. The
combination of a visible reminder in
against hardcore drunk driving. Elevating the conjunction with published arrest
public’s awareness of efforts to stop impaired numbers provide the necessary
driving through print, electronic and/or social incentive and warning to the public
media, acts as its own deterrent to the illegal not to drive while impaired.
behavior.
The message can be delivered in a variety of ways to more effectively reach varied target
audiences.
Paid Media:
This delivery is effective in reaching a large population; however, it can be cost prohibitive if
purchasing air time via television or radio in larger media markets. Purchasing airtime via social
media (YouTube, Pandora, Facebook, Promoted Tweets, etc.) can be far less expensive and just
as far reaching.
Earned Media:
Earned media involves public relations “Publicity without sufficient

efforts from law enforcement agencies. Press enforcement is soon perceived as
conferences, pre-event releases, posters, not credible; enforcement without
publicity has too little impact on
brochures, letters to the editor, editorials, and
the drinking driving population to
blogs are all examples of earned media. While create a general deterrent effect”
effective, the audience is typically smaller and (Rodriguez 2002).
competition for earned media is strong.
Social Media:
Finally, there is social media. ‘Social media’ is a term that defines the various activities that
integrate technology, social interaction, and communications through words and pictures, and
expands the opportunity to reach the audience in real time. There are a number of advantages to
using social media over traditional media options:
• It is immediate. Messages are provided in real time.

• It is short. Messages are limited to a small number of characters; therefore, it does not
take long to develop versus a traditional press release.
• It can go viral. The message can be forwarded to others greatly expanding its reach.
• It is relatively inexpensive and reaches a highly attentive audience.

Media Blitzes:
Information and intervention go hand-in-hand. The success of a public information campaign

relies on strong backup by the promised enforcement: one doesn’t work without the other.
When enforcement is inconsistent, public compliance diminishes.
NHTSA prepares Impaired Driving Prevention Toolkits and places them on its website for
download as resources for communities launching public awareness campaigns, including sample
press materials. These toolkits, which vary based upon the holiday or other cultural event, also
stress the importance of campaign evaluation and provide assessment tools to help focus and
evaluate progress towards the campaign’s goals and objectives. These toolkits can be obtained at:
www.nhtsa.gov/impaired.
Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to Enforcement
Combating the hardcore drunk driver is a team effort that occurs on many fronts. The team
should consist of law enforcement, prosecution, probation and court services personnel, the
judiciary, treatment providers, victims and victim service providers, as well as concerned citizens.
Even defense attorneys have a role to play in minimizing the effect of the hardcore drunk driver.
Law enforcement obviously plays the key role in enforcement, and in some cases prosecution,
of the hardcore drunk driver. Prosecutors take the lead in bringing the offender to justice
before the courts. The judiciary takes the lead in imposing effective sentences and is joined by
probation and court services in ensuring the offender complies with those sanctions. None of
these participants in the system should consider their job to be limited to their primary role,
however. Successful deterrence and rehabilitation of the hardcore drunk driver will be achieved
only if all of these interested parties come together to combat all aspects of the problem.
This team effort comes in many forms. In

some instances this effort comes from the
law enforcement agencies themselves, coming Combating the hardcore drunk
together to create multi-jurisdictional DWI task driver is a team effort that occurs on
many fronts. The team consists of law
forces to conduct high visibility enforcement. enforcement, prosecution, probation
There are also task forces that go well beyond and court services personnel, the
DWI enforcement. Both statewide and judiciary, treatment providers,
more locally-oriented multi-disciplinary task victims and victim service providers,
forces work on issues related to enforcement, as well as concerned citizens.
prosecution, effective sanctioning, public
information and education, and promotion
of stronger DWI laws. Finally, DWI treatment and other specialty courts also use a multi-
disciplinary approach in the rehabilitation of the hardcore drunk driver.
Multi-Jurisdictional DWI Enforcement Task Forces
Across the country, law enforcement agencies from neighboring jurisdictions band together
to conduct high visibility enforcement, a key element of containing the hardcore drunk driver.
These task forces can be active year-round, for special holiday enforcement periods, or to
participate in national enforcement crackdowns supported by NHTSA. In any case, the benefit
of multi-jurisdictional groups is two-fold. First, they are primarily staffed by the participating

agencies’ top DWI enforcement officers. These men and women are highly motivated to get
the drunk driver off the street and have the training and experience to conduct a thorough
investigation that will bring the hardcore drunk driver to justice. Second, these task forces enable
departments to create larger deployments of officers for smaller departments and are more
effective in creating an aura of general deterrence. They are also useful for pooling resources by
working as multi-jurisdictional units which allows for a more effective use of agency or grant
funding.
There are some basic issues to consider when developing a multi-jurisdictional enforcement task
force.
• Coordinating agencies should work with local prosecutors to resolve any jurisdiction
issues prior to enforcement activity.
o Is there a statute governing whether a law enforcement officer can make an
arrest based on actions committed entirely outside his or her own jurisdiction?
• Are there limitations to that authority?
o For example, in Illinois, the Code of Criminal Procedure authorizes a police
officer to make an arrest outside his or her jurisdiction if the officer, while on
duty, becomes aware of the commission of a felony or misdemeanor.47
While DWI is minimally a misdemeanor, the underlying basis for the traffic stop most often
is not. Because of this, local officers may not have authority to make the stop outside their
jurisdiction.48 While these officers do retain the right to effect an arrest as a private citizen, this
argument is a difficult one to make when the officer is on duty, in uniform and in a marked
squad car.
A better solution is for the agencies involved in the multi-jurisdictional effort to enter into
an inter-agency agreement under which the officers involved are sworn as law enforcement
officials for all the jurisdictions involved. Other issues to resolve may run to the more mundane
administrative sort, such as where the offender will be booked and under whose jurisdiction
paperwork should be completed and filed.
The 2013 Delaware Checkpoint Strikeforce Campaign is an excellent example of a regional multi-
jurisdictional DWI task force.
In 2013, the State of Delaware’s Office of Highway Safety instituted it’s 13th Checkpoint
Strikeforce campaign. This campaign was a six month multi-jurisdictional program. The eight
police agency task force was created with the New Castle County Police Department acting as
the host agency. The DUI Task Force is comprised of officers from the Delaware State Police,
the Middletown PD, New Castle City PD, New Castle County PD, Newark PD, Newport PD,
University of Delaware PD, and Wilmington PD. To complement the task force, Georgetown
PD, Rehoboth Beach PD, and Milford PD will conduct coordinate checkpoints within their town
limits.
A number of police agencies were not authorized to make DWI arrests outside of their own
jurisdictions. In order to make this multi-jurisdictional task force a reality, Attorney General Beau
47
725 ILCS 5/107-3
48
People v. Kirvelaitis, 315 Ill.App.3d 667, 734 N.E.2d 524, 248 Ill.Dec. 596 (2d Dist. 2000).

Biden conducted a swearing in ceremony for all of the officers participating in the program.
This provided legal authority for these officers to conduct traffic enforcement anywhere within
New Castle County.
During the 2013 six-month program, a total of 56 sobriety checkpoints were scheduled and were
supplemented with saturation patrols. On special high incident holiday periods such as Labor
Day, Halloween, and the month of December, the enforcement was augmented with additional
DUI saturation patrols statewide.
The campaign’s enforcement activities will be supplemented by an all new intense public
awareness and education campaign that highlights the fact that a DUI follows you everywhere
with paid messages in the form of TV, radio spots, billboards, print, online, Pandora, movie
theater ads, ice chest wraps, store floor clings, and website: www.DUIRealTime.com. Paid
messages will also be included in Spanish print and radio ads.
Multi-Disciplinary DWI Task Forces
Another common type of DWI-related task force is the multi-disciplinary task force. These
are found all over the country on both a statewide and local basis. Generally speaking, the goal
of such task forces is to address the problem of impaired driving through a combination of
enforcement, education and advocacy. Such groups have a positive effect on the apprehension,
adjudication and rehabilitation of the hardcore drunk driver in that they support training of all
stakeholders in the system, increase awareness of the consequences of drunk driving through
public outreach and education, further increase the profile of high-visibility enforcement
through earned media efforts, and bring together resources geared toward rehabilitating the
offender.
Many of these task forces started as basic law

enforcement partnerships, which expanded
No single discipline of the criminal
to include other system stakeholders with justice system can be successful in
the realization that more ground could be attacking the hardcore drunk driving
covered by including others in the process. problem. Instead, what is required
As recognized by the IACP, “by expanding is for all justice entities to unite and
productive partnerships and advancing work together within ethical bounds to
combat hardcore drunk driving.
collaboration, law enforcement agencies
can gain vital support, amplify available Karl Grube,
resources, and share ownership for traffic State of Florida Senior Judge
safety enforcement programs and activities.
The payback for expanding partnerships is
well worth the investment.”49 A variety of
publications are available on the topic of both statewide and local impaired driving task forces.
An excellent resource is NHTSA’s publications A Guide for Local Impaired-Driving Task Forces,
Volumes I and II and A Guide for Statewide Impaired-Driving Task Forces. They are free via download
at: http://www.nhtsa.gov/Impaired.
49
Impaired Driving Guidebook: Three Keys to Renewed Focus and Success, Report of the Impaired Driving Subcommittee of
the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2006.

Additional Resources
“Blitz to Enforce Laws Against Impaired Driving, NHTSA Now, Volume 8, No. 7. Washington,
DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“Effectiveness of mass media campaigns for reducing drinking and driving and alcohol-involved
crashes” (2004). American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 27, 57–65.
Driving Update. Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute, Inc.
Elder, R.W., Shults, R.A., Sleet, D.A., Nichols, J.L., Thompson, R.S., Rajab, W., & the Task Force
on Community Preventive Services.
Fell, J. et al. “Why sobriety checkpoints are not widely adopted as an enforcement strategy in the
United States.” Impaired Winter 2002.
Highway Checkpoint Strikeforce Debuts for July Fourth Holiday: Multi-State (July 17, 2002). National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Lacey, J.H., Jones, R.K, and Smith, R.G. 1999. Evaluation of Checkpoint Tennessee: Tennessee’s
Statewide Sobriety Checkpoint Program. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
Levy, M., Compton, R., & Dienstfrey, S. Public Perceptions of the July 2003 “’You Drink &
Drive. You Lose’” Crackdown: Telephone Surveys Show the Media Campaign Reaches Target
Audience” (2004). Traffic Safety Facts: Research Note. Publication No. DOT HS 809 708.
Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Miller, T.R., Galbraith, M.S., and Lawrence, B.A., “Costs and benefits of a community sobriety
checkpoint program” (1998). Journal of Studies on Alcohol: 462–468.
Saturation Patrols and Sobriety Checkpoints: A How-to-Guide for Planning and Publicizing Impaired Driving
Enforcement Efforts (June 2001). National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Shults, R.A., et al. “Reviews of evidence regarding interventions to reduce alcohol-impaired

driving” (2001). American Journal of Preventive Medicine 21(4S): 66–88.

SECTION VII:
STRATEGIES AND ADDITIONAL

RESOURCES/LINKS
SECTION VII:
Partnering with Prosecutors and Probation Officers
There are potential rewards for prosecutors and law enforcement officers working together
to solve common criminal justice issues. This potential is often minimized due to a limited
understanding of each other’s role in the criminal justice system. For example, law enforcement
officers may not understand the rationale for the prosecutor’s plea agreement of what appeared
to be an excellent case for prosecution because they are unaware of recent case law affecting
the circumstances of their DWI investigation. Likewise, prosecutors may not be aware of
the challenges faced by law enforcement officers who often confront suspects in adversarial
conditions and make split-second arrest decisions.
A good opportunity to improve communications between the two disciplines is for law
enforcement officials to include prosecutors in departmental traffic law enforcement training.
This may go a long way toward overcoming these challenges, particularly when case law is
concerned. Providing an opportunity for prosecutors to share recent courtroom issues allows
the law enforcement officer to gain a better understanding of the relevant case law, how to better
prepare their cases, and how to improve courtroom testimony. In addition, officers can use this
opportunity to ask questions on courtroom procedures and protocols. These training events can
establish a partnership network, create a teamwork environment, and provide law enforcement
with an excellent resource in the prosecutor’s office for future questions or concerns.
Sobriety checkpoints provide another excellent opportunity for prosecutors to experience

firsthand how law enforcement interacts with a large number of motorists. Agencies hosting
a sobriety checkpoint should consider inviting their prosecutor(s) to attend the checkpoint in
order to provide them with real world experience surrounding the complexities of properly
conducted sobriety checkpoints. Police officials should consider inviting prosecutors to
participate in “ride-alongs” for special DWI saturation patrols. Prosecutors should provide the
same opportunities for law enforcement officers to participate in courtroom “ride-alongs” to
understand the courtroom environment. This will provide them with valuable insight related to
DWI enforcement strategies and it will help better prepare them to ask appropriate questions
during motion hearings and trial. The National District Attorneys’ Association strongly
encourages prosecutors to take advantage of these opportunities. In fact, many state Traffic
Safety Resource Prosecutors (TSRPs) routinely conduct cross-training with law enforcement
officers and prosecutors.
Law enforcement agencies should not overlook probation officers as valuable law enforcement
partners. Probation officers provide assistance to law enforcement by ensuring that offenders
either correct/change their behavior, or returning the offender to the judicial system for
violation of court-imposed sanctions. Law enforcement officers, who are usually the first
responders to crime in our communities, can be additional “on the street” eyes and ears of
probation officers by keeping them informed about individuals who are under probation
supervision. Serious-minded DWI enforcement officers may want to learn which probationers
reside within their patrol area and know the terms of their probation. Such knowledge may lead
to increased detection of violations and referral for appropriate sanctions.

Likewise, probation officers should be invited to observe sobriety checkpoints. These officers
are familiar with their probationers, and if they see them in the checkpoint in violation of a
curfew, or after having consumed alcohol or other drugs in violation of court sanctions, they can
take appropriate action in regards to these probation violations. Since, by definition, hardcore
drunk drivers are resistant to behavioral changes that reduce the likelihood of recidivism,
aggressive enforcement, coupled with aggressive probation supervision, can produce more
effective results than either of these two efforts independently.
Successfully dealing with the hardcore drunk driving offender requires a concerted effort among
law enforcement, prosecution, judges, and community supervision. While each component
of this process can achieve limited successes in their respective areas, a unified process
exponentially increases the likelihood of successfully removing these drivers from the roadways.
Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors (TSRPs)
Traffic-related prosecutions, especially

DWIs and vehicular homicide cases often Training together builds a team
present enormous challenges to prosecutors mentality. Teammates trust one
as a result of the technical complexity another, communicate with one
of the DWI statutes, the sophistication another and learn from one another.
Saving lives is a huge job. We all need
of the scientific issues involved, and the all the help we can get.
constantly evolving nuances in expert witness
testimony. Defendants in these cases are often Tom E. Kimball, TSRP, Tennessee
represented by very experienced, highly paid
defense attorneys who bring an arsenal of well
paid expert witnesses.
Most prosecutors’ offices are besieged by limited funding resources and staff. The result is that
some attorneys who handle misdemeanor DWI cases have received minimal training. This leaves
the ill-equipped prosecutors to overcome the challenge of their highly experienced opponents.
Lack of adequate prosecutor training should not be a reason for DWI drivers to escape justice.
The TSRP Program is intended to provide

traffic prosecutors with up-to-date resource Cross training prosecutors and law
material and training opportunities designed enforcement officers has been a critical
to prepare them and assist them with the component to my success as a Traffic
ongoing battle against impaired driving and Safety Resource Prosecutor in securing
justice in DWI prosecutions.
traffic fatalities. These positions are often
funded totally or in part with grants from the Jared Olson, Idaho TSRP
respective State Highway Safety Office’s grant
programs. Almost every state has a least one
TSRP, while other states have hired multiple
TSRPs.
The TSRP responsibilities include:
• Serving as experts on DWI law and evidence;

• Providing professional education on pertinent issues including trial advocacy, visual trial
techniques, and complex defense challenges;

• Providing prompt notification to prosecutors about new legislation and how to
effectively prosecute violations of these statutes;
• Researching and providing assistance on traffic safety issues (many TSRPs publish trial
manuals, memoranda of law, legal updates, predicate questions to keep their prosecutors
current about the state of the law);
• Analysis of emerging legal issues pertinent to traffic safety that are being developed and
used by defense attorneys across the State;
• Providing answers to questions posed by prosecutors throughout the state on traffic
safety issues, whether via telephone, e-mail, or in person.
• Assisting or “second chairing” trial prosecutors on complex motions, hearings and trials.
• Providing support and leadership on a statewide basis;
• Training law enforcement officers on case preparation and courtroom testimony;
• Serving as a liaison between prosecutors and the traffic safety community.
Most TSRPs conduct “cross training.” This concept involves including law enforcement officers
either in training primarily intended for prosecutors or including prosecutors in law enforcement
training. This strategy serves to improve the quality of preparation of arrest reports, case
preparation, and courtroom testimony, areas which are often the Achilles heel of law
enforcement officers. The end result is appropriate case resolutions and improved public safety.
You can contact the National Traffic Law Center of the National District Attorneys’ Association
to identify the TSRP in your state at the following: http://www.ndaa.org/ntlc_resources.html.
State Judicial Outreach Liaison (SJOL)
In recent years, States have been creating liaison positions in several public safety disciplines
to better meet the specific needs of their jurisdictions. This is especially true with the judicial
discipline of the criminal justice system.
Initially, the Judicial Fellowship Program was created by NHTSA to provide a mutually beneficial
working relationship between NHTSA and judges whose jurisdictions currently involve the
adjudication of motor vehicle and pedestrian-related offenses. There are two Judicial Fellows,
working under a cooperative agreement with American Bar Association (ABA). The two judges
work directly with the NHTSA Impaired Driving Division on national impaired driving efforts
and they function as active liaisons between NHTSA, the ABA Judicial Division and judges, and
traffic safety partners, stakeholders, and organizations across the country.
In addition to the Judicial Fellows, NHTSA created Regional Judicial Outreach Liaison (RJOL)
positions. The purpose of RJOLs is similar to that of Judicial Fellows; however, they operate
within the states served by a particular NHTSA Regional Office. Currently, there are seven
RJOLs covering 36 states, who are working with NHTSA’s Regional Offices to coordinate
efforts across multi-state region lines.
The most recent addition to this trend is the State Judicial Outreach Liaison (SJOL). Several
states have their own SJOLs and several more are in the planning process. The theory behind
the creation of SJOL is that local judges, whether sitting or retired, are in good positions to
understand and to respond to local highway safety concerns and are more likely to have close
working relationships with local players. In addition, SJOLs serve as direct resources to state

and local judges, and have access to or knowledge of national resources that may be of benefit
to them. The SJOL can assist jurisdictions within their respective states by giving individual
technical assistance where needed, and representing their interests at state and regional traffic
safety meetings.
Each state has its own highway safety laws, judicial and political culture, and leadership dynamics.
The duties of Judicial Fellows include performing services such as teachers, writers, community
outreach advocates, consultants, liaisons, reporters, and spokespersons. Whether the topic is
DWI, driving while a license is suspended or revoked, aggressive driving, traffic stops, or other
highway safety-related subjects, the Judicial Fellows are available to support both judges and
court personnel.
National Law Enforcement Liaison Program (NLELP)
The National Law Enforcement Liaison Program (NLELP) has evolved over the past twenty
years in support of traffic safety initiatives, mobilizations and enforcement crackdowns. The
state Law Enforcement Liaisons (LELs) work with State Highway Safety Offices (SHSOs)
to provide traffic law enforcement expertise, encourage involvement in state traffic law
enforcement initiatives and act as a liaison between the state’s law enforcement community and
the SHSO. The desired outcome of these activities is to create a stronger and more cohesive
law enforcement liaison network between the states, territories, and NHTSA Regions.
The LELs provide traffic law enforcement expertise to police departments within their
respective states for evidence-based enforcement site identification, selection of appropriate
grant strategies and countermeasures, and grant development for the state’s law enforcement
community to maximize effective leadership, funding and programming. They conduct
networking activities and act as liaisons within the state’s law enforcement, SHSO, and NHTSA
Regional Offices.
The LEL duties include:
• Educate state and local law enforcement leaders on the need for priority attention to
traffic safety issues and cooperative enforcement projects in conjunction with other
traffic safety disciplines;
• Network with the state law enforcement community and promote the SHSO and
national traffic safety priorities.
• Support and assist local agencies and grant project directors with media events, and
coordination of local law enforcement mobilization activities;
• Serve as a state’s law enforcement expert in the design of traffic safety programs and the
development of strategic highway safety plans;
• Identify best practices; analyze and assess new law enforcement traffic safety programs
and technology, and provide recommendations concerning new initiatives;
• Provide direct support for law enforcement activities associated with state and national
law enforcement mobilizations;
• Provide a communication link with the state courts and media outlets to promote
enforcement messages.
In 2012, the Governors’ Highway Safety Association, in cooperation with NHTSA, created the
position of National Law Enforcement Liaison Program Manager (NLELPM) to support the

activities of the state LEL. The purpose is to enhance communications between state LEL,
ensure greater coordination of LEL activities nationwide, and provide support and assistance as
needed. The NLELPM responsibilities consist of the following:
• Effectively communicate with LELs, state and federal traffic safety personnel, and law
enforcement agencies;
• Facilitate communication among LELs and with LELs and state and federal highway
safety partners;
• Assist in the delivery of training that enhances the skills and abilities of state LELs;
• Prepare and deliver presentations and webinars that directly support the LEL program;
• Gather information to determine law enforcement needs related to LEL program
delivery;
• Provide technical assistance and support to LELs; Prepare plans, progress and other
reports as needed;
• Maintain the LEL on-line List Serve communication tool.
If you do not know your state LEL, you may reach them through your respective SHSO or
through GHSA at http://www.ghsa.org/html/links/shsos.html. The MLELPM may be
contacted through GHSA at 202-789-0942.
DWI Courts
Except where DWI Courts have already been instituted, it has been left to the traditional courts
and criminal justice system to deal with DWI cases, and it has become clear that the traditional
process is not working for hardcore drunk driving offenders. Punishment, unaccompanied
by treatment and accountability, is an ineffective deterrent for the hardcore drunk driving
offender. The outcome for the offender is continued dependence on alcohol; for the community,
continued peril. However, a proven strategy exists to fight these hardcore drunk driving
offenders. It is called DWI Court.
A DWI Court is an accountability court dedicated to changing the behavior of the hardcore
drunk driving offender through intensive supervision and treatment. The goal of DWI Court is
to protect public safety by using the Drug Court model to address the root cause of impaired
driving: alcohol and other substance abuse. With the hardcore drunk driving offender as its
primary target population, DWI Courts follow the Ten Guiding Principles of DWI Court,
found here http://www.dwicourts.org/sites/default/files/ncdc/Guiding_Principles_of_
DWI_Court_0. pdf and the Ten Key Components of Drug Courts, both as established by the
National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Unlike Drug Courts, however, DWI Courts
operate within a post-conviction model.
DWI Courts utilize all criminal justice stakeholders (judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys,
probation, law enforcement, and others) coupled with alcohol or drug treatment professionals.
This group of professionals comprises a “DWI Court Team,” which uses a cooperative
approach to systematically change offender behavior. This approach includes identification
and referral of participants early in the legal process to a full continuum of drug or alcohol
treatment and other rehabilitative services. A DWI Court’s coercive power is the key to admitting
DWI offenders into treatment and ensuring that they remain there for a period of time that
is long enough to make a difference. Compliance with treatment and other court-mandated

requirements is verified by frequent alcohol/drug testing, close community supervision and
ongoing judicial supervision in non-adversarial court review hearing.
Accordingly, if treatment is to be effective, DWI offenders not only must enter treatment but
must remain in treatment and complete the program. To do so, most will need to be ordered
or coerced into treatment. DWI Court is the best vehicle within the criminal justice system to
expedite the time interval between arrest and entry into treatment, and provide the necessary
structure to ensure that a DWI offender stays in treatment long enough for treatment benefits to
be realized.
Most importantly perhaps, DWI Courts serve as a potential unifying hub for the myriad
agencies and organizations that have been part of piecemeal attempts to plug the gaps in the
drunk driver control system. By partnering with the respective state’s department of motor
vehicles, Governor’s Highway Safety Commission, highway patrol, local law enforcement crash
prevention squads, MADD and other crash prevention and victim support groups, DWI Courts
can add teeth to the justice system’s response to repeat drunk driving.
NHTSA research shows that DWI Courts are effective:
• Hardcore drunk driving offenders graduating from DWI Courts were up to 65 percent
less likely to be re-arrested for a new DWI offense.
• All DWI Court participants had a recidivism rate of 15 percent, whether or not they
graduated or were terminated, versus a recidivism rate of up to 35 percent for those not
in DWI Court.
• The three DWI Courts prevented between 47 and 112 more repeat DWI arrests.
WHERE ARE THEY BEING USED?
As of 2012, there were 208 designated DWI Courts, and 401 “hybrid” Drug Courts for a total
of 609 in 42 states and territories.

SECTION VIII:
CONCLUSION
SECTION VIII:
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this Guide is intended to provide law enforcement officers with effective
strategies and skills to identify hardcore drunk drivers. The traffic law enforcement officer is the
first contact that a DWI offender has with the criminal justice system. Hardcore drunk driving
offenders have been through the judicial system and many know how to deter and/or thwart law
enforcement DWI investigations. The Guide identifies a number of significant challenges that
hardcore drunk drivers often pose to law enforcement.
The Hardcore Drunk Driving Law Enforcement Guide provides proven strategies in each phase
of the DWI investigation process to assist law enforcement officers in making correct arrest
decisions at roadside, particularly with instances involving the hardcore drunk driver. The guide
also provides guidance on how to complete the investigation in such a manner as to increase
the officers’ ability to develop and present an effective DWI case. It is critical to have effective
strategies for dealing with hardcore drunk drivers in every agency’s impaired driving enforcement
program.
The Century Council and IPTM strongly believe this Guide presents strategies and interventions
known to be effective in identifying DWI offenders at all levels of impairment. More
importantly, it provides law enforcement officers the ability to identify that small percentage of
serious offenders whose behavior is not changed by traditional interventions designed for first
time offenders. These hardcore drunk driving offenders need more aggressive interventions.
They are responsible for a highly disproportionate percentage of the alcohol-impaired traffic
fatalities.
Despite research that shows a high percentage of repeat DWI offenders believe they would be
arrested and convicted if they drive under the influence, they continue to do so anyway. Without
these strategies for dealing with hardcore drunk drivers, these serious multiple offenders may
continue to drink and drive and they will endanger their own lives as well as innocent citizens.
Law enforcement officers are encouraged to adapt the strategies contained within this manual to
their agency’s needs and help rid the highways of these particularly dangerous offenders.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVING FATALITY: Drivers in all 50 states and D.C. are considered
to be alcohol-impaired if their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or
higher. Any fatality occurring in a crash, that involves at least one driver or motorcycle operator with
a BAC of .08 percent or higher, is considered to be an alcohol-impaired fatality.
ALCOHOL-RELATED TRAFFIC FATALITY: A traffic fatality is considered alcohol-related

if either the driver or anyone else involved in the police reported crash other than a passenger (e.g.,
a pedestrian or bicyclist) has alcohol in their blood stream (a BAC level of .01 percent or more). For
example, if a pedestrian with a BAC of .01 percent steps off the curb in front of a sober driver and
is killed by that driver, the fatality is included in alcohol-related traffic statistics. If a driver who has
been drinking hits a car with two sober people in it and kills both, those two fatalities are considered
alcohol-involved. In producing national and state statistics, NHTSA estimates the extent of alcohol
involvement when alcohol test results are unknown.
ASSESSMENT: Depending on the discipline, the term “assessment” can refer to a variety of
methods used to determine the nature of a problem and course of action needed to correct the
problem. In general, criminal justice assessment tools fall into three basic categories: screening
instruments, comprehensive risk/needs assessments, and specialized tools.
BINGE DRINKING: According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
(NIAAA), binge drinking is defined as occasions of heavy drinking measured by the consumption of
five or more (for males) and four or more (for females) drinks in a row at least once in the past two
weeks.
BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION: BAC is measured in grams of alcohol per 100

milliliters of blood. A BAC of .01 percent indicates .01 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood.
By July 2004, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation establishing that a
driver with a BAC of .08 percent is considered legally intoxicated. Additionally, 42 states and the
District of Columbia have laws and penalties for those who drive with elevated or “high” BAC levels.
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS: A component of the criminal justice system which offers

programs and services in the community and/or viable alternatives to incarceration for individuals
at various stages of the criminal justice process. Community corrections may include bail/bond
programs; behavior change strategies; restitution, fines and fees collection; probation and parole
supervision; electronic monitoring; community service; and day reporting centers.
COMMUNITY SUPERVISION: Refers to the conditional release and supervision of

defendants/offenders in a community setting. A conditional release of a defendant/offender to
community supervision can occur at varying times in the criminal justice process, including pretrial,
pre-sentence, and post-sentence. Additionally, the availability of various community corrections
supervision strategies vary by jurisdiction as resources vary.
COMPREHENSIVE RISK/NEEDS ASSESSMENT: Covers all major risk and needs

factors (both static and dynamic) and help ascertain levels of risk and/or need that are correlated
with outcome measures like recidivism. These assessments can also be useful in re-assessment
to determine if needs changed after interventions have been introduced. The results from these
assessments should be used to facilitate the development of case plans that can be aimed at
addressing a full range of factors.

DIVERSION PROGRAMS: A criminal justice program run by either a police department,
court, a district attorney’s office, probation department or outside agency designed to afford
offenders the opportunity to avoid criminal charges and a criminal record by completing various
requirements dictated by the program (e.g. drug treatment, counseling, community service).
Successful completion of all requirements could result in dismissal or reduction of charges; whereas,
non-completion of requirements could result in more serious action being taken by the court.
DIVIDED ATTENTION TEST: Divided attention tests require a suspect to listen to and follow
instructions while performing simple physical movements. Impaired persons have difficulty with
tasks requiring their attention to be divided between simple mental and physical exercises. Divided
attention tests are easily performed by most unimpaired people.
GENERAL DETERRENCE: General deterrence is a concept that states that when the perceived
risk of getting caught for DWI by law enforcement goes up, the likelihood that people will drive
impaired decreases. This is achieved by conducting law enforcement efforts in a highly visible way,
educating the public about law enforcement’s saturation or roving patrols and sobriety checkpoints
through publicity.
HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVERS: Hardcore drunk drivers are those who drive with a high
BAC of .15 percent or above, or who drive repeatedly with a .08 percent or greater BAC, as
demonstrated by having more than one impaired driving arrest, and are highly resistant to changing
their behavior despite previous sanctions, treatment, or education.
HEAVY ALCOHOL USE: Five or more drinks on the same occasion on five or more days in the
past 30 days.
HORIZONTAL GAZE NYSTAGMUS (HGN): Part of the SFST battery. An involuntary

jerking of the eyes as they gaze toward the side. Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus is an involuntary
jerking of the eye that occurs naturally as the eyes gaze to the side. Under normal circumstances,
nystagmus occurs when the eyes are rotated at high peripheral angles. However, when a person is
impaired by alcohol, nystagmus is exaggerated and may occur at lesser angles. An alcohol-impaired
person will also often have difficulty smoothly tracking a moving object.
INTENSIVE SUPERVISION PROGRAMS (ISP): These programs are often viewed as an

alternative to incarceration. Persons sentenced to ISP are typically those who, in the absence of
intensive supervision, would have been sentenced to imprisonment. No two jurisdictions operate
intensive supervision in exactly the same way. However, one characteristic of all ISPs is that they
provide for very strict terms of probation or parole. This increased level of control is usually
achieved through reduced case loads, increased number of contacts, and a range of required
activities that can include treatment services, victim restitution, community service, employment,
random urine and alcohol testing, electronic monitoring, and payment of a supervision fee.
ONE LEG STAND: Part of the SFST battery. The One-Leg Stand test is a “divided attention”
tests that is easily performed by most unimpaired people. In the One-Leg Stand test, the suspect
is instructed to stand with one foot approximately six inches off the ground and count aloud by
thousands (One thousand-one, one thousand-two, etc.) until told to put the foot down.
PAROLE: Any form of release of an offender from an institution (jail, prison) to the community
by a releasing authority (parole board) prior to the expiration of an imposed sentence. Upon release,
the offender may be subject to an array of supervision terms and conditions.

PROBATION: A sentencing option whereby an offender who has been found guilty of a
crime is permitted to remain in the community under court supervision. Typically, the court will
impose conditions of supervision, such as paying a fine, completing community service activities,
participating in drug and/or mental health treatment, and education/employment requirements,
which will be monitored by a probation officer. Failure to comply with the imposed terms could
result in the offender being incarcerated to finish out the imposed sentence.
RATE PER 100,000 POPULATION: The rate of alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities per
100,000 population is the number of alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities for every 100,000 persons
in the population being measured. For example, an alcohol-impaired traffic fatality rate of 4.3 per
100,000 population nationally means that for every 100,000 people in the nation, there were over
four alcohol-impaired traffic fatalities.
REPEAT OFFENDERS: The NHTSA/FARS data records prior driving records (convictions
only, not violations) for driving while intoxicated events occurring within three years of the date of
the crash. The same driver can have one or more of these convictions during this three year period.
Drivers who have a prior conviction in this three year period are reported as repeat offenders.
SCREENING INSTRUMENTS: Are generally quick and easy to use and focus more on static
risk factors, such as a person’s criminal history or potential substance use concerns. Screening
tools can be useful in making quick determinations about in-or-out decisions (e.g., who should be
detained, who should be released on their own recognizance), in helping to classify offenders into
low, moderate or high-risk categories or whether a more thorough substance abuse or mental health
assessment should be conducted. However, their usefulness is somewhat limited since they do not
help the practitioner identify an offender’s criminogenic factors or the unique issues they have related
to substance abuse or mental health.
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT: A visible law enforcement operation that seeks to evaluate drivers
for signs of alcohol or drug impairment at certain points on the roadway. Vehicles are stopped in a
predetermined sequence, such as every other vehicle or every fourth, fifth or sixth vehicle depending
upon staffing and traffic conditions.
SPECIALIZED TOOLS: Specialized tools include things like alcohol and drug assessments.
Typically, these types of assessments are ones that judges refer offenders to other professionals for.
The key is that when referrals are made and these types of assessments are done that the results be
provided to and considered by judges so they can be used in the formulation of a supervision plan.
STANDARD DRINK OF ALCOHOL: According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the
federal government’s official nutrition policy defines a standard drink of alcohol as 1.5 ounces of
80-proof distilled spirits, 12 ounces of regular beer or 5 ounces of wine.
STANDARDIZED FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS (SFSTs): SFST is a battery of three tests

administered and evaluated in a standardized manner to obtain validated indicators of impairment
and establish probable cause for arrest. These tests were developed as a result of research sponsored
by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and conducted by the Southern
California Research Institute.
WALK AND TURN: Part of SFST battery. The Walk-and-Turn test is a “divided attention” test
that is easily performed by most unimpaired people. They require a suspect to listen to and follow
instructions while performing simple physical movements. Impaired persons have difficulty with
tasks requiring their attention to be divided between simple mental and physical exercises.

LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE
A Resource Outlining Law Enforcement Challenges, Effective Strategies and Model Programs
2345 Crystal Drive | Suite 910

Arlington, VA 22202 | 202-637-0077
www.centurycouncil.org

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What challenges do law enforcement face in investigating hardcore drunk drivers?

What challenges do law enforcement face in investigating hardcore drunk drivers?

What tools and techniques are discussed for identifying hardcore drunk drivers?

What tools and techniques are discussed for identifying hardcore drunk drivers?

LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

2345 Crystal Drive | Suite 910

HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE 1

2 HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

JOHN CULLEN MARK NEIL

ELIZABETH EARLEYWINE DOUG PAQUETTE

HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE 3

4 HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE 5

8 HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

Defining the Problem

• 98% were diagnosed with alcohol abuse

HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE 9

• 70% of alcohol-impaired fatal crashes involved a driver with a BAC

• Among drinking drivers involved in fatal crashes, the

10 HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

Despite a variety of attempts at modifying behavior, including treatment, incarceration,

Challenges to Investigating the Hardcore Drunk Driving Offender

• Identification of hardcore drunk driving offenders.

HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE 11

12 HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

14 HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

A DWI traffic stop investigation involves three phases:

Oklahoma City, p. IV-1.

HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE 15

1. The ability to recognize evidence of alcohol and/or drug influence;

The NHTSA/International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) training program DWI

16 HARDCORE DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT GUIDE

• Driving while license is suspended or revoked.

• Often a male, age 25 – 45,

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Key indicators for hardcore drunk drivers Personal Contact Phase:

• Odor of alcoholic beverage.

DWI Detection: Phase Three- Pre-arrest Screening. Consists of structured, formal

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Key indicators of hardcore drunk drivers (Standardized Field Sobriety Testing):

• Exhibits significant clues on horizontal gaze nystagmus test, indicating impairment.

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Additional indicators of a potential hardcore drunk driver:

• Statements or behavior indicating a lack of empathy or remorse (injury or fatality cases).

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FF Driving while license suspended or revoked.

Key indicators for hardcore drunk drivers Personal Contact Phase:

FF Odor of alcoholic beverage.

Key indicators of hardcore drunk drivers (Standardized Field Sobriety Testing):

FF Exhibits significant clues on horizontal gaze nystagmus test, indicating impairment.

Additional indicators of a potential hardcore drunk driver:

FF Statements or behavior indicating a lack of empathy or remorse (injury or fatality cases).

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How Effective Are Passive Sensors?

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Additional Resources for Passive Sensors

Preliminary Breath Test Devices (PBT)

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