Drugged driving, or DUID, is rapidly becoming a main topic of interest and concern among activists, the National Traffic and Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), as well as national, state, and local law enforcement. In San Diego, the Drug Recognition Program, or DRE is housed and administered at the California Highway Patrol Headquarters, along with the IDU, or impaired driving unit.
In the past, when local police or state troopers arrested a driver on suspicion of DUI who blew a BAC test result below the legal limit of .08% blood alcohol content, the normal routine was to release the suspect, and possibly charge him or her with reckless driving or some other vehicle code violation to justify the trip to the station, if nothing else.
These days, rather than leaving a police baffled who was certain his arrestee was impaired, a low breath test result will now typically result in a blood or urine test, as well as 12 step in-depth examination by a specialized, highly trained drug recognition expert who will aim to identify which drug, or poly-drugs, a suspect has ingested.
The DRE will use an intensive detection system which includes optical examination (includes measuring and comparing pupils, etc), suspect's demeanor, behavior, debriefing the arresting officer to uncover clues, administering divided attention tasks (more refined the standard field sobriety tests), examination of the suspect's vital signs and muscle tone, dark room examination, surveying for injection sites or other physical signs of abuse, verbal interrogation, and toxicology tests.The DRE observation and testing process typically takes at least 45 minutes and is very extensive.
It is important for DUI defendants to remember they have the right to remain silent, as well as the right to request an attorney. Despite the aggressiveness and determination of these batteries, do not become intimidated or inadvertently make an admission of guilt.
