Impaired Driving

Drug Recognition Expert

School

The investigation and prosecution of drug impaired drivers made great progress this summer with the completion of the first Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) school in 15 years. Twenty-three law enforcement officers successfully completed nine days of classroom training, the first step in becoming a certified DRE. In the coming months, the 23 candidates must complete field certification training and pass a final knowledge exam. Their names will then be submitted to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) for two year credentialing.

A DRE conducts a detailed, diagnostic examination of persons arrested or suspected of drug-impaired driving or similar offenses. Based on the results of the drug evaluation, the DRE forms an expert opinion on the following:

Is the person impaired? If so, is the person able to operate a vehicle safely? If the DRE concludes that the person is impaired…
Is the impairment due to an injury, illness or other medical complication, or is it drug related? If the impairment is due to drugs…
Which category or combination of categories of drugs is the most likely source of the impairment?

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) originated the program in the early 1970’s when officers noticed that many of the individuals arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) had very low or zero alcohol concentrations. The officers reasonably suspected that the arrestees were under the influence of drugs, but lacked the knowledge and skills to support their suspicions. In response, two LAPD sergeants collaborated with various medical doctors, research psychologists, and other medical professionals to develop a simple, standardized procedure for recognizing drug influence and impairment. Their efforts culminated in the development of a multi-step protocol and the first DRE program. The LAPD formally recognized the program in 1979.

The LAPD DRE program attracted NHTSA’s attention in the early 1980’s. The two agencies collaborated to develop a standardized DRE protocol, which led to the development of the Drug Evaluation and Classification (DEC) Program. During the ensuing years, NHTSA and various other agencies and research groups examined the DEC program. Their studies demonstrated that a properly trained DRE can successfully identify drug impairment and accurately determine the category of drugs causing such impairment.

In 1987, NHTSA initiated DEC pilot programs in Arizona, Colorado, New York and Virginia. Utah, California and Indiana were added in 1988.

Beginning in 1989, IACP and NHTSA expanded the DEC Program across the country. Currently, 43 states, the District of Columbia, three branches of the military, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and several countries around the world participate in the DEC Program.

In 1992, the governing board of the International Association of Chiefs of Police approved the creation of the Drug Recognition Section.

The DRE drug evaluation takes approximately one hour to complete. The DRE evaluates and assesses the person’s appearance and behavior, measures and records vital signs and makes precise observations of the person’s automatic responses and reactions. The DRE also administers carefully designed psychophysical tests to evaluate the person’s judgment, information processing ability, coordination and various other characteristics. The DRE will systematically consider everything about the person that could indicate the influence of drugs. He or she will then answer the above listed questions and take the appropriate action.

The summer DRE school included officers from the Illinois State Police, Chicago Police Department, four sheriff’s departments and several local agencies. Participants came from all areas of the state. Special thanks to the IACP and NHTSA for their coordination and funding efforts. Thanks must also go to our faculty: Lead Instructor Joe Turner (Indiana), Joe Arbrusci (New Jersey) Don Decker (Massachusetts), Kelly Gregerson (Washington), Chuck Hayes (IACP) and Anthony Ikis (Illinois).

~ By Elizabeth Earleywine, Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor

DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER

CAMPAIGN OFF TO A GREAT START

IDOT/DTS, the Illinois State Police ISP) and 320 local law enforcement agencies unveiled the new Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over message during the 2011 Labor Day Impaired Driving Crackdown.

From August 19 through Labor Day, September 5, ISP, local police departments and county sheriff’s offices conducted over 200 roadside safety checks and hundreds of additional hours of impaired driving and safety belt saturation patrols. Over $1.5 million in federal funds was programmed for hire-back patrols during the campaign.

The enforcement effort was reinforced with a largest-ever media effort with IDOT/DTS, ISP, the Secretary of State’s Office, the Alton Police Department, the Rolling Meadows Police Department and the Hoffman Estates Police Department contributing.

All together, 12 news events were conducted during the two-week campaign including six “wet-lab” events held on August 26th when local radio personalities participated in a controlled, live-drinking exercise to demonstrate the negative effect alcohol has on driving. Six additional news events were held prior to the Labor Day weekend and featured the dedication of roadside safety checks to victims of impaired driving. Numerous news stories were generated by the events.

“Wet labs are used occasionally to show how an individual over the limit has no business getting behind the wheel and also to reiterate that if you choose to do so, some very serious consequences await you,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider.

In addition to the news conferences, nearly $1 million in federal highway safety funds were spent on radio, TV, Internet and other paid advertising activity to remind people of the new Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over message.

Now, with summer in the rearview mirror, Illinois looks towards the Thanksgiving and end-of-the-year holiday crackdowns to end 2011 on a high note with the fewest possible crashes, fatalities and injuries on our roads.

The 2011 Click It or Ticket Thanksgiving Mobilization will begin November 14 and run through November 27, and the Christmas/ New Year’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Crackdown begins December 19 and runs through January 1, 2012. Both crackdowns will feature numerous news events and paid media campaigns, and, of course, stepped up impaired driving and safety belt enforcement.

During the 2011 Thanksgiving Click It or Ticket Mobilization, IDOT/DTS will continue its equipment incentive program. This program gives law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois the opportunity to win valuable enforcement equipment. All IDOT/DTS grantees are automatically included, but all non-grantee law enforcement agencies need to go to www.trafficsafetygrantsillinois.org to sign up for the coming year’s incentive periods. Prizes being given away this year include Lidar and Moving Radar Units! You’ve got nothing to lose, so sign up now!

~ By Shannon Alderman, Alcohol Programs Coordinator

Get Bodine Drunk!

It was Friday morning at 10:00 am. The table was stocked with a 1.75 liter bottle of Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin, several bottles of tonic water, shot glasses and a breathalyzer machine. The stage was set for what was to be an entertaining and informative day.

Bodine Lytle with 92.7 WQLZ in Springfield volunteered to participate in a wet lab for
IDOT/DTS’s “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign aimed at lowering impaired driving fatalities over the Labor Day weekend. Bodine’s mission was to drink all morning under controlled conditions with the overall goal of proving that it is impossible to drive safely when intoxicated. A press conference followed that officially launched the new media campaign.

David Henebry and Illinois State Police Trooper Rodriguez assisted during the event. They administered field sobriety tests, breathalyzer tests and carefully documented Bodine’s progression while radio announcer, “The Dawg,” broadcasted and videographer, Greg Bishop, videotaped the entire experience from WQLZ’s downtown studio. Henebry gave scientific descriptions of alcohol digestion and dispelled myths of trying to “sober up” while Bodine cracked jokes and made everyone in the radio audience laugh.

Glasses were filled and emptied until 1:00 pm when about 1/4 of the gin was gone and the wet lab portion of the day was over. Bodine was boisterous to begin with, but as the shots poured, he became even more polite, affectionate and visibly drunk. He swayed from side to side as he took his last breathalyzer test which registered a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.12. He jokingly turned to the camera and confidently slurred, “Bishop, I think I’m goin’ to jail. Not a comfortable place to be!”

It was difficult not to chuckle as he was placed into a squad car and escorted to the press conference at Springfield Fire Station #1. Press and onlookers anxiously awaited the results of the wet lab. Then a slightly subdued Bodine entered and the press conference began. Field sobriety tests were administered once again showing Bodine’s level of impairment and the Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) was demonstrated using a Ford F150 while Illinois’ drunk driving statistics were read.

50,000 people are arrested for DUI offenses every year.
319 people died as a result of DUI crashes in 2009 which is 35 percent of all traffic fatalities that year.
Most traffic fatalities occur at night when people are more likely to drive impaired.

Suddenly the seriousness of drinking and driving set in. No one would want to share the road with an individual in Bodine’s condition, but reality is that it happens.

Even though the media spot was only a few minutes long, the day left a lasting impression. A lot of people can relate to spending a few hours with friends and drinking on a Friday night after a long work week. Many can also remember seeing friends fumble for their keys because they have things to do the next day and need to get home. Help make sure your friends have a next day, call a cab and never drink and drive.

The video series of the wet lab and press conference can be viewed on YouTube at the following link:

“Get Bodine Drunk”
www.youtube.com/user/927WQLZ#g/c/ F28B161B68088242

Video series provided by 92.7 WQLZ, The Rock Station in Springfield, Illinois

~ By Kristen Chiaro, Editor-in-Chief, CAUTION! Magazine

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