How to test suspected drunk driver

[not5150]

In many states (like California), you promise to take blood/breath/urine tests, when you accept your license. Failure to submit, results in criminal and administrative punishment (license goes bye-bye for a time).

I think its under the California Code of Regulations (i think, been a long time).

Also watch out with the PAS device (portable hand-held blower). Often, Officer's can't find the sterile tips and just reuse them. :eek:

Don't ask me how I know... <whistles, looks up at the sky>.

[Ranger__101]

As he said in MN it's an implied consent state for breath test. By refusing you loose your license for a years, fines, etc. The costs pretty much are the same as a 1st time DUI.

If they really get in a nasty wreck there is the option of getting a warrant for a blood test if they refuse the breath / urine test.

As for the issue of PBT's the results are not admissable in court so you must prove imparement by the common accepted tests and use the PBT to verify results or to verify they are impared by something else.

[snowpiggy]

DWI's in MN can go many ways. An officer can get a conviction of DWI without doing Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Like a fellow officer said you need as much P/C as you can get. Why you pulled the person over, what you smell once pulled over. Clothes unkept, eyes bloodshot, watery, etc. Attitude, mentally alert, car rapped around tree, a thousand things even if they cant do SFST. PBT is just icing on the cake. In Minnesota if we offer breathe, thats all we have to offer. Refusal is a Gross misdemeanor. One DUI no aggravating circumstances, misdemeanor. Over .20 or Two DUI's, Gross misdemeanor and Plate impoundment and you get drunk plates (HA, HA), Fourth DUI in ten years from your first, Felony and We take the Car. You can also thank or hate us for the Implied Consent. As we all know its the report that makes the DUI. Anybody remember J.D. Buck savage. Report Read <saw drunk> <Arrested Same>

[MikeMSD]

Over .20 or Two DUI's, Gross misdemeanor and Plate impoundment and you get drunk plates (HA, HA)

:eek: That's great! I wish we had those here

[jarobins]

On a side note: does getting a DUI when you were younger lower your chances of becoming a LEO?

Yes, but it is not always a fatal mistake and will depend on the circumstances involved, such as the length of time that has passed since the conviction and the age at which the offense was committed. However, LEO positions have become very competitive and someone with a DUI had better have a lot of other positives to offset a DUI.