drug impaired driving will rely on a police officer administering special tests to gauge impairment. There are even police officers specially trained as Drug Recognition Experts that are called to the scene when drug impairment is suspected. Ultimately, the decision to drive while substance impaired rests with each individual. While you have more control over making safe choices for yourself, you cannot control other people. You can point out that there are dangerous and deadly consequences of driving while substance impaired and often that may motivate a person to change his or her behavior. However, you should not feel guilty if, in spite of everything you do, the person you are concerned about continues to drive while substance impaired. You must acknowledge that you cannot control him or her, and focus on protecting others on the roads and highways. Knowing Consequences May Help You Be More Persuasive There are real and serious consequences for driving while substance impaired. Being aware of these consequences may be helpful in your conversations with the person you are con- cerned about. Again, you may not be able to convince them to change their behavior, but knowing some of the challenges they may face, if caught, might trigger a positive step towards them making a change. Driving while intoxicated is a crime in every ju- risdiction in the United States. State legislatures continue to address the issue by toughening ex- isting laws and passing new ones. Some states have mandatory jail terms for first- time offenders convicted of drunk driving. Many
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