Law Enforcement Training: ARIDE & DRE
VIII.
A DRE evaluation will enhance the evidence in a drug related impaired driving case. Weak, or incomplete drug-impaired driving cases, if dismissed, fail to get the offender into the needed substance abuse or mental health treatment programs they may need. If a non-DRE case is dismissed, the offender is released, and chances of re-offending are high. By focusing on quality drug-impaired driving investigations involving a DRE, there is a greater opportunity to stop the recidivism cycle.
WHAT IS THE RIGHT BALANCE FOR MY AGENCY?
SFST training is the first step for every law enforcement agency to help reduce impaired driving offenses. SFST is the foundation for ARIDE and DRE. Every officer who could potentially encounter a substance impaired driver should be trained in SFST and receive refresher training at least once every three years. Additionally, officers should have access to a DRE for those impaired driving offenses where drug impairment is suspected. Many agencies lack the resources to have an on-duty DRE 24 hours per day, so having a DRE available to callout when necessary is critical. Many jurisdictions offer overtime reimbursement programs to alleviate agency burdens with DRE overtime callouts. Sharing DREs is a solid practice among law enforcement agencies. Frequently, a DRE is called to assist with another officer’s arrest. The DRE is there to collect evidence on behalf of the arresting officer but not take over the arrest. Since impaired drivers can quickly traverse from one jurisdiction to another, sharing DREs as a resource among law enforcement agencies is a prudent and efficient practice, especially when dealing with personnel shortages and budget restrictions. Law enforcement agencies need ARIDE training, and ARIDE-trained officers need DREs. ARIDE training enhances the SFST-trained officer’s ability to recognize signs of drug influence in a driver. However, an ARIDE-trained officer can gather only a limited amount of roadside evidence from a drug-impaired suspect. ARIDE-trained officers need access to a DRE to help “process the crime scene” and secure additional evidence for prosecution. As ARIDE training increases within law enforcement agencies, the demand for DREs will rise. Law enforcement executives are strongly encouraged to facilitate access to DREs to secure additional evidence. When it comes to ARIDE and DRE, law enforcement agencies need both.
Additional information regarding ARIDE and DRE training can be accessed at the IACP website, http://www.decp.org or contact your respective coordinators.
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Mothers Against Drunk Driving ®
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