DWI Investigation and Reporting

Study Notes

Law enforcement officers spend a significant amount of time identifying and arresting impaired drivers and testifying in court, requiring professionalism in identification, evidence collection, documentation, and testimony.

Recruits must complete the latest edition of the NHTSA/IACP Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) course.
Recruits must be able to distinguish between impaired drivers and individuals with disabilities, such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, or diabetes.

Disability: a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, as defined by the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A).
Epilepsy: a disorder of the brain producing temporary disruptions in normal brain function, causing seizures, and not a mental illness.
Cerebral Palsy: a chronic condition affecting body movement and muscle coordination, caused by brain damage during fetal development or infancy.
Diabetes: a chronic auto-immune disease characterized by insulin deficiency, excess sugar in the blood and urine, and related symptoms.

Police officers must consider the possibility of a disability when faced with impaired responsiveness or behavior, especially if the person is unconscious, has slurred speech, is confused, or has impaired motor skills.

Epilepsy: manage seizures by letting the episode run its course while protecting the individual from harm.
Cerebral Palsy: may exhibit impaired gait, slurred speech, hearing or visual impairments, muscle spasms, seizures, or mental retardation.
Diabetes: symptoms of high blood glucose levels include headaches, blurry vision, and excessive thirst; low blood glucose levels can cause confusion, shakiness, and fatigue.

If a police officer encounters a person acting strangely and no alcohol is detected, they should investigate further, looking for signs of a disability, such as a medical alert bracelet or necklace.
If unsure, the officer should administer a sugar substance and convey the person to the hospital.