This article describes the development of the Los Angeles Police Department's development of a (Driving Under the Influence) DUI-drugs program. Research showed that many of the alcohol field sobriety tests used by officers enforcing DUI laws effectively measured divided attention impairment. These tests were then determined to be an accurate measure of an arrestee's drug impairment. Following a number of years of research, a series of standardized tests were developed around the most effective field sobriety tests. When these tests were conducted on drug impaired drivers, it became possible in most cases to detect seven major classes of drugs that affect the central nervous system: narcotics, phencyclidine, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, marijuana and certain inhalants such as toluene. Use of this new expanded series of tests allowed police drug experts to successfully testify in court. The original developers of this new technique where then able to successfully train additional officers, who became known in the department as drug recognition experts (DREs). Further description is provided of the development of a DRE school, as well as of studies to further validate this technique. (A)
Abstract