Just imagine it: late at night with police lights flashing down the city street like a mini parade. An officer is near the car now, and has a hunch that maybe – just maybe – something is up with this driver. With no smell of alcohol or beer cans in sight, what could it possibly be? Meet the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). There people are like highway detectives who are original at spotting drug-influenced drivers.
DREs are not your typical cops. They’ve undergone further training past traditional law enforcement. Not to mention their method is scientific. They adhere to a strict 12-step process where they observe the driver, take vitals, and run evaluations/tests. So it’s not quite a full physical, but it’s close.
My friend Charlie had a night like this. Stopped simply for operating his vehicle like that of a game, “Really sleepy” he commented. The DRE saw through it with a couple tests it was dosed with drugs. “I was not drinking,” said Charlie. There was no argument to be had with the DRE’s expert response, “Nope, but you’re up there.” Now Charlie looks back on it with humor but thanks the specialist who caught him.
What do DREs have that’s so thread-worthy? Road safety isn’t just about pulling over the speedster. Those impaired by anything other than alcohol are equally part of the equation. Breathalyzers catch those that consumed alcohol, DREs on a variety of drugs. As more people use then80 both prescription and rec drugs, this position is becoming even more important.
Think about that the next time you get behind the wheel: the person beside you could be under the influence – just not alcohol. Out there amongst the clanking cars, there are people who are Dutch trained. This is peace of mind for us. A DRE on shift equals a refusal of worry if you are a speedster in his Audi or just cruising around neighbo