CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Los Angeles Dui And Law Enforcement

The Importance of Proper Law Enforcement Investigation in DUI Cases

DUI arrests make up a significant portion of any police department’s arrests. It is, therefore, crucial that law enforcement officers receive adequate training to investigate incidents of drunk driving. Improper training can lead to an invalid investigation, which can result in violations of the accused’s constitutional rights. This can cause the court to suppress evidence and may make it challenging for the prosecution to convince a jury that the evidence against the accused is reliable.

Todd Spodek, a Los Angeles DUI attorney, understands that law enforcement officers must follow specific procedures and protocols when evaluating drunk driving cases. Officers must be able to identify potential drunk drivers while on the road, determine when it’s lawful to perform a traffic stop, and know how to perform standardized field sobriety tests. Officers are also trained to look for certain indicators of alcohol consumption while administering breath or blood tests. These officers are required to follow waiting periods and maintenance checks to ensure that they conduct the tests within the law’s requirements and produce reliable results.

The California Highway Patrol in Los Angeles makes the most drunk driving arrests. They patrol major roads, providing them with ample opportunities to spot drunk drivers. Officers make traffic stops to slyly check the driver for signs of intoxication. Bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, or a lack of coordination can serve as signs of intoxication. Erratic lane changes and extremely low speeds are some indicators of a person likely driving under the influence. Though speeding alone is not necessarily an indicator of DUI, weaving out of a traffic lane or failing to turn off high beams in the presence of oncoming traffic can still signify the driver’s possible intoxication.

Citizens are also encouraged to report potential drunk drivers. A law enforcement officer can locate the reported driver and observe their behavior. As with other crimes, reporting suspected drunk driving is both ethical and can help prevent accidents.

Investigating drivers for drug-related DUI is more challenging as there is no breath test to detect drugs. It’s just as illegal to operate a vehicle under the influence of illegal or controlled substances as it is under the influence of alcohol. However, a few, select officers go through extensive training to become drug recognition experts. They look for subtle signs that indicate drug use and can determine what type of drug is in the suspect’s system. While this is rare training for police officers, law enforcement officers who aren’t certified drug recognition experts will be vulnerable to attack by DUI defense lawyers.

Whether the officer was trained as a drug recognition expert or not, proper investigation of a DUI is essential. An experienced DUI attorney can help uncover any mistakes or omissions in the investigation, making a difference between a conviction and dismissal of the case.