DUI Scenario (CRJ 125) 11/11/20

Module 04/M4_Exploration.html

Exploration of Drugs/Alcohol and the Impact on Law Enforcement

Overview

Few issues have affected the whole context of policing more than traffic enforcement. Since the advent of motorized vehicles, police departments and their technology have grown exponentially just to keep pace with faster cars and increased traffic.

Officers must be trained to spot drivers who exhibit subtle changes in driving, indicating that perhaps they are driving under the influence. Technology steps in to assist with alcohol “sniffers” that are built into their flashlights, providing an alert if alcohol is detected. They must also be trained in objective symptoms that they test for in the field; the unfocused eyes, gait, breath and slurred words all signal that a drug or alcohol is present. Officers must be not only experts in spotting alcohol abuse, but drugs as well. Many officers are now trained as Drug Recognition Experts and can testify as expert witnesses.

Along with the complexities of traffic enforcement comes the interaction and recognition of gangs and their relationship to drugs. How do we recognize just who is or is not a gang member? There are several different types of gangs and the ones who are the most visible are the ones involved in crime and drugs. The gangs today are a diverse and complex anomaly that contributes directly to crime rates and policing efforts to stem crime rates.

Explore More...

Review the following video that shows a new approach to policing the War on Drugs: