When a person is pulled over for driving erratically, if they haven't been drinking are they tested for drugs?

Question

If they pass a breath test, is there something they use to test them for
drug taking or is drink the only thing they go by?

Micheal N. I didn't say it was about me, and I don't drive erratically. People just sometimes assume it only drinkers who cause accidents.

Answer 1

If an officer stops you for suspicion of DUI you will be provided the opportunity to do some standardized field sobriety tests. These are totally voluntary. If you do them, the officer is looking for impairment. The tests are divided attention tests and are very effective at determining impairment. The one that really gets you though is the horizontal gaze nystagmus. You can't beat it and you can't control it.

If the officer determines you are impaired he will offer you a breath test. If that is .000 or if it is so low as to not reasonably be the cause of your impairment, he can offer you a blood test. Or he can get a specially trained officer called a DRE (drug recognition expert) to evaluate you.

If you show no impairment, you will probably be let go without a problem.

Answer 2

It is a criminal offence to drive or be in charge of a motor vehicle whilst under the influence of drugs. 'Drugs' includes all of the illegal drugs of abuse (most of them effect driving by their very nature) e.g. cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine etc. It also includes medically prescribed drugs that impair driving such diazepam. Unlike alcohol, there is no legal limit for drugs. If an officer has reasonable cause for believing someone is under the influence of drugs he can request a medical practioner to examine you and to take a blood sample for testing. If someone was driving erratically and had no alcohol then the police could suspect drugs. Blood samples can be tested for a very wide range of drugs and their breakdown products. If these test show the presence of say cannabinoids, then along with the doctor's observations of impairment or of drug taking, and those of the arresting poilce officer then the person is likely to be charged. Currently, there are no breath tests for drugs. At court, if the Magistrates are satisfied from the the evidence of a blood test, the doctor's evidence and the police officer's evidence then it the person would be found guilty of driving whilst under the influence of drugs. There does not have to be a reason for the presence of the drugs although evidence of recent consumption would no doubt contribute into account. This is important because a person can take a medically prescribed drug but still be found guilty. The innocent taking is an irrelevance. There is a famous case when a diabetic took too much insulin and was found guilty!
Finally, taking drugs and a small amount of alcohol can have an additive effect. Here, the alcohol level would be considered (even if it was below the legal limit) in conjunction with other evidence of impairment.

Answer 3

Not generally, no. Not yet. Roadside drug testing is still being introduced in the UK. The breath test procedure is covered by Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act. However, Section 4 allows the Police Officer to arrest someone on suspicion of being unfit through drink or drugs (even without giving a breath test). It would all depend of the circumstances surrounding the officer's decision to pull the car over. Normally, if someone was driving that poorly, or when stopped, could hardly stand up, or were slurring their words, we wouldn't bother with the roadside breath test, we'd normally arrest straight away under section 4. Normally though we'd be able to tell from visual signs whether a person was under the influence of drugs.

Answer 4

Why would you be driving erratically? You think you're the only one on the road? Learn to drive like a responsible adult and you won't have to worry about the cops. Having said that, if you get pulled over and the cop thinks you are under the influence of drugs or booze, then yes you are going to get a field sobriety test. It's the officer's responsibility to make sure the roads are safe for everyone. If it means that you are inconvenienced for 10 minutes then so be it. I'd rather have that happen than letting you go and get into an accident where someone is killed. So let the cops do their jobs and quit being a cry-baby.

Answer 5

If a person is noticed to be driving erractically, then the police will pull you over to check for the reason. As soon as you are stopped and the investigation into the driving you are being tested for drugs. The smells, the way you look, pale sweaty, nervous, eyes being dialated or jumpy. If you are arrested for driving while impaired they may take you to the hospital where they can take a blood sample or urine sample however I believe you can refuse which constitutes a immediate forfiture of your license for upto a year by Missouri RSPI

Answer 6

There is a test police officers can administer quickly to ascertain if a person is under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Its called Nystagmus Testing. If a person is suspeted of intoxication the officer will tell them to hold their head in a fixed position and follow a light or other object with their eyes. Alcohol intoxication will cause the eyes to flutter up and down and other drugs will cause them to flutter side to side.

Answer 7

I truthfully have a greater valuable question: think of you bypass out ingesting and partying one evening, then you definately're waking up in a penitentiary cellular. Your first theory is: "Uh-oh, no longer sturdy." that's till the CO tells you you're being charged with DUI (DWI) and Vehicular attack or Manslaughter because of the fact the teenage cheerleader in the truck you pulverized is now a parapalegic or ineffective. became into one evening of ingesting worth 10, 15, 2 a protracted time of your existence, residing that complete time with the certainty which you KILLED or completely maimed somebody? 2 months in the past right here, somewhat 4-300 and sixty 5 days old boy became into struck and killed jointly as driving his massive Wheel by ability of a 20 300 and sixty 5 days old female who have been at a occasion and became right into somewhat over the shrink, yet as a minor, she became into over the shrink for an grownup and she or he killed somewhat boy. How would you prefer to be her top now? Sound like exciting?... or a humorous tale? Get a experience, call a cab, spend the evening! "DRINK. force. bypass to penitentiary."

Answer 8

It is tandard proceedure to arrest someone who passes a breath test but whom the officer suspects to be under the influence of drugs .They would then be taken to a police station and the police surgeon would do an assessment and blood test ,

Answer 9

The police have full authority to take them in if they feel they are under the influence of drugs. There they'd do a blood test and know for sure.

Answer 10

they go by what they see if its not drinking. i am diabetic and i can get pulled over if my blood sugar is too high or low. i have the same characteristics when its low and high as being drunk off my butt. they can smell drugs or see it in your eyes (blood shot etc). i got a warning to keep food in my car. so i pack crackers in my glove box now.
my mom got pulled over for driving erratically because she didnt know how to use the Cruise control, the cop let her go with a warning on reading the manual. lol.