October 27, 2015

The Legal Environment DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Become familiar with: • Elements of DWI offenses • Provisions of the implied consent law • The relevance of chemical test evidence • Precedents established through case law

Session 3 – The Legal Environment
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Become familiar with:
Elements of DWI offenses
Provisions of the implied consent law
The relevance of chemical test evidence
Precedents established through case law
Learning Objectives
3-2
At the conclusion of this session, participants will be familiar with:
• Elements of DWI offenses
• Provisions of the implied consent law
• The relevance of chemical test evidence
• Precedents established through case law
In this session these four types of impaired driving laws are discussed in detail. The
illustrations provided are drawn from the Uniform Vehicle Code. You are responsible for
learning whether and how each law applies in your jurisdiction.
CONTENT SEGMENTS LEARNING ACTIVITIES
A. Basic DWI Statute: Driving While Instructor Led Presentations
Under the Influence
B. Illegal Per Se Statute: Driving With a
Prohibited Blood Alcohol Concentration
C. Implied Consent Law and Presumptions Reading Assignments
D. Preliminary Breath Testing
E. Case Law Review
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HS 178 R5/13 3 of 29
Session 3 – The Legal Environment
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
It is unlawful for any person to operate or
be in actual physical control of any vehicle
within this state while under the influence
of alcohol and/or any drug.
Basic DWI Statute
3-3 3-3
A. Basic DWI Statute: Driving While Under the Influence
A state's basic DWI statute may be subtitled Driving While Under the Influence, or
something similar. Typically the statute describes the who, what, where and how of the
offense in language.
For example:
It is unlawful for any person to operate or be in actual physical control of any vehicle
within this state while under the influence of alcohol and/or any drug.
Session 3 – The Legal Environment
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Probable Cause
Person in question operating or in actual
physical control of vehicle while under the
influence:
Alcohol
Another drug
Both
DWI Violation Arrest
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Arrest
In order to arrest someone for a basic DWI violation, a law enforcement officer must
have probable cause to believe that all elements of the offense are present. That is, the
officer must believe that:
The person in question was operating or in actual physical control of a vehicle (truck,
van, automobile, motorcycle, even bicycle, according to specific provisions in various
states) while under the influence of alcohol, another drug, or both.
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HS 178 R5/13 4 of 29
Session 3 – The Legal Environment
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Establish all four elements were present
Operation
Control
Vehicle
Impairment
Criminal offense – establish facts
“beyond a reasonable doubt”
Infraction – standard of proof may be
less
Collect and document all evidence
Conviction
5-5 3-5
Conviction
In order to convict a person of DWI, it is necessary to establish that all four elements
were present.
• Operation
• Control
• Vehicle
• Impairment
With regard to under the influence, courts have usually held that phrase to mean that
the ability to operate a vehicle has been affected or impaired. To convict a person of a
basic DWI violation, it is usually necessary to show that the person's capability of safely
operating the vehicle has been impaired. If DWI is a criminal offense, the facts must be
established "beyond a reasonable doubt." If DWI is an infraction, the standard of proof
may be less. In either case, it is the officer's responsibility to collect and thoroughly
document all evidence.
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HS 178 R5/13 5 of 29
Session 3 – The Legal Environment
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
It is unlawful for any person to:
Operate or be in actual physical control
Of any vehicle
Within this state
While having a BAC at or above the state’s
level
Illegal Per Se Statute
3-6 3-6
B. Illegal Per Se Statute: Driving with a Prohibited Blood Alcohol Concentration
Description
Most states include in their DWI law or implied consent law a provision making it illegal
to drive with a prescribed blood alcohol concentration (BAC). This provision, often
called an illegal per se law, creates another alcohol-related driving offense which is
related to, but different from the basic DWI offense. Following is a typical illegal per se
provision:
It is unlawful for any person to:
• Operate or be in actual physical control
• Of any vehicle
• Within this state
• While having a blood alcohol concentration at or above state’s level.
Session 3 – The Legal Environment
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Establish BAC was at or above state level
while operating vehicle in state
Not necessary to establish impairment
To Convict Illegal Per Se
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The illegal per se law makes it an offense in and of itself to drive while having a BAC at
or above state’s level. To convict a driver of an illegal per se violation, it is sufficient to
establish that their BAC was at or above state’s level while operating a vehicle in the
state. It is not necessary to establish impairment.
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HS 178 R5/13 6 of 29
Session 3 – The Legal Environment
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Each defines a separate offense:
DWI – driving while under influence
Chemical test is presumptive evidence
Illegal Per Se – operate while having more
than legal % of alcohol in blood or breath
Chemical test is conclusive evidence
Illegal Per Se and DWI
3-8 3-8
The illegal per se law does not replace the basic DWI law. Rather, the two work
together. Each defines a separate offense:
• The basic DWI law makes it an offense to drive while under the influence of alcohol
and/or any drug.
• The illegal per se law makes it an offense to drive while having more than a certain
percentage of alcohol in the blood or breath.
For the basic DWI offense, the chemical test result is presumptive evidence. For the
illegal per se offense, the chemical test result is conclusive evidence.
Session 3 – The Legal Environment
DWI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
Aid in prosecution of DWI offenders
Show the driver’s BAC was at or above state
level
Often required to secure conviction
Illegal Per Se Purpose
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Illegal Per Se Purpose
The principal purpose of the illegal per se law is to aid in prosecution of DWI offenders.
It is not necessary for the prosecutor to show that the driver was "under the influence."
The state is not required to demonstrate that the driver's ability to drive was affected. It
is sufficient for the state to show that the driver's BAC was at or above the state’s level.
While the statute aids in prosecution, it does not really make DWI enforcement easier.
An officer must still have probable cause to believe that the driver is impaired before
making an arrest. The implied consent law usually requires that the driver be arrested
before the request of a chemical test. The law also requires that the arrest be made for
"acts alleged to have been committed while operating a vehicle while under the
influence." Therefore, the officer usually must establish probable cause that the offense
has been committed and make a valid arrest before the chemical test can be requested.
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Source: DWI Detection and
Standardized Field
Sobriety TestingHS 178 R5/13 7 of 29

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