What is a Drug Recognition Evaluation (DRE)?
The DRE evaluation is a series of tests and observations conducted by a Drug Recognition Examiner (sometimes called a “Drug Recognition Expert”) to determine whether someone is under the influence of, and/or impaired by, controlled substances (drugs), alcohol, or both. If you were given a DRE evaluation, the arresting/citing officer likely thought you were impaired by controlled substances. The DRE evaluation has now become a favorite of law enforcement to save bad DUII arrests. When a driver arrested for DUII blows a .05 BAC, for example, it’s not uncommon for the arresting officer to call in a DRE for a “second opinion”. It’s no big surprise that the DRE will come in and accuse the driver of being a drug addict and under the influence of illegal drugs, even if the accused driver has never used an illegal drug in his or her life.
