DWI Troubles

[reils49]

First off, I did not get a DWI. My trouble is finding them! I have been on my own for about 2 months and cannot seem to find a drunk. I work mostly noon-midnight's and that should be a decent time frame to get one.

I try to write my tickets during the daylight hours, so I can free up my night time stops to looking for drunks/drugs. I stop alot of cars at night, but cannot seem to seal the deal. Any advice?

[2971511]

RADAR, LASER, look long enough and they will come to you. I too was frustrated when I first strated, then all of a sudden, that was all I could find. You need to get the drivers to exit the cars, or get really close, so you can assess their breath. take your time it will come

[leesrt]

Your problem is your looking for drunks. The drivers that drive drunk are easy to spot because they are all over the road but anyone can catch those. It's the ones that are barely over that you have to actually look for.

Thr trick is to start pulling cars over for minor violations (tag light, tail light, head light) during the times that the bars or clubs start letting out. You will pull a bunch of cars over and probably give a lot of warnings but you will find the drunks and criminals that everyone else lets go by.

[Iowa #1603]

Look for equipment voilations.

Failure to dim is one of the best DUI indicators out there.

[LaPlaca]

The opposite holds true as well. Failure to turn on the lights...

[Jhelrey]

I agree with everyone... You are looking too hard! I did the same thing, then I relaxed, and they started popping out everywhere.

[APDSgt]

RADAR, LASER, look long enough and they will come to you. I too was frustrated when I first strated, then all of a sudden, that was all I could find. You need to get the drivers to exit the cars, or get really close, so you can assess their breath. take your time it will come

I liked getting them out of the car too. You can get good DUI indicators talking to them on the roadside (swaying, odor of alcoholic beverage, stumbling etc, and might pick up other indicators of criminal activity.

[amw315]

best indicator for me is failure to drive in a single lane/erratic driving....

it's hard to describe, but when I'm following a drunk, I can just tell....you'll get that way with a little experience....

if you stop someone and the car smells minty and they are chewing gum or a mint, that's also a good clue....lighting cigarettes or spraying cologne/perfume is also a good clue....

[unobserved]

just find a few "watering holes" for the drunks...places where people go out fri/sat and just look for a few cars pulling out of those lots and proceed from there....7 times out of 10, someone driving around at 10-12pm on those days is either going to have a drink or coming back from having one..

[candidateyellow]

What's your routine on a traffic stop when you're looking for a DUI?

[leesrt]

just find a few "watering holes" for the drunks...places where people go out fri/sat and just look for a few cars pulling out of those lots and proceed from there....7 times out of 10, someone driving around at 10-12pm on those days is either going to have a drink or coming back from having one..

Dude, that's cheating.

[Zamkn]

As I work midnights, whenever I stop someone I often ask them if they've been drinking. If they have, I keep investigating and perhaps get another officer in order to do some quick SFSTs. You would be surprised how many drunks are not easily detected until you use SFSTs.

[SigSauerfirst]

I will always look at the eyes cause that is the first dead give away besides the slow movements and delayed reactions to my questions.

When looking at the eyes, they will be bloodshot, red, watery, droopy and the subject will appear tired.

Did they have a hard time finding their documents? did they pass over their driver's license a few times before they gave it to you?

Can they get their license, registration and insurance while answering a question?

Some of the stuff that I am looking at and all the above details should be noted in your report.

[CruiserClass]

Have you asked the vets where's a good place to set up?

Noon to midnights isn't really prime drunk hours, either. You're in a much more target rich environment from midnight to 0500.

[leesrt]

As I work midnights, whenever I stop someone I often ask them if they've been drinking. If they have, I keep investigating and perhaps get another officer in order to do some quick SFSTs. You would be surprised how many drunks are not easily detected until you use SFSTs.

Zamkin, don't get upset but I think someone stole your dogs legs.