DRE Course UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
The 2013-2014 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers. (Approximately
30,000 drivers were asked to provide an oral fluid or blood sample.) - CORRECT
ANSWER - About 20% of drivers tested positive for at least one drug. More than 15% of
drivers tested positive for at least one illegal drug.
Facts of the DECP (Drug Evaluation and Classification Program) (1/4) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The program began in the early 1970's in response to a growing awareness of
impaired drivers under the influence of drugs. The DECP had started with Sergeant Dick
Studdard (Traffic Officer) and Len Leeds (Narcotics Officer)
Facts of the DECP (Drug Evaluation and Classification Program) (2/4) - CORRECT
ANSWER - In 1979 the program was officially recognized by LAPD. By the early 1980's
NHTSA completed its validation of the SFSTs and began assisting the LAPD in validating the
DRE program.
Facts of the DECP (Drug Evaluation and Classification Program) (3/4) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The DRE three-part determination: 1. It establishes the subject is impaired and
verifies the alcohol level is not consistent with the degree of impairment that is evident. 2. Uses
simple evaluation procedures to determine whether the impairment may stem from illness or
injury, requiring medical attention. 3. Lastly, it uses evaluation procedures to determine what
category (or categories) of drugs are the likely cause of the impairment.
Facts of the DECP (Drug Evaluation and Classification Program) (4/4) - CORRECT
ANSWER - Five reasons for a standardized procedure: 1. To be able to articulate
suspicion of drug influence. 2. To use DRE's observation and expertise if the subject refuses
testing. 3. To help identify that a drug is psychoactive. 4. To help point laboratory technicians
toward a specific drug category to reduce testing costs. 5. Lastly, a DRE can help to identify if
impairment is being caused by medical problems.
John Hopkins Study (Laboratory Validation Study which was conducted in 1984 at John
Hopkins University in Maryland) 1/2 - CORRECT ANSWER - LAPD participants
included Dick Studdard, Jerry Powell, Pat Russell, and Doug Laird. Volunteers each took a "pill"
, and smoked a "cigarette." The "pill" contained either: a placebo, Secobarbital, Valium, or d-
amphetamine. The "cigarette" contained either: a placebo or THC.
John Hopkins Study (Laboratory Validation Study which was conducted in 1984 at John
Hopkins University in Maryland) 2/2 - CORRECT ANSWER - The DREs classified 95%
of the drug free subjects as "not impaired." They classified 98.7% of the subjects who received
"strong" doses. They correctly identified the category of drug for 91.7% of the "strong" dose
cases.
Los Angeles Field Validation Study (It was conducted in 1985 and involved 173 subjects who
were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. - CORRECT
ANSWER - This study used 28 DREs from LAPD and the L.A. area. For more than 92.5%
of the subjects, the blood test confirmed the presence of at least one drug category "predicted" by
the DREs.
Oregon State v. O'Key (1995) - HGN Test admissible - CORRECT ANSWER - Court case
explaining that the HGN test results are scientific in nature. Admissibility is subject to a
foundation showing that the officer who administered the test was properly qualified, that the test
was administered properly, and that the test results were recorded accurately.
Information about the Drug Evaluation and Classification Process (1/2) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The DEC is a systematic and standardized method of examining a subject to
determine if the subject is impaired, if impaired, is the impairment a result of injury, illness, or is
it drug related, and if it is drug related, what category (or categories) of drugs is (or are) the
likely cause of the subject's impairment?
Information about the Drug Evaluation and Classification Process (2/2) - CORRECT
ANSWER - Based on a variety of observable signs and symptoms that are known to be
reliable indicators of drug impairment: subject's appearance, subject's behavior, and performance
of carefully administered psychophysical tests.
Drug Influence Evaluation Steps - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Breath alcohol test
2. The interview of the arresting officer
3. Preliminary examination
Questions and CORRECT Answers
The 2013-2014 National Roadside Survey of Alcohol and Drug Use by Drivers. (Approximately
30,000 drivers were asked to provide an oral fluid or blood sample.) - CORRECT
ANSWER - About 20% of drivers tested positive for at least one drug. More than 15% of
drivers tested positive for at least one illegal drug.
Facts of the DECP (Drug Evaluation and Classification Program) (1/4) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The program began in the early 1970's in response to a growing awareness of
impaired drivers under the influence of drugs. The DECP had started with Sergeant Dick
Studdard (Traffic Officer) and Len Leeds (Narcotics Officer)
Facts of the DECP (Drug Evaluation and Classification Program) (2/4) - CORRECT
ANSWER - In 1979 the program was officially recognized by LAPD. By the early 1980's
NHTSA completed its validation of the SFSTs and began assisting the LAPD in validating the
DRE program.
Facts of the DECP (Drug Evaluation and Classification Program) (3/4) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The DRE three-part determination: 1. It establishes the subject is impaired and
verifies the alcohol level is not consistent with the degree of impairment that is evident. 2. Uses
simple evaluation procedures to determine whether the impairment may stem from illness or
injury, requiring medical attention. 3. Lastly, it uses evaluation procedures to determine what
category (or categories) of drugs are the likely cause of the impairment.
Facts of the DECP (Drug Evaluation and Classification Program) (4/4) - CORRECT
ANSWER - Five reasons for a standardized procedure: 1. To be able to articulate
suspicion of drug influence. 2. To use DRE's observation and expertise if the subject refuses
testing. 3. To help identify that a drug is psychoactive. 4. To help point laboratory technicians
toward a specific drug category to reduce testing costs. 5. Lastly, a DRE can help to identify if
impairment is being caused by medical problems.
John Hopkins Study (Laboratory Validation Study which was conducted in 1984 at John
Hopkins University in Maryland) 1/2 - CORRECT ANSWER - LAPD participants
included Dick Studdard, Jerry Powell, Pat Russell, and Doug Laird. Volunteers each took a "pill"
, and smoked a "cigarette." The "pill" contained either: a placebo, Secobarbital, Valium, or d-
amphetamine. The "cigarette" contained either: a placebo or THC.
John Hopkins Study (Laboratory Validation Study which was conducted in 1984 at John
Hopkins University in Maryland) 2/2 - CORRECT ANSWER - The DREs classified 95%
of the drug free subjects as "not impaired." They classified 98.7% of the subjects who received
"strong" doses. They correctly identified the category of drug for 91.7% of the "strong" dose
cases.
Los Angeles Field Validation Study (It was conducted in 1985 and involved 173 subjects who
were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. - CORRECT
ANSWER - This study used 28 DREs from LAPD and the L.A. area. For more than 92.5%
of the subjects, the blood test confirmed the presence of at least one drug category "predicted" by
the DREs.
Oregon State v. O'Key (1995) - HGN Test admissible - CORRECT ANSWER - Court case
explaining that the HGN test results are scientific in nature. Admissibility is subject to a
foundation showing that the officer who administered the test was properly qualified, that the test
was administered properly, and that the test results were recorded accurately.
Information about the Drug Evaluation and Classification Process (1/2) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The DEC is a systematic and standardized method of examining a subject to
determine if the subject is impaired, if impaired, is the impairment a result of injury, illness, or is
it drug related, and if it is drug related, what category (or categories) of drugs is (or are) the
likely cause of the subject's impairment?
Information about the Drug Evaluation and Classification Process (2/2) - CORRECT
ANSWER - Based on a variety of observable signs and symptoms that are known to be
reliable indicators of drug impairment: subject's appearance, subject's behavior, and performance
of carefully administered psychophysical tests.
Drug Influence Evaluation Steps - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Breath alcohol test
2. The interview of the arresting officer
3. Preliminary examination
