Policy Text
Page 1 of 16 General Order 6 -8 - (10/24 /24)
DUI/DUID
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: DUI/DUID
Chapter
6 Number
8 # Pages
16
CALEA Standard : 61.1.10
VA Code : §16.1-247, 16.2 -248.1, 18.2 -51.4, 18.2-266, 18.2-266.1,
18.2-268.3, 18.2-272(B ), 46.2 -301.1 , 46.2-391.2 Related Orders:
1-20, 6-14, 7-18,
8-3 and 8 -7 Effective Date : 10/24/202 4
Revised By: Review
Prv. Rev. Date: 08/10/ 2021
If any provision of this General Order conflicts with any collective bargaining article, the collective bargaining agreement
shall govern.
Chief of Police:
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to establish the policy and procedure for administering sobriety
tests, breath tests and/or blood tests to persons arrested for operating a motor vehicle under the
influence of alcohol and/or drugs , including per sons under the age of 21 arrested for operating a
motor vehicle after the illegal consumption of alcohol and for conducting other legally requ ired
tasks in a driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, including prescription drugs,
(DUI/DUID ) situation.
The Drug Evaluation Classification Program (DEC P) is part of the Richmond City Police
Department’s efforts to reduce drug –impaired driv ing. The objective of this program is to
provide the field with certified Drug Recognition Experts (DRE ) capable o f gathering evidence
as necessary to substantiate charges of drug influence in operating under the influence (OUI)
cases . As a continuing pr actice and as deemed necessary, the department will train members to
become certified DRE s. Only members who have re ceived approved National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) DRE training and International Association of Chief s of
Police (IAC P) certification and or re-certification may be considered a department DRE or DRE
Instructor .
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This policy is due for triannual review. There ha ve been changes made to procedures and
additional forms have been added. All changes have bee n placed in bold and italics
throughout the document.
III. POLICY
The Richmond Police Department recognizes the need to mai ntain a safe environment for all
operators of motor vehicles . Therefore, the policy of the Department is to enforce all laws
concerning driving under the influence of al cohol and/or drugs (DUI/DUID ). It is unlawfu l
for any person to drive or operate any mo tor vehicle, engine, or train while under the
influence of alcohol or while under the inf luence of any drug of any nature to the extent it
impairs their driving ability .
Page 2 of 16 General Order 6 -8 - (10/24 /24)
DUI/DUID
IV. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
All employ ees are expected to fully comply with the guideli nes and timelines set forth in this
general order . Failure to comply will result in appro priate correct ive action . Responsibility
rests wi th the Division Commander to ensure that any violations of policy a re investigated
and appropriate training, counselin g and/or disciplinary action is initiated.
This directive is for internal use only and does not enlar ge an employee’s civil liability in a ny
way. It should not be construed as the creation of a higher st andard of safety or case in an
evidentiary sense, wit h respect to third party claims . Violation of this directive, if proven, can
only for m the basis of a complaint by this Department, and th en o nly in a non -judicial
administrative setting.
V. DEFINITIONS
A. Drug Eval uation Classification Program (DECP) – A 12 -step standardized and
systematic process to determine if a motorist is driving under the influence of drugs .
B. Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) – Officers with specialized training who perform an
evaluat ion pro cedu re that can distinguish individuals under the infl uence of alcohol,
other drugs, combination of alcohol and other drugs, and inj ury/illness .
C. International Association of Chief s of Police (IAC P) – A non -profit organization that
provides trainin g and in form ation exchange in the police profession to improve and
advance the science and art of police services.
D. IMPLIED CONSENT – Person s arrested while operating a vehicle within the
Common wealth of V irginia are deemed to have consented to have samples of their
breath and/or blood tested to determine alcohol and/or drug content.
E. MOTOR VEHICLES – Any motorized vehicle, i.e. , car, motorcycle , truck , bus,
recreational vehicle and/or pedal bicyc le with hel per motor (moped ) operating on
public highways.
NOTE: Pedal Bicy cles without helper motors are not subject to DUI /DUID
regulations . (VA Code §18.2-266)
F. National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis tration (NHTSA ) – A government agency of
the Executiv e Branch, p art of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
G. Operating Un