Policy Text
Policy
504Santa Ana Police Department
Santa Ana PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/11/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentImpaired Driving - 1Impaired Driving
504.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidance for department members who play a role in the detection and
investigation of driving under the influence (DUI).
504.2 POLICY
The Santa Ana Police Department is committed to the safety of the roadways and the community
and will pursue fair but aggressive enforcement of California’s impaired driving laws.
504.3 INVESTIGATIONS
Officers should not enforce DUI laws to the exclusion of their other duties unless specifically
assigned to DUI enforcement. All Officers are expected to enforce these laws with due diligence.
The Traffic Commander will develop and maintain, in consultation with the Orange County District
Attorney's (OCDA) Office, report forms with appropriate checklists to assist investigating officers
in documenting relevant information and maximizing efficiency. Any DUI investigation will be
documented using these forms. Information documented elsewhere on the form does not need
to be duplicated in the report narrative. Information that should be documented includes, at a
minimum:
(a)The field sobriety tests (FSTs) administered and the results.
(b)The officer’s observations that indicate impairment on the part of the individual, and the
Officer’s health-related inquiries that may help to identify any serious health concerns
(e.g., diabetic shock).
(c)Sources of additional information (e.g., reporting party, witnesses) and their
observations.
(d)Information about any audio and/or video recording of the individual’s driving or
subsequent actions.
(e)The location and time frame of the individual’s vehicle operation and how this was
determined.
(f)Any prior related convictions in California or another jurisdiction.
504.4 FIELD TESTS
The Traffic Commander should identify standardized FSTs and any approved alternate tests for
officers to use when investigating violations of DUI laws. See Santa Ana Police Department Driving
Under the Influence Report Form.
504.5 CHEMICAL TESTS
A person implies consent to a chemical test or tests, and to providing the associated chemical
sample, under any of the following (Vehicle Code § 23612):
Santa Ana Police Department
Santa Ana PD Policy Manual
Impaired Driving
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/11/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentImpaired Driving - 2(a)The person is arrested for driving a vehicle while under the influence, pursuant to
Vehicle Code § 23152.
(b)The person is under 21 years of age and is arrested by an officer having reasonable
cause to believe that the person’s blood alcohol content is 0.05 or more (Vehicle Code
§ 23140).
(c)The person is under 21 years of age and detained by an officer having reasonable
cause to believe that the person was driving a vehicle while having a blood alcohol
content of 0.01 or more (Vehicle Code § 23136).
(d)The person was operating a vehicle while under the influence and proximately caused
bodily injury to another person (Vehicle Code § 23153).
If a person withdraws this implied consent, or is unable to withdraw consent (e.g., the person is
unconscious), the officer should consider implied consent revoked and proceed as though the
person has refused to provide a chemical sample.
504.5.1 STATUTORY NOTIFICATIONS
Officers requesting that a person submit to chemical testing shall provide the person with the
mandatory warning pursuant to Vehicle Code § 23612(a)(1)(D) and Vehicle Code § 23612(a)(4).
504.5.2 PRELIMINARY ALCOHOL SCREENING
Officers may use a preliminary alcohol screening (PAS) test to assist in establishing reasonable
cause to believe a person is DUI. The officer shall advise the person that the PAS test is being
requested to assist in determining whether the person is under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
or a combination of the two. Unless the person is under the age of 21, the person shall be advised
that the PAS test is voluntary. The officer shall also advise the person that submitting to a PAS
test does not satisfy the person's obligation to submit to a chemical test as otherwise required by
law (Vehicle Code § 23612).
504.5.3 PRELIMINARY ALCOHOL SCREENING FOR A PERSON UNDER AGE 21
If an officer lawfully detains a person under 21 years of age who is driving a motor vehicle and
the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the person has a blood alcohol content of 0.01 or
more, the officer shall request that the person take a PAS test to determine the presence of alcohol
in the person, if a PAS test device is immediately available. If a PAS test device is not immediately
available, the officer may request the person to submit to chemical testing of the person's blood,
breath, or urine, conducted pursuant to Vehicle Code § 23612 (Vehicle Code § 13388).
If the person refuses to take or fails to complete the PAS test or other chemical test, or if the result
of either test reveals a blood alcohol content of 0.01 or more, the officer shall proceed to serve
the person with a notice of order of suspension pursuant to this policy (Vehicle Code § 13388).
504.5.4 CHOICE OF TESTS
Officers shall respect a viable choice of chemical test made by an arrestee, as provided for by
law (e.g., breath will not be acceptable for suspected narcotics influence).
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