Policy Text
Policy
504Santa Monica Police Department
Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/12/05, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Monica Police
DepartmentImpaired Driving - 1Impaired Driving
504.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidance to those Department members who play a role in the detection and
investigation of driving under the influence (DUI).
504.2 POLICY
The Santa Monica 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 Lieutenant will develop and maintain, in consultation with the prosecuting attorney,
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 Lieutenant should identify standardized FSTs and any approved alternate tests for
officers to use when investigating violations of DUI laws.
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):
(a)The person is arrested for driving a vehicle while under the influence, pursuant to
Vehicle Code § 23152.
Santa Monica Police Department
Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual
Impaired Driving
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/12/05, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Monica Police
DepartmentImpaired Driving - 2(b)The person is under 21 years of age and is arrested by a sworn 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 a sworn 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 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).
A person arrested for DUI has the choice of whether the test is of the person's blood or breath, and
the officer shall advise the person that the person has that choice. If the person arrested either is
incapable, or states that the person is incapable, of completing the chosen test, the person shall
submit to the remaining test.
If the person chooses to submit to a breath test and there is reasonable cause to believe that
the person is under the influence of a drug or the combined influence of alcohol and any drug,
the officer may also request that the person submit to a blood test. If the person is incapable of
completing a blood test, the person shall submit to and complete a urine test (Vehicle Code §
23612(a)(2)(C)).
504.5.2 BREATH SAMPLES
The Jail Facility Administrator should ensure that all devices used for the collection and analysis
of breath samples are properly serviced and tested, and that a record of such service and testing
is properly maintained.
Officers obtaining a breath sample should monitor the device for any sign of malfunction. Any
anomalies or equipment failures should be noted in the appropriate report and promptly reported
to the Traffic Lieutenant.
When the arrested person chooses a breath test, the handling officer shall advise the person that
the breath-testing equipment does not retain a sample, and the person may, if desired, provide a
blood or urine specimen, which will be retained to facilitate subsequent verification testing (Vehicle
Code § 23614).
The officer should also require the person to submit to a blood test if the officer has a clear
indication that a blood test will reveal evidence of any drug or the combined influence of an
Santa Monica Police Department
Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual
Impaired Driving
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/12/05, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Monica Police
DepartmentImpaired Driving - 3alcoholic beverage and any drug. Evidence of the officer’s belief shall be included in the officer’s
report (Vehicle Code § 23612(a)(2)(C)).
504.5.3 BLOOD