DUI Detection and Enforcement Flashcards

For a driver of a commercial vehicle, the legal BAC limit in California is:

Answer: 0.04%

California Vehicle Code 23152(d) sets the BAC limit at 0.04% for persons operating a commercial motor vehicle.

During the One-Leg Stand (OLS) test, for how many seconds must the suspect hold their foot approximately six inches off the ground?

Answer: 30 seconds

The standardized OLS test requires the subject to hold the raised foot position for 30 seconds while counting aloud.

Nystagmus during the HGN test is characterized by:

Answer: Involuntary jerking of the eyes

Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus is the involuntary jerking of the eyes, which becomes more pronounced with alcohol or CNS depressant impairment.

Which type of DUI checkpoint is specifically authorized under California law and has been upheld by the California Supreme Court?

Answer: Sobriety checkpoints with advance notice and neutral criteria

In Ingersoll v. Palmer (1987), the California Supreme Court upheld sobriety checkpoints that follow specific operational guidelines including advance publicity and neutral selection criteria.

Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluations assess impairment from drugs using a protocol of how many steps?

Answer: 12

The NHTSA-approved DRE protocol consists of 12 steps to systematically determine whether a suspect is drug-impaired and identify the drug category.

Under California law, a first-offense DUI conviction typically results in a maximum jail sentence of:

Answer: 6 months

A standard first-offense misdemeanor DUI under CVC 23152 carries up to six months in county jail.

Which of the following drug categories is most commonly identified in DUI drug cases as a CNS depressant?

Answer: Alcohol and benzodiazepines

Alcohol and benzodiazepines (such as Valium or Xanax) are both classified as CNS depressants in the DRE seven-category drug classification system.