Try to head home after a long day only to find yourself stopped at a checkpoint with flashing lights. To the officer up ahead the driver looks, off is he drunk? is he on drugs? or is he not well at all? Well at that moment its a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) that will save any confusion- a sleuth in uniform that can seamlessly and effortlessly back track to the origin of the mysterious change in driving.
These are no ordinary cops. They have special training to spot anything that ranges from the slightest change in ones behavior that appears to be under the influence. A slight stutter in their words? An unexplained twitch of the eye? DREs are able to spot these inconsistencies like how a poker player notices a bluff. Its an amalgamation of deduction and observation – a perfect measure of science and art.
The process that their almost magical talents are rooted in is a complex 12 step evaluation procedure. Think of it as a health examination combined with an interrogation. They read the subtle pantomime from eye movements to body language and can interpret what the body is saying. Its like listening for out of tune music in a symphony – the body talks and they speak it eloquently.
But lets remain honest, this isn’t a cake walk. It require a strong mixture of scientific exactitude and pattern of observation. Imagine a detective who is in a uniform instead of trench coat in order to master the ultimate happenings between the drugs with equal combinations of skill and calm nerves.
And where are the stakes high. Make no mistake, they’re in the same realm. A incorrect call might echo repercussions. It’s no less than fishing in Ocean with no fish. In the most ambiguous of situations even the most seasoned DREs find themselves, forcing them to make judgement calls with some level of risk.
The next time you pass a checkpoint give these officers a moment in your mind. Behind the badge is someone working to provide a clear outcome ensuring safety in driving just like you. Not to put too fine a point on it – A Tip of the hat to these unsung heroes would not be far off-course.