Easier for the cops to detain people
Comment on Bodycam: Woman Fails Miserably to Recite ABCs, Gets Arrested For DUI After Crashing Car
ApeNo1@lemm.ee 6 months ago
Genuinely curious. Why are subjective field sobriety tests still done in the US versus roadside saliva drug tests or breathalysers for alcohol.
vind@lemmy.world 6 months ago
Drusas@kbin.social 6 months ago
Saliva would require a warrant, but they can require a breathalyzer test without a warrant. Breathalyzers need to be regularly calibrated, so it could partly be laziness in that regard. But I'm pretty sure it's mostly because they want to prove you are not safe to drive regardless of your blood alcohol content. The longer the stop, the more opportunity there is to find something against you.
KISSmyOS@lemmy.world 6 months ago
Same reason why “open container laws” are a thing, where you can be found guilty for a DUI even if you didn’t drink anything, if they find an opened alcoholic beverage in your car.
Or why they can bust you for DUI when you were not driving but just sleeping in your car.
Because it’s one of the tools of law makers and police to criminalize as many people as possible and use selective enforcement to punish certain groups.
pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 6 months ago
Don’t forget for them to also let you off the hook if you know someone or are important (and like you).