Pa. sets plan to increase number of drug experts
Pennsylvania receives $35,000 grant from Responsibility.org
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HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania DUI Association is pleased to announce Pennsylvania has been chosen to receive a $35,000 grant from Responsibility.org and the Governors Highway Safety Association. The grant funds are for the Pennsylvania DUI Association and will be used to train an additional 20 drug recognition experts.
The Drug Evaluation and Classification Program is a national program focused on training police officers to detect individuals driving under the influence of drugs, and to identify the type of drug causing the impairment. Graduates of the program earn the title of drug recognition expert and are trained to determine if a driver is under the influence of illegal drugs, prescription drugs or any other substance that impairs a person's ability to operate a vehicle safely. The program also trains officers to recognize whether an individual is suffering from a medical condition rather than drug impairment.
"The program has been very successful in Pennsylvania, as a result of the strong partnerships between the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania DUI Association," said Pennsylvania State Program Coordinator David Andrascik. "This grant will provide the financial means to conduct an additional training class specifically for city police officers. Statistical data will be evaluated during the project to determine the success of training additional city officers."
The program, which was developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and approved by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, includes classroom study and hands-on exercises for participating officers.
For more information about the DRE Program, visit www.decp.org.