Implied consent means that every Idaho driver must submit to a BAC
test and that this consent was given when a driver agreed to the rules
of the road by accepting an Idaho driver’s license. Blood, breath
or urine can be tested for alcohol and/or drugs if law enforcement
officials suspect that you are driving under the influence.
Blood and breath tests are used for the detection of alcohol, and urine
tests are used for the detection of illegal and/or prescription
drugs. Refusing these tests is grounds for an officer to
confiscate your driver’s license on-the-spot.
On the contrary, Field Sobriety Tests are not mandatory, although an
officer may not inform you of this fact. Field Sobriety Tests
include the ‘heel-to-toe walk,’ the ‘stand-on-one-leg’ challenge, and
the ‘touch-your-fingers-to-your-nose’ test, amongst others. While
these are not mandatory, the officer’s observations are admissible in
court.
Idaho Law Enforcement Tip-Offs
If you are impaired, an office will likely detect this before ever
wielding the infamous Breathalyzer! What are his tip-offs?
There are quite a few:
- Hazardous driving such as swerving and erratic lane changing
- Sensory indicators, such as odor of alcohol
Most drivers make an officer’s detective work much less difficult by
offering incriminating information such as ‘I’ve only had a few drinks
tonight.’ This can be used against you in court.
