What is Phase Two of the Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) process?

Phase Two of the Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) process involves personal contact with the driver. This phase typically follows the initial traffic stop where the officer makes initial observations. During this stage, the officer engages with the driver to assess their level of impairment through direct interaction. This can include observing the driver's behavior, the smell of alcohol or drugs, and the driver's speech patterns.

The personal contact allows the officer to determine if there are signs of intoxication that warrant further action, such as conducting field sobriety tests. It's crucial for officers to establish a rapport and gather information that will help in making a more informed judgment about the driver's condition. This phase is essential because it sets the groundwork for any further investigation and action the officer may need to take.

Other phases in the DWI process, such as traffic stop initiation, involve the initial pull over based on a driver’s behavior or traffic violations, and field sobriety testing occurs later, after the officer has established a suspicion of impaired driving. A vehicle search may be conducted, but it typically happens further down the line and mainly in specific circumstances where probable cause is established. Thus, personal contact is the key component of Phase Two as officers directly assess the driver's state.