What is the decision in Phase Three of a DWI?

In Phase Three of a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) investigation, the primary decision pertains to whether the officer will make an arrest. This phase typically follows preliminary observations and field sobriety tests, where the officer evaluates the driver's level of impairment based on the evidence gathered during the earlier phases.

By this stage, the officer has already taken note of specific behaviors and indicators of intoxication, conducted field sobriety tests, and assessed the results of those tests. If the officer concludes that the driver's impairment levels exceed legal thresholds, or if the evidence suggests that the individual is incapable of safely operating a vehicle due to alcohol or drugs, making the arrest becomes the appropriate action.

The other options pertain to steps that are either preliminary or supplementary to the decision-making process. Issuing a warning may be appropriate in less severe cases or first-time offenders, but in the context of Phase Three, where the conclusion has firmly established impairment, this would not be a fitting choice. Conducting further testing could be warranted in certain scenarios, but at this point, the evidence should strongly point toward an arrest if the officer feels it's justified. Summoning backup may be a precautionary action but does not directly pertain to the decision-making process regarding the suspect's