Arrests in DUI or DWI cases are made without a Warrant

Because of the nature of the offense, most arrests in DUI or DWI cases are made without a warrant. Most drunk or impaired driving offenses are misdemeanors. Under common law, a warrantless arrest for a misdemeanor can be made only if the offense is committed in the presence of the arresting officer. Most states have enacted statutes modifying this requirement in DUI cases, often by expanding the meaning of the term “in the presence of an officer.” As a result, the general rule is that a police officer may make a warrantless arrest in a drinking-driving case if:

1. the offense was committed in the actual presence of the officer,
2. exigent circumstances existed that made the obtaining of a warrant impractical, or
3. the officer had “probable cause” to believe that the person arrested had committed a drunk or impaired driving offense.

In most states, an arrest can be made on any of these grounds. However, in jurisdictions where the common law rule has not been statutorily modified, a warrantless arrest can usually be made only on the grounds of (1) and (2) above. In some states, it should be noted, DUI offenses are treated as felonies for purposes of arrest, which means that an arrest can be made under any of the three grounds listed above.

Actual Presence of the Officer

It is clear in every jurisdiction that a police officer can make a warrantless arrest for a DUI-DWI offense committed in the presence of the officer. For this rule to apply, however, every element of the offense must be committed in the presence of the officer. Specifically, the officer must observe both the operation of the vehicle by the defendant and evidence of intoxication. An arrest made by an officer who did not personally see the defendant operate the vehicle has been held unlawful under this rule. The requirement of presence is most often imposed in arrests made by city or local law enforcement officers who, in some states, are not covered by state statutes modifying the presence requirement.

Exigent Circumstances

Even in situations where the presence requirement is imposed, an arrest without a warrant is usually permitted when exigent circumstances exist. In DUI cases, exigent circumstances include hot or continuous pursuit, protection of public safety, the need to prevent the defendant from fleeing, and the need to prevent the destruction of evidence.

Probable Cause

In most jurisdictions, a police officer may also make an arrest (other than an in-home arrest) for a drunk or impaired driving offense without a warrant if the officer has “probable cause” to believe that the person arrested has committed such an offense. “Probable cause” may consist of either the officer’s own observations and firsthand knowledge or trustworthy information provided to the officer by others, including other police officers. If the officer’s information is supplied by a citizen, the citizen must be an eyewitness to the offense or have firsthand knowledge of the incident.